FERENC VINCZE JR. TAKES CONTROL OF HUNGARIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

FORMER CHAMPION RETURNS TO WIN AND MOVES TO THE TOP AFTER MECSEK RALLYE SUCCESS

Former Hungarian rally champion Ferenc Vincze Jr. has taken control of the Hungarian Rally Championship after securing his second victory of the season at the Mecsek Rallye.

The 2023 champion, who claimed the national title in a Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo, did not start the opening round of the 2026 season at the Veszprém Rally. However, his return at the second event in Slovakia proved immediately successful as he claimed victory in Moldava nad Bodvou.

Vincze Jr. continued that momentum at the Mecsek Rallye, arriving as one of the event favourites despite suffering from a fever on the eve of the rally.

“Despite illness before the start, Ferenc Vincze Jr. won every special stage and secured victory by more than one minute.”

Although he lacked strength after the opening stage, the former champion delivered a dominant performance once competition began. Driving a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, he won every special stage and finished the rally with a lead of more than one minute.

Meanwhile, László Bodolai narrowly missed out on a podium finish after damaging the retarder on the opening special stage. Despite recovering time throughout the rally, he finished just 1.9 seconds behind third-placed Tibor Tóth.

The battle for second place changed after Róbert Bútor retired his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 following the final stage. As a result, László inherited second place and moved into the overall championship lead after collecting three consecutive runner-up finishes.

The event also featured a historic rally category, where former European champion Tibor Érdi Jr. dominated the competition. Despite experiencing a similar retarder issue in the opening test, he controlled the historic event in his Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4.

KEY POINTS

• Ferenc Vincze Jr. won the Mecsek Rallye.

• The former Hungarian champion claimed victory in every special stage.

• Vincze Jr. secured his second win of the season.

• He returned to the championship at the Slovakia round after missing the opener.

• Vincze Jr. competed despite suffering from a fever before the rally.

• László Bodolai finished just 1.9 seconds away from the podium.

• Róbert Bútor retired after the final stage.

• László inherited second place and moved into the championship lead.

• Tibor Érdi Jr. dominated the historic rally competition.

• Érdi Jr. competed in a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4.