Polish Rally Championship

Rajdowe Samochodowe Mistrzostwa Polski (RSMP) – the annual series of Polish Rally Championship existing from 1928. Consisting of several rounds on different surfaces throughout Poland. The organizer and owner of the cycle is Polski Związek Motorowy (PZM). In 2008 the main sponsor of the series is Orlen oil company and its full name is Platinum Rajdowe Samochodowe Mistrzostwa Polski (Platinum Car Rally Championship Polish).

Three times champion Bryan Bouffier in his Peugeot 207 S2000 during Rzeszowski Rally 2007

A prerequisite for the start to RSMP is to have a rally license degree "R" or "R co-driver only" (entitles you to take off only as a co-driver). As of 2007, foreign drivers have been allowed to gain points.

History edit

 
Four times champion Kajetan Kajetanowicz in his Subaru Impreza STi R4 during Wisla Rally 2013

Rallies in Poland almost always were at a high level of security and organisation. The Second World War stopped high advancement of rallies. After the war Polish Rallies had problems. Just in 60s RSMP launched in high level. Great Polish drivers went to the conquest of Europe and Sobiesław Zasada has proved to be the best, he won three European Rally Championship titles (now World Rally Championship). He imported the latest sports cars, so he dominate of RSMP. In 1975 won title young driver Marian Bublewicz in Polski Fiat 125p from Olsztyn. Since then RSMP won different drivers: Tomasz Ciecierzyński, Włodzimierz Groblewski, Jerzy Landsberg, Błażej Krupa, Maciej Stawowiak, Tomasz Ciecierzyński.

 
Three times champion Grzegorz Grzyb in his Škoda Fabia R5 during Rally Poland 2018

In 1980s for a title fight Marian Bublewicz and Andrzej Koper. They imported Japanese sports cars and Renault. Only in 1987 Bublewicz won championship in Polonez 2000. so it was amazing. In 1989–1992 Bublewicz had no equal. In 1993 he purchased Ford Escort Cosworth for next title, but new car was not ready for the first in season Zimowy Rajd Dolnośląski. He started in hired Ford Sierra. For unknown reasons, he lost car and hit in tree. Marian Bublewicz died in hospital. Polish fans and PZM were shocked. Bublewicz's fatal crash caused work on security.

In 1990s for title going Paweł Przybylski, Krzysztof Hołowczyc, Robert Gryczyński and Janusz Kulig. All the leading drivers have top cars from World Rally Championship and rivalry was very hard.

Polish Rally Champions edit

After 1966

Season Champion Car
2023   Grzegorz Grzyb Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo
2022   Tom Kristensson Hyundai i20 R5
2021   Mikołaj Marczyk Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo
2020   Jari Huttunen Hyundai i20 R5
2019   Mikołaj Marczyk Škoda Fabia R5
2018   Grzegorz Grzyb Škoda Fabia R5
2017   Filip Nivette Škoda Fabia R5
2016   Grzegorz Grzyb Ford Fiesta R5
Škoda Fabia R5
Peugeot 208 VTI
2015   Łukasz Habaj Ford Fiesta R5
2014   Wojciech Chuchała Ford Fiesta R5
2013   Kajetan Kajetanowicz Subaru Impreza STi R4
Ford Fiesta R5
2012   Kajetan Kajetanowicz Subaru Impreza STi R4
2011   Kajetan Kajetanowicz Subaru Impreza STi R4
2010   Kajetan Kajetanowicz Subaru Impreza TMR 10
2009   Bryan Bouffier Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2008   Bryan Bouffier Peugeot 207 S2000
2007   Bryan Bouffier Peugeot 207 S2000
2006   Leszek Kuzaj Subaru Impreza STi N11
2005   Leszek Kuzaj Subaru Impreza STi N11
2004   Leszek Kuzaj Subaru Impreza STi N10
2003   Tomasz Czopik Subaru Impreza WRC '99
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
2002   Leszek Kuzaj Toyota Corolla WRC
Peugeot 206 WRC
2001   Janusz Kulig Ford Focus RS WRC '00
2000   Janusz Kulig Ford Focus RS WRC '99
1999   Krzysztof Hołowczyc Subaru Impreza WRC '98
1998   Robert Gryczyński Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST205)
Toyota Corolla WRC
1997   Janusz Kulig Renault Mégane Maxi
1996   Krzysztof Hołowczyc Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)
1995   Krzysztof Hołowczyc Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)
1994   Paweł Przybylski Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165)
1993   Paweł Przybylski Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165)
1992   Marian Bublewicz Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4
1991   Marian Bublewicz Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1990   Marian Bublewicz Mazda 323 4WD
1989   Marian Bublewicz Mazda 323 4WD
1988   Andrzej Koper Renault 11 Turbo
1987   Marian Bublewicz Polonez 2000
1986   Mariusz Kostrzak Toyota Corolla
1985   Andrzej Koper Renault 5 Alpine
Renault 11 Turbo
1984   Andrzej Koper Renault 5 Alpine
1983   Marian Bublewicz Opel Kadett GT/E
1982   Andrzej Koper Renault 5 Alpine
1981   Tomasz Ciecierzyński Polonez 2000
1980   Maciej Stawowiak Polonez 2000
1979   Błażej Krupa Renault 5 Alpine
1978   Jerzy Landsberg Opel Kadett GT/E
1977   Włodzimierz Groblewski Polski Fiat 125p
1976   Tomasz Ciecierzyński Polski Fiat 125p
1975   Marian Bublewicz Polski Fiat 125p
1974   Błażej Krupa Renault 12 Gordini
1973   Sobiesław Zasada Porsche Carrera RS
1972   Krystian Bielowski Polski Fiat 125p
1971   Włodzimierz Markowski Polski Fiat 125p
1970   Adam Masłowiec FSO Syrena 104
1969   Ryszard Nowicki Renault 8 Gordini
1968   Sobiesław Zasada Porsche 911
1967   Sobiesław Zasada Porsche 912
Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Coupé HF

Multiple wins by individual edit

Name Titles Winning Years
  Marian Bublewicz 7 1975, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992
  Andrzej Koper 4 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988
  Leszek Kuzaj 4 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006
  Kajetan Kajetanowicz 4 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  Sobiesław Zasada 3 1967, 1968, 1973
  Krzysztof Hołowczyc 3 1995, 1996, 1999
  Janusz Kulig 3 1997, 2000, 2001
  Grzegorz Grzyb 3 2016, 2018, 2023
  Bryan Bouffier 3 2007, 2008, 2009
  Błażej Krupa 2 1974, 1979
  Paweł Przybylski 2 1993, 1994
  Mikołaj Marczyk 2 2019, 2021

References edit