Grzegorz Grzyb, the current leader of the Polish Rally Championship (RSMP), emerged victorious in the fourth round of the series, the Małopolska Rally. The competition took a dramatic turn on the 9th special stage when Jarosław Szeja, who had been leading the rally, suffered a serious accident while driving his Hyundai I20 Rally2.
Grzyb seized the opportunity to take the lead just two sections before the rally’s conclusion. Szeja’s unfortunate crash occurred on the 10.2 km long Stryszów 2 stage, where he lost control of his Hyundai, veering off the route. Prior to this stage, Szeja had maintained a 23.9-second lead over Grzyb. However, as he approached a fast right-hand bend, he failed to keep the car on the road and collided with the side, causing the vehicle to somersault several times before coming to a stop on its roof.
Fortunately, both the driver and co-driver managed to escape the wreckage unassisted. Witnesses reported that the co-driver, Marcin Szeja, was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Sucha Beskidzka, while the driver was airlifted by LPR helicopter to the hospital in Krakow.
As a result of the crash, the special stage had to be halted and subsequently canceled. Only the four crews driving Hyundai cars were able to reach the finish line, as the remaining competitors involved in the pile-up were redirected to an alternative route.
Marcin Szeja has since been discharged from the hospital, while Jarosław Szeja remains under observation. Although the accident appeared severe, neither of them sustained any serious injuries or fractures.
Following the accident, Grzyb, who had a chance to secure his first career victory in an RSMP round, claimed the lead. He maintained control over his rivals during the final two stages of the rally, securing second and third place and ultimately clinching the victory.
The last two stages of the event were won by Łukasz Byśkiniewicz, driving a Skoda Fabia Rally2.
The Valvoline Małopolska Rally marked the beginning of the second part of the RSMP season, exclusively on asphalt. Grzyb, who had previously triumphed in the Świdnica Rally, the ORLEN 79th Rally of Poland, and the 42nd Podlasie Rally, retained his position at the top of the championship table with 90 points. The driver based in Rzeszów has now extended his lead over his rivals in the RSMP.
The RSMP 2023 calendar features a total of seven events. Following the Małopolska Rally, three more rallies are yet to be contested: the Rzeszowski Rally in August, the Silesian Rally in September, and the Wisła Rally in early October.
It’s worth noting that the reigning 2022 Polish champion, Tom Kristensson from Sweden, opted not to participate in the RSMP this year with his Hyundai I20 R5.