RALLY RZESZÓW 2026: ADRIAN RZEŹNIK TAKES COMMAND OF POLISH CHAMPIONSHIP
ORLEN TEAM CREW LEADS FROM START TO FINISH AND TAKES RSMP LEAD AFTER SECOND SEASON VICTORY
Adrian Rzeźnik and Kamil Kozdroń dominated the 35th Rally Rzeszów 2026, leading from start to finish and securing a victory that moves them to the top of the KIQ Polish Rally Championship standings.
The ORLEN Team crew won five of the rally's 10 special stages and finished 1min 14.4sec ahead of Grzegorz Grzyb and Adam Binięda. The result also gave 19-year-old Rzeźnik his second RSMP victory of the season.
Rzeźnik's victory in Rzeszów came almost exactly 12 years after his father, Maciej Rzeźnik, won the same event.
RZEŹNIK BUILDS EARLY LEAD IN DIFFICULT CONDITIONS
Friday brought dramatic weather conditions, with crews tackling the 19-kilometre Chmielnik stage in heavy rain.
Rzeźnik and Kozdroń immediately established their authority, winning the stage by more than 40 seconds before adding two more stage victories during the day.
The ORLEN Team Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew ended Friday with almost a one-minute advantage over Grzyb and Binięda.
Rzeźnik and Kozdroń continued their winning pace on Saturday, taking two more stage victories before managing their advantage during the final loop. They also scored additional points by finishing third on the Power Stage.
SECOND RSMP WIN MOVES RZEŹNIK INTO LEAD
The Rzeszów result was Rzeźnik and Kozdroń's second victory of the KIQ RSMP season after their success at the season-opening 54th Świdnica Rally.
The 19-year-old Rzeźnik also became the youngest winner of both an RSMP round and Rally Rzeszów.
“Winning our home rally and securing vital points in the title race - for us, it’s a dream come true. We had a good pace, which allowed us to win stages without taking unnecessary risks. We’re leading the RSMP, and now it’s time for a short break - see you at the Rally Wisła.”
— Adrian Rzeźnik, ORLEN Team
Kamil Kozdroń also highlighted an unusual moment during the rally, when the crew slowed and moved away from the racing line to avoid a squirrel that had entered the road during a fast section of the Lubenia stage.
“Instead of winning the Lubenia stage, we decided to save a squirrel that had darted onto the road during a fast section. We had to ease off and veer off the racing line, so we probably lost about 2 seconds.”
— Kamil Kozdroń
TITLE FIGHT GOES TO RALLY WISŁA
Rzeźnik and Kozdroń now lead the KIQ RSMP standings by just one point over Szeja/Szeja.
The 35th Rally Rzeszów result leaves the championship fight open heading into the final round, the 70th Rally Wisła, scheduled for 18–19 September.
Under the series regulations, points scored at the final round will be multiplied by 1.5, making the championship battle particularly important.
35TH RALLY RZESZÓW — FINAL CLASSIFICATION
• 1. Rzeźnik/Kozdroń — Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 — 1:19:22.8
• 2. Grzyb/Binięda — Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 — +1:14.4
• 3. Szeja/Szeja — Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 — +1:16.1
• 4. Byśkiniewicz/Jastrzębski — Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 — +1:40.9
• 5. Kołtun/Pleskot — Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 — +2:42.7
• 6. Gabryś/Sadowski — Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 — +3:15.1
KIQ RSMP STANDINGS AFTER RALLY RZESZÓW
• 1. Rzeźnik/Kozdroń — 138 points
• 2. Szeja/Szeja — 137 points
• 3. Byśkiniewicz/Jastrzębski — 124 points
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