Sun 07 Apr 2024
FIA European Rally Championship regulars Erik Cais and Simon Wagner warmed up for V-Híd Rally Hungary in style by winning their respective national events over the course of the weekend.
Cais won Kowax Valašská Rally ValMez in Czech Republic by beating national hero Jan Kopecký after leading from start to finish in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Wagner, who was also armed with a Fabia RS Rally2, finished first on Laser Hero Lavanttal Rallye powered by Dohr Wolfsberg, with his younger brother Julian taking the runner-up spot (pictured below).
Meanwhile, Simone Tempestini, who will also be in action on V-Híd Rally Hungary, came within 1.6sec of winning Rally della Val D'Orcia in Italy but settled instead for second place on his first start in the latest-generation Fabia.
However, it would prove a frustrating trip to Italy for Mikko Heikkilä, who rolled his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 into retirement. The Finn had led and was 1.7sec behind eventual winner Fabrizio Zaldivar when he hit trouble on the final stage.
“The rear of the car went to the soft gravel and started to spin, and I couldn’t catch it and we rolled,” Heikkilä said. “It wasn’t a high-speed off, but still a shame. The rally was a good fight until then, we fought for the win and I tried my best to keep the lead.”
The all-gravel V-Híd Rally Hungary opens the 2024 ERC season in Veszprém from 12 - 14 April.
Finland
Italy
Hungary