Since returning to the Euro RX calendar two
years ago, the ‘Red Cauldron’ – so-called due to the distinctive colour of its
unsealed surfaces, having been built on the site of a disused bauxite quarry –
has rapidly re-established itself as a firm favourite amongst competitors and spectators
alike, with its challenging ‘old-school’ nature generating some spectacular
action.
This season, 18 Euro RX1 drivers and 16 in Euro
RX3 – almost 50 per cent of whom are local stars – will head into battle at
Nyirád, setting the scene for a superb weekend of doorhandle-to-doorhandle
entertainment.
In Euro RX1, Korda Racing ace Máté Benyó will
be targeting a champagne celebration after shining on his international debut
on home soil last year, when the 22-year-old impressively reached the final
first time out in a field that included no fewer than three former European
champions. Fan favourite Tamás Kárai, meanwhile, is always a threat in his Audi
S1, and can be counted upon to put in a committed, crowd-pleasing performance.
The pair will face stiff opposition, however,
not only from regular rivals such as Patrick O’Donovan, Yury Belevskiy and
Sivert Svardal, but also from a whole bunch of talented compatriots including László
Kiss and newcomers István Antal and Zoltán Held.
There is an even greater homegrown contingent
in Euro RX3, where Hungarians make up half of the 16-strong entry – the largest
field in the category since Portugal last year.
Nils Volland arguably starts as favourite
having finished third in the overall standings in 2023, but the young German
will need to be on his toes to see off the likes of Volland Racing team-mate Sámuel
Kovács, Balázs Körmöczi – a podium-finisher at Nyirád last season – and,
intriguingly, Krisztián Szabó, the 2016 and 2017 champion in the series and a driver
with two rostrum appearances to his name in the FIA World Rallycross
Championship.
World RX and RX2e entries are still open and will be published at a later
date.
Tickets for the event can be purchased here, including a combined option to
attend both Kárai Trans World RX of Hungary
on 27-28 July and the FIA European Autocross Championship race weekend
at Nyirád on 17-18 August, available at a discount until 7 July.
EURO RX1 ENTRY LIST, KÁRAI TRANS WORLD RX OF HUNGARY
EURO RX3 ENTRY LIST, KÁRAI TRANS WORLD RX OF HUNGARY
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