Košice celebrate its jubilee

Everything started on May 8th, 1971, when the first 28 crews stands on start of Rallye VSŽ. And now? Now it's time to celebrate already the 40th Kosice rally. 

Only few people remember the 60th and 70th years of the last century, when motor sport in Slovakia has experienced rapid development and requires the establishment of organizations, which will bring together enthusiatists of motorism. That is why in 1970 Automotoklub VSZ Kosice was created as a successor of motoring section MTO. Among his first actions were driving skills at the Zlata Idka or reunion camping and caravaning FICC in the Tatra Lomnica. No longer a year later, exactly 8th May 1971, organized the first edition of Rallye VSZ Kosice, which began the history of the entire competition. Although the track consisted of only one speed test, competing crew left warped railings, bollards refuted and, finally, wrinkled sheets of their vehicles. Historically the first winners were Julius Ivan and John Mertinak on the Skoda  LA 110. The race was a successfull in spite of everything, and nothing was to prevent its development in other seasons.

With classification and the nature of the rally was changed with advancing age. Track was prolonging and also the number of speed tests was increased. Tracks were on the whole eastern and partly in central Slovakia. It is no secret that the measured sections in the first grades occupied only 10-20% of the total route length. VSŽ rally in 1974 forwarded from the regional championship to Slovak Championship, which attracted a new competitive crews. Already in 1976, the organizers enjoyed the first foreign participation when the launch was welcomed by two Polish crews and the next year, five Hungarian crews. The victory, however, remained in Slovakia, the crew Ivan Pallag - Eugen Jurkovic, which reached a total of up to three first places and with crews Tibor Cserhalmi - Karol Bodnar (Martin Krajňák) and Jozef Beres jun. - Robert Muller, include them in the number of victories so far the highest position.
Since 1982 the rally was included in the Championship of Czechoslovakia, which meant another big success. At the start of the next editions appeared Czechoslovak motorsport elite, which included Leo Pavlik, Václav Blahna, Pavel Valoušek or Pavel  Sibera and the beautiful cars Škoda 130 RS, Audi Quattro, Renault Alpine or MTX Lada 2105. In 1987 the number of competitors crews for the first time exceeded the magic figure of 100 crews.

Since 1990 a four-year break appeared, but it was only a matter of time when there will be a 20th race. It happened in June 1994 in honor of the 35th anniversary celebrations of the Vychodoslovenske Zeleziarne. That year get the victory Jozef Beres sen., who’s racing Slovak rally till today. Number of competitors crews slowly rose and organizers have set a bold plan to get the competition to the calendar of European Championships. The first live broadcast from the city circle Dargovských heroes in Slovak Television in 1995 helped to do so, but the inclusion of competition in the Hungarian Rally Championship next season also. The plan was fulfilled and in the years 1997 - 2003 Rally Košice was included in the FIA European Championship with a coefficient of 2. 23rd year still remains in the statistics, which took place in 1997 and measured with 237.6 km track of the 22 special stages .

Year 1998 as a very successful when races were included in addition to the European Championship in Slovak Championship, International Championship of the Czech Republic and Hungary Championships. It was also the only year in the history of Kosice rally when the competition was included in the Czech championship. Among the 85 contestants at the start appeared the first four cars WRC, but also well-known European drivers as Enrico Bertone, Laszlo Vižina, János Tóth and Milan Dolák.

The next season, the organizers have had to deal with the withdrawal of long-standing partner - VSZ Kosice. In the season 2001, the Slovak rally tracks regularly returning triple Polish champion, now unfortunately deceased Janusz Kulig to be navigated by Emil Horniaček. With the vehicle Toyota Corolla WRC they became not only the winners of the 27th annual Rally Košice, but also the entire Slovak Championship. Years 2002 - 2004 belong clearly to a crew Tibor Cserhalmi - Karol Bodnar (Martin Krajňák), which took a victory three times in a row from Kosice rally. Memorable year in means of the number of crews started can stay forever in 2005, when was reinstated Košice Rally Championship into Hungarian Championship. To start it brought together 137 competitors crews, among which even the Slovakian did not lose. After all, Jozef Beres jun. on the Subaru Impreza Sti ended up in intensive competition, especially of ten WRC cars on a fantastic third place! This year, the Slovak rally tracks also presented Poland driver Grzegorz Grzyb. The next season he won the Rally Košice and his the first title of Master of Slovakia.

Tlačové stredisko 40. Rally Košice