This weekend’s Zemplén Rally will decide the outcome of the overall Hungarian Rally Championship title, with the field facing a race worth one-and-a-half times the usual points and a total of 150 kilometres of special stages – as announced at the pre-race press conference in Szerencs.
During the competition, which runs from Friday to Sunday, the title could be decided in several championship categories. A particularly close battle is expected in the overall standings: two-time Hungarian champion Ferenc Vincze trails the leader László Martin by seven points, so he could still secure the third overall championship title of his career at the Zemplén race.
Ferenc Vincze said at the press conference that, compared to his previous championship successes, he is approaching the season finale from a different position this time, as he does not need to defend his lead from a position of strength, but must attack from behind. He added that winning the championship title is their goal, but they do not want to take risks at any cost. He said they must race very sensibly, as he expects this to be the toughest race of the year.
Spectators are welcome, but caution is advised
The main organiser of the Zemplén Rally, Tibor Jacsó, explained that, due to the one-and-a-half times points multiplier, they had put together 150 kilometres of special stages. On Saturday and Sunday, the vineyard-covered hills of Mád and the wooded areas around Erdőbénye will take centre stage, whilst on Saturday the programme also includes a stage covering the Regéc and Óhuta areas.
According to the organisers, more than 110 pairs will be competing, with 23 Slovak competitors also taking part. The race is a joint Hungarian-Slovak sporting event, and the foreign entrants lend prestige to the international field. Tibor Jacsó emphasised that
Spectators can watch the race free of charge, but he asked supporters to observe the safety regulations and to remain only in the designated spectator areas.
Around 83 sports officials and more than 120 security staff will be responsible for security at the event, with a total of nearly 250 people involved in its organisation.
The competition has a positive impact on both tourism and the local hospitality industry
Péter Világi, DVTK’s communications director, spoke about how the strategic partnership between the club and ÉMAM Zrt. has now been running for four years in rallying. During this time, they have jointly organised six rallies, three based in Diósgyőr and three in Szerencs. He emphasised that they are proud to have succeeded, even in a changing economic climate, in organising a high-calibre event in which more than 110 crews can compete.
Attila Kiss, Mayor of Szerencs, noted that this is the third time the Zemplén Rally has been held in the region. He said that the town is supporting the event primarily through its infrastructure and the facilities at its disposal. He added that the rally is also significant in terms of tourism and the local hospitality industry, as accommodation in the area was fully booked during previous races, and the event attracted many visitors to the region.
