The Mitropa Rally Cup is a rallying competition in Europe often termed the "European Championship for Non-Professional Drivers”. Established in 1965, drivers participate in races in several countries collecting points to determine the cup winner. The series is organised by the Deutscher Motor Sport Bund and takes place in countries all across Europe mainly in Italy, Croatia, Austria, Slovenia and Hungary. The point score system is loaded so that drivers have the potential to score more points in rallies held in nations more distant from their home country making them able to score more points in rallies they are less likely to be familiar with it. The championship is frequently held over six to eight events. In 2023, 9 races are set to be held with a special stop in Switzerland. The historic Rally du Valais will close the 2023 season with its classic, well-known stages.

Mitropa Rally Cup
CategorySuper 2000
Group N
CountryEurope
Inaugural season1965
Drivers' championGermany Hermann Gassner Sr.
Official websitemitropa-rally-cup.com
Current season

The series has been dominated by German and Italian drivers. The most successful driver in the series history is German driver Hermann Gassner Sr. who has won the title seven times between 2001 and 2022, all while driving Mitsubishi Lancers. Another German driver, Matthias Moosleitner won the title six times between 1984 and 2000.

The event is not to be confused with the Mitropa Cup, a soccer competition.

Champions edit

Sourced in part from:[1]

Year Driver Car
1965   Romberg Austin Cooper
1966   Arnaldo Cavallari Alfa Romeo GTA
1967   Gerhard Tusch Renault 8 Gordini
1968   Wilfried Gass Porsche 911 T
1969   Günther Wallrabenstein BMW 2002 ti
1970   Wilfried Gass Porsche 911 S
1971   Sandro Munari Lancia Fulvia 1.6 Coupé HF
1972   Raffaele Pinto Fiat 124 Spider
1973   Horst Rack Porsche 911 S
1974   Horst Rack Porsche 911 Carrera RS
1975   Vanni Tacchini Fiat 124 Abarth
1976   Franz Wittmann Sr. Opel Kadett GT/E
BMW 2002 ti
1977   Franz Wittmann Sr. Opel Kadett GT/E
1978   Vanni Fusaro Fiat 131 Abarth
1979   Luigi Battistolli Fiat 131 Abarth
1980   Fritz Unterbuchberger Opel Ascona i2000
1981   Mario Aldo Pasetti Fiat 131 Abarth
1982   Franco Corradin Fiat 131 Abarth
1983   Franco Ceccato Fiat 131 Abarth
1984   Matthias Moosleitner Opel Manta 400
1985   Matthias Moosleitner Opel Manta 400
1986   Armin Schwarz Audi 80 Quattro
MG Metro 6R4
1987   Jiří Sedlář Škoda 130 LR
1988   Andreas Wetzelsperger BMW E30 M3
1989   Matthias Moosleitner BMW E30 M3
1990   Matthias Moosleitner BMW E30 M3
1991   Matthias Moosleitner BMW E30 M3
1992   Wolfgang Weber BMW E30 M3
1993   Markus Kipple Nissan Sunny GTI-R
1994   Gianmarino Zenere Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1995   Wolfgang Weber Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1996   Claudio De Cecco Subaru Impreza 555
1997   Lothar Ammelounx Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1998   Anton Werner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
1999   Ezio Soppa Lancia Delta HF Integrale
2000   Matthias Moosleitner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
2001   Hermann Gassner Sr. Proton Pert
Mitsubishi Carisma GT
2002   Pier Lorenzo Zanchi Toyota Corolla WRC
Lancia Delta HF Integrale
2003   Ruben Zeltner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
2004   Claudio De Cecco Peugeot 206 WRC
Subaru Impreza STi N10
2005   Claudio De Cecco Subaru Impreza STi N10
Peugeot 206 WRC
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
2006   Jiří Tošovský Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
2007   Hermann Gassner Sr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2008   Hermann Gassner Sr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2009   Hermann Gassner Jr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2010   Hermann Gassner Sr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2011   Asja Zupanc Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2012   Bernd Zanon Renault Clio S1600
2013   Hermann Gassner Sr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2014   Manuel Kössler Subaru Impreza STi
2015   Hermann Gassner Sr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2016   Krisztián Hideg Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2017   Krisztián Hideg Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
Ford Fiesta R5
Škoda Fabia R5
2018   Gergely Fogasy Peugeot 208 T16
2019   Hermann Gassner Jr. Toyota GT86
Hyundai i20 R5
2020 CANCELLED
2021   Lukas Dunner Škoda Fabia R5
2022   Hermann Gassner Sr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2023   András Hadik Ford Fiesta Rally2

References edit

  1. ^ "Winner from 1965 to now" (PDF). Mitropa Rally Cup. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.

External links edit