2022 Hungarian Baja: The best warm up for Vanagas and Brabec

 With the pre-race press conference, the qualifying stage and the spectacular ceremonial start in front of the Thury Castle in Várpalota, the HunGarian Baja started on Friday. The results of the race counting towards the Baja European Cup in the car category and the Baja World Cup in the bike category.

The 9.47-kilometre qualifying stage was not crucial, but it was a great chance for the competitors to warm up and feel the Hungarian heat.

The fastest rider was Czech Jan Brabec, who knows that this is just the beginning. “It was a very good and enjoyable stage, but it was also quite tough,” said Brabec.

Hungary’s Richard Hodola finished third in the World Cup standings.

“So far I’m doing what I planned, I didn’t make any mistakes, but it could have been better,” said Hodola.

In the car category, Lithuania’s Benediktas Vanagas was the fastest (Toyota Hilux), followed by the Czech Michal Maluszynski (Mini).

“It’s my first time racing in Hungary, the tracks are completely new to me and to be honest, I expected them to be a bit different,” said Benediktas Vanagas. "The truth is that I hate the dust, so I had to win the qualifying stage to start first. I have a new co-driver who is very experienced, but he comes from WRC, so this race is a good opportunity for us to prepare for the Dakar.”

The best Hungarian was the duo of Kornél Lukács and Márk Mesterházi – the young driver has tried himself in rally and rallycross, but this is his first year in cross-country rally. Third place was perhaps a bit of a surprise for him. “It’s terribly hot, but I was really happy to have a good drive: I needed these nine kilometres,” said Lukács. – The car is fine, I really enjoyed the stage and I don’t think the result was bad, although I don’t want to pay attention to the result at all, my goal is to finish. I want to race calm and say at the finishline that I didn’t make a mistake, because I still have to get used to this long distance.”

CLASSIFICATION

Qualifying stage. Bike: 1. Jan Brabec (Czech, KTM) 7:20.4, 2. Mulec (Czech, Husqvarna) 33.2 sec h., 3. Hodola (Hungarian, KTM) 50.9 sec h. Car: 1. Benediktas Vanagas, Kuldar Sikk (Lithuanian, Estonian, Toyota Hilux) 6:45.6, 2. Maluszynski, Kurzeja (Polish, Mini John Cooper) 1.1 sec h., 3. Lukács, Mesterházi (Hungarian, Toyota Hilux) 8.7 sec h., …6. Lónyai, Szőke (Hungarian, Porsche Macan) 15.6 sec h.

Source Hungarian Baja