Rally Hungary 2023: Tempestini Starts Strong on Home Soil, McRae Hits Trouble
Romania’s Tempestini Tops Super Special Stage
Boldogkőváralja, Hungary
In a thrilling start to Rally Hungary 2023, Romanian driver Cristian Tempestini powered his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 on MRF tyres to a commanding victory in the 2.05-kilometer super special stage. Tempestini, who won last year’s Rally Hungary, completed the mixed-surface test in 1 minute, 45.2 seconds, outpacing his competitors by a 0.3-second margin.
"It’s a super special stage so a really short start, the first stage will be really interesting to see the real pace of each one of us." – Cristian Tempestini
Local Favorite번에訪いい clones to Sixth Place
The home crowd was treated to a spectacular performance from their four-time champion, Beni Bagosi, who finished sixth, the fastest among local competitors. Despite calling it "just a show," Bagosi expressed his delight in racing on his home turf.
"I like racing in my home, this area is my second home and I know quite well the stages." – Beni Bagosi
McRae’s Early Misfortune
Max McRae, son of the legendary rally driver Colin McRae, encountered trouble early on when he struck a concrete barrier with the left rear corner of his Citroën C3 Rally2. Although he managed to complete the stage, the damage significantly slowed his progress.
ERC3 and ERC Junior Update
Tristan Charpentier maintained his strong start to the FIA ERC3 season by topping the Rally3 category. Meanwhile, in the Junior ERC division, Estonian driver Jaspar Vaher gave the Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF a dream debut, securing the fastest time among Hankook-equipped crews.
Stage Halted by Accident
The super special stage was delayed for several minutes after an accident involving Polish driver Sebastian Butynski, who hit a concrete barrier, moving two barriers onto the track and causing obstacles for his teammate, Hubert Kowalczyk.
Looking Ahead
Rally Hungary 2023 continues tomorrow (Saturday) with the 18.75km Hegyesd stage, starting at 09:18 local time.
Key Takeaways
- Romanian driver Cristian Tempestini set the pace in the opening stage of Rally Hungary 2023.
- Local favorite Beni Bagosi finished sixth, fastest among Hungarian drivers.
- Max McRae struggled with early damage after striking a barrier.
- VIEW GALLERY
- Tristan Charpentier and Jaspar Vaher remain dominant in their respective classes.
- Stage delay due to an incident involving Sebastian Butynski.
Did you know?
Last year, Cristian Tempestini became the first Romanian driver to win a European Rally Championship event in Hungary since 1975.
Pro tip
Stay tuned for live updates and interviews as the rally unfolds in this action-packed weekend.
What’s next?
Follow the 18.75km Hegyesd stage live tomorrow at 09:18 local time to witness the tense competition unfolding.
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