One of the oldest automotive competitions in Slovakia will write its jubilee story in the hot summer. The 50th Garrett RALLY KOŠICE will take place from July 12th to July 14th, 2024. In the initial press releases, we introduced you to the rich history of previous years in the metropolis of the eastern Slovak region, now let's look at an interesting speech of statistics and numbers.
The gallery of winners recorded in the 48 competitions held so far (the competition was not held in 2020 due to Covid-19), 35 drivers (crews) from 5 countries - Slovakia, Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia), Hungary, Poland, and France. Slovak drivers have won the most, 29 victories.
Among the most successful are five drivers who have celebrated victory three times. These are : Ivan Pallag, Tibor Cserhalmi, Jozef Béreš jr., Martin Koči, and Grzegorz Grzyb from Poland. Jozef Béreš sen., Jaroslav Melichárek, and Leo Pavlík from the Czech Republic celebrated victory twice in Košice.
A total of 10 car brands have reached first place. The Czech car manufacturer Škoda reigns supreme, as vehicles with the winged arrow have reached the highest podium 25 times. The imaginary silver medal goes to Ford, and on the bronze position we find brands from the land of the rising sun - Japan - Subaru and Mitsubishi.
The highest number of starters was in 2005 when 137 crews participated in the Košice rally. The most distant crew in 2005 was from the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea. Petros Panteli and Iordanis Christofi started in the colors of Petty Racing on a Škoda Fabia.
The competition began in 1971 as a regional and district competition and grew to the FIA European Championships, of which became first time part of in 1997 with a coefficient of 2. The European Championship visited eastern Slovakia a total of seven times. Currently, the Košice rally is regularly part of the FIA Central European Zone Championships (CEZ).
This year, after a one-year break, the Polish Championship returns, having previously visited Košice five times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2021, and 2022). The quality of the starting field in the past was boosted by the Hungarian Championship ten times, first in 1996. Once, points were awarded in Košice also for the Czech Championship (1998).
The next news service within the 50th Garrett RALLY KOŠICE 2024 will be brought in the following press releases. They will be gradually published on the official website www.kosice.rallye.sk and on the Facebook profile. Information about the Košice rally can also be found in the mobile application “Sportity,” using the password RallyKosice2024.
Statistical Overview of Rally Košice (1971 – 2023):
Tracks / Special Stages:
Total length of special stages: 6,374.42 km
Total number of SS: 567
Longest SS: 24.35 km (2011, 2015 – Opiná, 2012 – Dubník, 2013 – Opál)
Shortest SS: 1.25 km, city circuit (2000)
Longest rally track: 761 km (1998)
Shortest rally track: 145 km (1971)
Longest SS track: 237.6 km (1997)
Most starters: 137 (2005)
Most retirements: 51% (2009 – 26 out of 51 did not finish), (1998 – 43 out of 85 did not finish)
Most finishers: 90% (1984 – 73 out of 81)
Crews:
Most distant crew: Petros Panteli – Iordanis Christofi from Cyprus (2005)
First female crew: Stanková - Janošová (1972)
First foreign crew: two Polish crews (1976)
First live TV broadcast: city circuit SS under the housing estate Dragovských hrdinov (1995)
First WRC car on the start line: 1998
Inclusion:
FIA European Championships: 7
FIA CEZ Central European Zone: 17
Regional and district competition: 10
Czechoslovak Championships: 5
Czech Championships: 1
Slovak Championships: 40
Hungarian Championships: 10
Polish Championships: 5
Slovak Rally Cup: 14
First inclusion in the Hungarian Championships: 1996
First inclusion in the FIA European Championships: 1997
First inclusion in three national championships (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary) and the EC: 1998
First inclusion in the FIA CEZ Trophy: 2006
First inclusion in the Polish Championships: 2010
Winners – Countries:
27 – Slovakia, 7 – Czech Republic, 5 – Poland, Hungary, 2 – Slovakia/Czech Republic, 1 – France and Poland/Slovakia
Winners – Drivers:
3 – Ivan Pallag, Tibor Cserhalmi, Jozef Béreš jr., Martin Koči (SVK), Grzegorz Grzyb (POL), 2 – Leo Pavlík (CZE), Jozef Béreš sen., Jaroslav Melichárek (SVK), 1 – Július Ivan, Jiří Iman, Jaroslav Jurek, Jozef Studenič, Jozef Schreiner, Pavol Podolaj, Ján Hybáček, Ladislav Horňák, Daniel Turcsányi, Milan Filo, Ján Rakottayi, Igor Drotár, Róbert Kolčák (SVK), Pavel Valoušek sen., Václav Blahna, Pavel Sibera, Stanislav Chovanec, Michal Gargulák (CZE), János Tóth ml., László Ranga, Ferenc Kiss, Tamás Turi, Norbert Herczig (HUN), Janusz Kulig, Kajetan Kajetanowicz, Mikolaj Marczyk (POL), Bryan Bouffier (FRA)
Winners – Brands:
25 – Škoda, 7 – Ford, 3 – Subaru, Mitsubishi, 2 – Lada VAZ, Audi, Toyota, Peugeot, 1 – Nissan, Fiat Abarth
In Košice, June 25, 2024
Roman ORDELT, press secretary
