The Rally of Poland (in Polish, Rajd Polski) is a motorsport event for rally cars that was first established in 1921. It is third-oldest rally in the world, preceded only by Österreichische Alpenfahrt and Monte Carlo Rally. The event became a permanent fixture of the European Rally Championship in 1960, except for a few editions held as part of the World Rally Championship.

Rally Poland
Rajd Polski
Statusactive
Genremotorsporting event
Frequencyannual
Country Poland
Inaugurated1921
Websiterajdpolski.pl
Rally Poland 2014 - Sébastien Ogier/Volkswagen Polo R WRC

In 1973, the Rally of Poland was the one of the thirteen rounds of newly established World Rally Championship, but was removed from the 1974 calendar. After a move to Mikołajki in the Masurian Lake District in 2005, event organisers started lobbying for the event's inclusion as a round of the World Rally Championship. After being run as a candidate event in 2007 and 2008, Poland returned to the World Rally Championship in 2009, which was won by Mikko Hirvonen. However, the event was once again removed from the WRC after a single season, and was replaced by Rally Bulgaria.

During the 2012 season, the FIA put forward a tender for new events, and after a delay of one year, considered events in Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa and Poland for inclusion on the 2014 season calendar. The Rally of Poland was the successful candidate, and returned to the championship in 2014. The proposed route featured stages in nearby Lithuania, in a format similar to the Rally of Sweden, which crosses over the border into Norway.[1] It was removed from the calendar after the 2017 season after the FIA repeatedly raised concerns about the event's safety.[2]

Rally winners

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Year Driver Car
1921   Tadeusz Heyne Dodge
1922   Hans Lorenz Steyr
1923   Henryk Liefeld Austro-Daimler
  Jan Siroucek Praga Grand
1924   Henryk Liefeld Austro-Daimler
1925   Charles Betague Austro-Daimler
1927   Stanisław Szwarcsztajn Austro-Daimler
1928   Cipriano Illiano Fiat 509
1929   Adam hr. Potocki Austro-Daimler g.D
  Josef Vermirovsky Tatra g.F
  Teodor Kredl Praga Piccolo g.G
  Jan Ripper Tatra g.E
  Jaroslav Heusler Praga Grand g.C
  Aachim baron Haebler Maybach g.B
1930   Michał Bitny-Szlachta Ford g.A
  Zygmunt Rahnenfeld Fiat 525 g.B
  Adam hr. Potocki Austro-Daimler g.C
1937   Paul von Guillaeume Adler Trumpf g.II
  Aleksander Mazurek Chevrolet Master Sedan g.V
  Wojciech Kołaczkowski DKW Meisterklasse g.I
1938   Jan Ripper Fiat 1100 (1937) g.I
  Stanisław Szwarcsztajn Lancia Aprilia g.II
  Hans Rauch Mercedes-Benz 230 g.IV
  Witold Rychter Chevrolet Master Sedan g.V
  Jerzy Strenger Citroën Légère g.III
1939   Tadeusz Marek Chevrolet Master Sedan g.IV
  Stefan Grossman Citroën g.II
  Stefan Pronaszko Renault Primaquatre g.III
  Renato Ghisalba Fiat 1100 (1937) g.I
1947   Marian Wierzba Lancia Super Sport g.III
  Witold Rychter Chevrolet Master Sedan g.V
  Zygmunt Andrzejewski Willys g.IV
  Edward Loth KdF g.II
  Alfred Pecko DKW g.I
1948   Ivan Hodac Aero-Minor g.I
  Vaclav Bobek Škoda 1101 g.II
  Julian Łączyński Lancia g.III
  A. Anton BMW g.IV
  Jiri Pohl Jaguar g.V
  Józef Sucharda Jaguar g.VI
1954   Alfons Zielkowski DKW 750 T
  Zbigniew Witkowski Fiat 1100 1300 T
  Edward Niziołek Opel Olympia 1600 T
  Zygmunt Skoczkowski Tatraplan 2000 T
  Stanisław Gustaw FSO Warszawa M-20 2600 T
  Bolesław Majkowski 1946 Ford V8 2600+T
  Stanisław Rusiniak BMW 1600 S
  Franciszek Postawka BMW 328 1600+
1955   Edward Niziołek Opel Olympia g.VI
  Bolesław Majkowski Ford de Luxe g.IX
  Marian Repeta FSO Warszawa M-20 g.VIII
  Henryk Olszewski Škoda g.IV-V
  Jerzy Zaczeniuk Citroën g.VII
  Jacek Dzięciołowski DKW g.III
  Grzegorz Timoszek BMW 328 g.Sport
1956   Marian Repeta FSO Warszawa M-20 g.VIII
  Jerzy Opiela DKW g.III
  Edward Niziołek Citroën BL 11 g.VII
  Janusz Solarski Škoda 1100 g.IV-V
  Kazimierz Tarczyński BMW g.VI-S
  Jan Jagielski Opel Olympia g.VI
1957   Adam Wędrychowski Zwickau P-70 g.III-T
  Mlado Vukovic DKW g.IV-T
  S. Vidmar Porsche 356 1300 S g.V-S
  Walerian Waryszewski BMW 328 g.VII-S
  Mieczysław Sochacki FSO Warszawa M-20 g.VIII-T
  Marek Varisella DKW F8 g.III-S
  Bolesław Majkowski Simca 8 g.V-T
  Władysław Paszkowski Opel Olympia g.VII-T
1959   Kurt Rüdiger Wartburg g.IV
  Krzysztof Komornicki Simca Aronde g.V
  Henryk Ruciński Ford Zephyr g.VIII
  Stanisław Wierzba FSO Syrena g.III
  Andrzej Żymirski Opel Olympia g.VII
1960   Walter Schock Mercedes-Benz 220SE
1961   Eugen Böhringer Mercedes-Benz 220SE
1962   Eugen Böhringer Mercedes-Benz 220SE
1963   Dieter Glemser Mercedes-Benz 220SE
1964   Sobiesław Zasada Steyr-Puch 650TR
1965   Rauno Aaltonen BMC Mini Cooper S
1966   Tony Fall BMC Mini Cooper
1967   Sobiesław Zasada Porsche 912
1968   Krzysztof Komornicki Renault R8 Gordini
1969   Sobiesław Zasada Porsche 911S
1970   Jean-Claude Andruet Alpine-Renault A110 1600
1971   Sobiesław Zasada BMW 2002 tii
1972   Raffaele Pinto Fiat 124 Spider Rally
1973   Achim Warmbold Fiat 124 Abarth Rally
1974   Klaus Russling Porsche 911 Carrera RS
1975   Maurizio Verini Fiat 124 Abarth
1976   Andrzej Jaroszewicz Lancia Stratos HF
1977   Bernard Darniche Lancia Stratos HF
1978   Gilbert Staepelaere Ford Escort RS1800
1979   Antonio Zanini Fiat 131 Abarth
1980   Antonio Zanini Porsche 911
1984   Ingvar Carlsson Mazda RX-7
1985   Branislav Kuzmic Renault 5T
1986   Branislav Kuzmic Renault 5T
1987   Attila Ferjancz Audi Coupé Quattro
1988   Marc Soulet Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1989   Robert Droogmans Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1990   Robert Droogmans Lancia Delta Integrale
1991   Piero Liatti Lancia Delta Integrale
1992   Erwin Weber Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
1993   Robert Droogmans Ford Escort Cosworth
1994   Patrick Snijers Ford Escort Cosworth
1995   Enrico Bertone Toyota Celica T 4WD
1996   Krzysztof Hołowczyc Toyota Celica T 4WD
1997   Patrick Snijers Ford Escort Cosworth WRC
1998   Krzysztof Hołowczyc Subaru Impreza WRC
1999   Robert Gryczyński Toyota Corolla WRC
2000   Henrik Lundgaard Toyota Corolla WRC
2001   Leszek Kuzaj Toyota Corolla WRC
2002   Janusz Kulig Ford Focus RS WRC
2003   Miguel Campos Peugeot 206 WRC
2004   Luca Pedersoli Peugeot 306 Maxi Kit Car
2005   Krzysztof Hołowczyc Subaru Impreza N11
2006   Leszek Kuzaj Subaru Impreza N12
2007   Oscar Svedlund Subaru Impreza N12
2008   Michał Bębenek Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2009   Mikko Hirvonen Ford Focus RS WRC 09
2010   Kajetan Kajetanowicz Subaru Impreza STR09
2011   Kajetan Kajetanowicz Subaru Impreza STR09
2012   Esapekka Lappi Škoda Fabia S2000
2013   Kajetan Kajetanowicz Ford Fiesta R5
2014   Sebastien Ogier Volkswagen Polo R WRC
2015   Sebastien Ogier Volkswagen Polo R WRC
2016   Andreas Mikkelsen Volkswagen Polo R WRC
2017   Thierry Neuville Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC
2018   Nikolay Gryazin Škoda Fabia R5
2019   Alexey Lukyanuk Citroën C3 R5
2021   Alexey Lukyanuk Citroën C3 Rally2
2022   Mikołaj Marczyk Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo
2023   Mārtiņš Sesks Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
2024   Kalle Rovanperä Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

† — Rally was part of the World Rally Championship.

Multiple winners

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Mikolajki Arena

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Every year a Super Special Stage called Mikolajki Arena takes place. 2 crews start at the same time in head-to-head battle. The track record was set on 2024 by Tänak / Järveoja.[3][4]

Stage Crew Car Time
2024 SS1 Tänak / Järveoja Hyundai i20 N Rally1 1:42.5
2024 SS8 Katsuta / Johnston Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 1:43.4
2024 SS8 Rovanperä / Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 1:43.4

References

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  1. ^ "2014 WRC calendar revealed". WRC.com. 27 September 2013. Archived from the original on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  2. ^ Evans, David (7 August 2017). "Turkey and Croatia set for 2018 World Rally Championship calendar". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Tanak breaks Mikolajki Arena record". 80. Rajd Polski. 27 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Stage results ORLEN Rally Poland 2024".
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