The gravel-based Rally Hungary, the second round of this year’s FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), proved to be a serious test for both crews and equipment. A podium finish by Polish duo Mikołaj Marczyk and Szymon Gospodarczyk earned them the overall lead in the championship standings.
Out of the 94 crews that entered the event, which took place in Hungary from May 9th to 11th, a staggering 39 failed to make it to the finish — a dropout rate that clearly highlights the brutal nature of the rally’s gravel stages. Despite the tough conditions, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crews managed to win seven of the event’s special stages. Tyre punctures were a major issue, but the technically demanding stages also caused a range of other technical difficulties.
One example was promising Czech driver Dominik Stříteský, who came to Hungary to gain valuable gravel experience. Unfortunately, he lost an entire wheel on his Fabia RS Rally2 during the eighth stage and was forced to retire from the race. Italian driver Andrea Mabellini, also behind the wheel of a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, had been leading the rally up to special stage 10. However, a dramatic puncture in the eleventh stage ended his hopes and prematurely ended his rally — costing him a potential shot at taking the lead in the ERC overall standings.
After two events, the Polish crew of Marczyk and Gospodarczyk finished third overall — the best result among Škoda drivers — and moved into the championship lead after two rounds. Their podium finish also earned them a valuable voucher for spare parts through the ERC Bonus Programme. Marczyk had been among the front runners from the start and stayed in close contact with the leaders, ultimately finishing just over 31 seconds behind the winner.
Behind Marczyk and Gospodarczyk, several other Škoda crews also made it into the top ten. Sweden’s Isak Reiersen and Stefan Gustavsson secured fourth place, while Hungarian duo Gábor Német and Gergely Németh finished fifth. Sasa and Rebeka Ollé claimed seventh overall and also took the win in the newly introduced ERC Master category, reserved for drivers aged 50 and above.Second in the Master ERC class and eighth overall were Jos Verstappen and Renaud Jamoul. Another Hungarian pairing, Norbert Herczig and Ramón Ferencz, rounded out the top nine.
All in all, six Škoda crews made it into the top ten of this demanding rally. A similar trend is reflected in the overall ERC standings after two rounds: Marczyk now leads the championship, while Gryazin — who skipped Hungary — holds third. Other Škoda drivers in the top ten include Mabellini, Suárez, Reiersen, and Német. Verstappen, currently twelfth overall, leads the Master ERC standings.
