This page contains archived information and may not display perfectly

EHRC - Zippo Leads in Hungary after Thunderstorm Creates Tricky Conditions

26.06.21

The no3 Audi quattro of ‘Zippo’ and Denis Piceno made a great start to the 54th Mecsek Rally, finishing the first leg 33 seconds ahead of the no2 Porsche 911 of Karl Wagner and Gerda Zauner.

Hungary has been sweltering is hot summer weather, with the temperature gauges registering 39 degrees centigrade, over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  However, the forecast was showing thunderstorms on Friday evening, and it proved to be right as dark clouds gathered over the first stage of the rally.  Heavy rain followed making the conditions tricky for the competitors on the forest roads.

The overnight leader in Category 4 is the no1 Porsche 911 of Round 1 winner Lucio Da Zanche and Matteo Nobili.  The Italians finishing the two stages third overall and 17.6 seconds ahead of the no5 Audi quattro A2 of Finnish crew Ville Silvasti and Risto Pietilainen.

Category 2 is once again neck and neck, with Czech crew Vojtech Stajf and Vladimir Zelinka holding a slender 2.8 second lead in the no6 Opel Kadett C GT/E 16v over the no7 Porsche 911 RSR of championship leaders Anders and Ingrid Johnsen.  The no11 Porsche 911 RS of Paolo Pasutti and Giovanni Campeis is third in class and 7th overall, with the Ford Escort of Ernie and Karen Graham in 8th overall and 4th in class.

The no20 Porsche 911 S of Antonio Parisi and Giuseppe D’Angelo is ahead in Category 1, finishing the day in 16th overall and three places ahead of the no22 BMW 2002Ti of Carlo Fiorito and Marina Bertonasco.

The second leg of the rally will feature nine special stages, with the first car due to start SS3 at 08h28.

CLICK HERE for the results from Leg 1 of the 54th Mecsek Rally, Round 3 of the 2021 FIA European Historic Rally Championship.