Disclaimer:
As a service to the sport we all love and follow, Rally-Raid Network posts numerous media releases from a wide variety of sources on our website. Due to the large number, and some times short time available, it is nearly impossible to review each public release. These articles are written by reporters or press officers who work for various organizers, teams, drivers, riders, and other parties, and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rally-Raid Network.
Balkan Offroad Rallye 2023: Leg 5 - the new kings of Transylvania
The 11th edition of Balkan Offroad Rallye is now in the books. The second campaign of the race in Romania gave to all the participants 6 amazing days, full of adventure and adrenaline. And now it’s clear who are the big winners.
Before the award ceremony, the competitors had to tackle with the last challenge – 186 kilometers against the clock for the Cross-Country and grueling 66 for the Extreme. And it was a very good luck to all that there wasn’t rain, which could make the finish day really heavy in both the categories.
Starting with the bikes, Krzysztof Jarmuz (KTM) didn’t curse the throttle until the last kilometer. The rider from Poland claimed the last stage win and, logically, the title of this year’s race. Second for the day was to Edvard Sokolovskij (KTM) from Lithuania but the runner-up place in the general standings went to his compatriot Vytautas Radzevicius (KTM, fourth in the stage). The 5th daily position was enough for the Belgian Gunter Sannen (KTM) to take the “bronze medal”.
In the ATV class, Ireneusz Ostafin from Polaris Polska Racing Team tried to beat his team-mate Marcin Wilkolek for the overall win. Ostafin won the last stage, but it was not enough to short the distance and Wilkolek is the crown-champion of Balkan Offroad Rallye 2023. Poland and Polaris made a hattrick with the third place of Adam Krysiak, who finished the stage on 6th place, but had sufficient advance to step on the podium.
Turning the eyes to the SSV class, the new big winners are Murat Kapanoglu and Alexander Trendafilov (Can Am). The duo from Bulgaria made a very good strategy and managed to succeed without a single stage win, but almost always in top 3 after each day. They finished on 4th place in the last day, but it was enough for them to grab the crown. Their main rivals Dalius Olechnavicius and Romualdas Karuzis (Can Am) pushed hard till the last kilometer, but the second place of the final stage wasn’t enough for the Lithuanians and they are second also in the overall, less than 3 minutes behind the winners.
Well-deserved third place for Tomas Zaleckas and Aidas Bubinas (Can Am), also from Lithuania, who finished the last stage with an undisputed win, dethroning the Hungarian crew of Zoltan Garamvoelgyi and Abert Horn (Can Am) from the podium in the last kilometers.
Miroslav Zapletal (Ford F-150), co-piloted by Marek Sykora, made a really spectacular debut in the Car Cross-Country class of Balkan Offroad Rallye. The famous rally-raid driver from Czech Republic and his Slovak navigator didn’t win only the marathon stage this year (but was second there) and finished as a winner (also in the last SS) with a huge advance to their rivals.
The “silver medalists” in the so called “king class” this year are Vincent Vroninks and Dave Berghmans (Nissan Red Lined) from Belgium, who were very constant and managed to hold their position. The return of the RBI veterans Frank Stensky and Christof Trautsch (Lennson Mercedes) was as everyone expected – to be in top 3 with claims to the title. And the Germans proved the predictions, finishing 3rd on the podium.
It's time to mention the Car CC Limited category, where were three crews. Here, the modifications are limited and the vehicles are near stock, with only reinforced suspension and safety modifications. The winners are Marian Andreev and Valentin Capota from the host-country Romania with Dacia Duster. But also interesting are their rivals – Fritz Becker and Constanta Ilie (GER/ROM) plus Alexander Paas and Andreas Perterer (GER/AUT) who counted on… Audi A8! Yep, the two crews used the famous German limo, with some reinforcements according the T2 rules…
Last but not least, in the Balkan Extreme category, Hardo Mere once again proved that even the hardest terrain is a park walk for him and his HM7 prototype. Co-piloted by the Romanian veteran Marius Pop, the Estonian took his second consecutive win of Balkan Offroad Rallye. Estonia is the triple wining country as the second place here belongs to Tarvo Klaasimae and Ats Tsupsman (Honda Proto) and the third position on the podium is for Rainer Ruutli and Rainer Oja (JP5 Proto) from the Baltic country.
As we said, Balkan Offroad Rallye 2023 is already in the books. But RBI race director Alex Kovatchev and his crew already think and work for the next season. And first in the menu for 2024 will be the unique Fenix Rally in Tunisia, which is planned for April next year. After that, in the beginning of the summer is coming the jubilee edition of the legendary Breslau Rallye, which turns 30 years. And, of course, next autumn will be bring another magnifique Balkan Offroad.
Source: RBI SPORT
Helder