Zoltán László: first World Cup points scorer in Mecse!
Zoltán László from Pécs has the greatest success in Hungarian rally history so far. In April of this year, they won the WRC3 Open category with Tamas Kürti at the Croatian World Cup race, and then with their 2nd place in Sardinia, they gained more valuable WRC points. not worth World Cup points - they won their place).
Zoltán László interrupted his planned program for the World Championship this year and starts at the Mecsek Rallye: "That's right, I am fulfilling the request of my navigator Zsolt Balázs, because he is also from Pécs and really wanted to go. I compete with him in domestic and smaller foreign races, and the race in Mescek fits into our time" - the pilot also explains the change of navigator.
"I started in Mecse for the first time in 1991, so it wasn't today... Then there was a longer break, but I also started in the 50th anniversary race, and I've been starting since I changed my license again in 2019. I'm happy to cut it now too" - reminds me a bit of the old days. Then, returning to the present, he continues like this.
"We were also lucky in Croatia, but we still had to be there. Since my leading competitor in the race dropped out with two fast ones before the end, we jumped to the lead and kept our position until the end. Now life has given us back what it took from us before. In the past, we had many technical problems, but now the car is back together, and the Rally3 Ford Fiesta is working perfectly so far. This year's development is much better. The gravel, especially the Sardinian conditions are not so suitable for this car, but it survived. Compared to that, after Mecsek, Veszprém, where we also start, will be a highway" - Zoltán László is already predicting the near future.
"This year in the WRC, I still want to start in Belgium and Spain, so I will have five races to evaluate in the category, where the best four will be taken into account. There, I continue to compete with Tamas Kürti, who is a very good partner and also motivated. We are doing well in the points race, we would like to increase the 43 points we have achieved so far, with which we are tied for second and third place at the moment" says Zoltán with satisfaction.
"I drive for fun, so I'm close to sixty, but I really enjoy it. Of course, I also pay attention to my son, who is already interested in the ERC series. Martin with Dávid Berendi is currently in Poland, completing his second race of the year this weekend. Then they also start at the Mecsek. In the international series, this year's opponents are very numerous and strong, they train in a good place, I am very proud of them, as they are of me" - Zoltán László proudly reveals at the end of our conversation.