Sat 24 Feb 2024
Rally Silesia is not only gearing up to host the European Rally Championship for the first time in 2024, it also has the honour of staging the season finale when it takes place in October.
Taking over from Rally Poland as the country’s ERC counting round, albeit on asphalt rather than gravel, the Katowice-based event is named after the southern Polish region where it’s located.
First held in 2017, Rally Silesia always attracts big spectator numbers with fans also traveling from nearby Czech Republic and Slovakia to watch the action.
What? Rally Silesia, 2024 FIA European Rally Championship Round 8 of 8, 2024 FIA Junior ERC Championship Round 6 of 6
When? 12 - 14 October
Where? Katowice, Silesia, Poland
What’s new? Having formed part of the FIA European Rally Trophy calendar in 2023, Rally Silesia becomes the first Polish ERC round on asphalt since Rally Rzeszów in 2017. Although the event is new for the bulk of the ERC regulars, ERC star drivers from the past, such as Wojciech Chuchała, Łukasz Habaj, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Sobiesław Zasada all built their experience on the roads of the Silesia region.
What’s in store? Rally Silesia offers junctions aplenty on bumpy, twisty, but fast mountain roads that are also known for their changeable surface and inconsistent grip. Run from Katowice’s multi-purpose Silesian Stadium, the event begins with a super special stage held within the host city’s central district.
What’s been said? Iain Campbell, ERC championship manager: “For an event to be considered for inclusion in the FIA European Rally Championship it must first pass a rigorous technical inspection as well as demonstrating that it brings something fresh and extra to the calendar. Rally Silesia more than makes the grade, so much so that it was considered worthy to host the prestigious deciding round of the season. We’re delighted to welcome the event to the ERC family and equally pleased that we can maintain Poland’s presence on the calendar. We also know the competitors will savour the challenge and the warm welcome they’ll get from the people of Katowice and from the fans watching the action unfold on the stages. It won’t be an easy event given the technical nature of the bumpy and broken Tarmac roads, as well as the many junctions the drivers will have to negotiate, but the ERC places a great emphasis on training world rally champions of the future. Rally Silesia will form an important part of that process.”
Maciej Woda, M-Sport Poland director: “It’s a good event and one I have always enjoyed going to. I enjoy the stages the drivers will also enjoy the stages.”
More information: https://rajdslaska.pl/en/
Rally Silesia is run under the patronage of Jakub Chełstowski, Marshal of the Silesian Voivodship, the event’s main partner. The rally’s strategic partner is the Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis, whose chairperson of the management board is Kazimierz Karolczak. The partner of the event is the city of Katowice whose mayor is Marcin Krupa. The city of Bielsko-Biała is another event partner. The rally is organised in cooperation with Cieszyn, Pszczyna, Bielsko and Bieruńsko-Lędziński, the city of Jastrzębie-Zdrój, as well as the communes of Skoczów, Jasienica, Hażlach, Pawłowice, Strumień and Dębowiec. Rally Silesia is sponsored by Silesia Oil sp. z o.o., manufacturer of the AVIA oil brand, Febi Bilstein and FOB-Decor. Motul is the title sponsor of the Polish championship. Motowizja is the media partner of the event. RMF Maxx is the rally’s exclusive radio partner.
Photos: Wojciech Anusiewicz, Maciej Niechwiadowicz and Kaja Wróblewska
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