Euro RX: Körmöczi one to watch in Euro RX3

He may have enjoyed home advantage, a little bit of extra track knowledge and crowd support, but young Hungarian racer Balázs Körmöczi will be one to watch at other tracks too, after he scored a podium finish on his FIA European Rallycross Championship debut at the Nyirád Racing Center.

Although he didn’t race last year, the 20-year-old (who lives near Budapest) was a three-time champion in 2021 – winning the Hungarian, Austrian and Central Europe rallycross championships.

Driving a new Volkswagen Polo built by Szada Ring Racing KFT, Körmöczi started steadily and was ranked seventh after finishing all four of his heats. He then upped his pace at the critical moment to win his semi-final race from fourth on the grid.

There was no hiding his speed and potential after that result, and in an exciting Euro RX3 final he finished third, behind first time Euro RX3 race winner Damian Litwinowicz of Poland and his Volland Racing Norwegian team-mate Espen Isaksætre, both driving Audi A1s.

After taking a year out of racing in 2022, it was a highly impressive return to competition for Körmöczi.

“The start of the race weekend in Hungary was not the best, but I think we ended our Euro RX3 race debut in the position we deserved,” said Körmöczi.

“After the opening round in Nyirád, all the tracks from now on will be new to me and this will be a big challenge. But we are here to learn and to do our best, and I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”