Traditional values with a new impetus - 56th Mecsek Rallye
The Mecsek Rallye is the most traditional event in the history of Hungarian motorsport, which goes back more than half a century. The seat of Baranya county, the historic city of Pécs and the classic asphalt roads located in the unique natural environment of the Mecsek mountains host the competition, which has thus become an almost indispensable, recurring part of the life of the region, with annually renewed content.
The Mecsek Rallye is the second most prestigious international event in the 2023 competition calendar of the Hungarian National Automobile Association after F1, and is also the official championship round of all classes of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship, the CEZ, the Mitropa Rally Cup and the MNASZ HUMDA National Rally Championship. . It is therefore a real treat for those who love motor sports that they can see a diverse and crowded field around Mecsek again this year. The pairs of Historic EB, CEZ, CEZ Historic, Mitropa Kupa, Mitropa Historic, Hungarian Historic, National Rally Championship (ORB), ORC, ORB2 and ORB3 will provide the spectacle.
The organizers are expecting nearly 150 participants in the various championship series. According to the entries received, the field of the historic championship includes 22 special cars.
The competition notice indicates the various categories with abbreviations, which are as follows:
EHRC: historic European Championship
CEZ: Central European Cup
HIST OB: Hungarian historic championship
Rally1 ORB: Hungarian rally championship Class I - modern cars that comply with the currently applied rules
Rally1 ORC: Hungarian championship - cars with expired homologation
ORB2, ORB3: supply field
Year after year, it is a challenge for the organizers of the competition to choose which of the existing, already well-known speed stages in a given year, so that they are an enjoyable challenge for the competitors and meet the needs of the spectators as well. Sections that can be completed by both older techniques and modern cars of today must be found in such a way as to sneak something new into the already familiar routes. In addition, the spectators must be able to be lured to the tracks to experience the experience of the race and the special cars up close, as no digital device can convey the sight of glowing brake discs, the well-known smells and the atmosphere when a hillside of spectators it roars at the same time when a car skids around the corner.
This year, at the 56th Mecsek Rallye, the EB and ORB teams will compete against each other on a total of 161 kilometers of track and 12 speed stages. Since EC regulations allow a maximum of two passes on a track, on the Friday and Saturday race days, there are three different stages waiting for the competitors, which are completed twice each.
Thanks to the fact that Pécs is a city with county rights, the competition and all related program elements, including the so-called FanZones, can be visited for free this year as well. Organized parking awaits spectators at these locations. "Protect nature, love Rallye!" true to the slogan, they also organize selective waste collection, and the organizers also provide a buffet and cultured toilets. And during the breaks, mood managers ensure good mood.
On Fridays, these viewing points can be found at the Kisvaszár branch or at Hosszúhetény, at the one-lane detour speed bump. On Saturday, one of the FanZone points will be at the beach parking lot in Orfű, the other at Remeterét, which can be reached from the mountain track, on Ranga László út.
Of course, those interested can admire the cars not only next to the racetracks, but they can also see them up close twice on Széchenyi Square in the framework of the classic start and finish ceremony.
All cars can be seen in one place at the night collection station in the Centrum parking lot next to Árkád.This year, the center of the competition and the service park will also be housed in the Expo Center, which is also free to enter.
Other accompanying programs await families, such as the racing car exhibition in the Árkád area, which can be visited for free until the 21st. Also in the Árkád, interested parties are warmly welcomed to an audience meeting on Wednesday from 6 p.m., where they can meet popular Hungarian and foreign competitors.
On Friday, before the start ceremony, the PTE Brass Band will blow the trumpet on Széchenyi Square. Also on Széchenyi Square on Fridays and Saturdays - within the framework of the joint project of the National Accident Prevention Committee and HUMDA - a traffic safety park awaits children and families with interesting and playful skill tasks.
Interested parties will be able to find information about the programs, dates and, of course, road closures and changes to the traffic schedule on the mecsekrally.com website.
It is important to emphasize that the most important element of the success of the event is security. Here again, we ask all fans to follow the instructions of the sports referees and members of the security staff, so that we can close the 56th Mecsek Rallye without accidents this time as well.
See you June 22-24. in Mecsek! Pécs is open!
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