Polish Rally Championship

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

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).

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

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

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

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