As we previously reported, the FIA ​​Motorsport Council (World Motor Sport Council) decided at the end of last year that the historic race of the 55th Mecsek Rallye can also take place - as the only domestic rally European event this year - on June 23-25, the Historic Rallye Among the nine rounds of the European Championship 2022 series. The words of two senior FIA observers, who both watched our last year's race - in fact, rather watched it with prying eyes - certainly meant a lot in this regard. We have now asked both of them for a short retrospective evaluation, which is also a look ahead to the new challenges we now face.

In the second part of our couple interview Arnaud Crépin, insights from the FIA ​​EHRC Championship Manager collected in a bouquet.

– Monsieur Crépin, you were previously deeply involved in the organization of the World Rally Championship. What brought you to this new area, the Historic European Championships?

– New challenges, of course! The transformation of the organization of the Historic European Championship was new to me; of course, it's no secret, my passion for classic cars also contributed to all of this. Using ten years of experience in organizing at WRC and ERC level, the association's fundamental goal is to improve the championship for all parties involved. Historic races and cars are based on people's passions, which is why they occupy a special place in motorsport. And as such, they require and deserve a lot of care and energy, while also having to adapt to today's society.

– The organizing committee of the Mecsek Rallye was significantly transformed in 2021 and brought a lot of changes to improve the standard of the event. What did the officials and delegates of the FIA ​​perceive from this and how do they evaluate all this?

– The new team has brought with it a more proactive energy, better communication and more effective cooperation with the FIA, which is essential in these challenging times. A lot of young people participate in the team's work, which we also appreciate. Of course, this also results in new momentum and a more modern work strategy, which also helps to reduce possible obstacles. As a result, they build trust in the organizing committee, and these things steer the entire event in the right direction. I encourage them to continue with courage!

– What would you say to the fans of the 55th Mecsek Rallye ahead of us?

– We must understand and appreciate that everyone is equally important in a competition; spectators, sponsors, competitors, organizers. In order for all of us to enjoy our favorite sport, we must think and act responsibly, in which everyone has their own role. If we respect the most important rules of adaptation to modern society, we will create a bright future for our sport. We need a lot of people on the speed stages and a good atmosphere to keep and carry on the passion for Historic Rallye.

ARNAUD CRÉPIN

Head of Historic Sporting Regulations & Championship Manager