- 15 special stages totaling nearly 190 km
- Opening ceremony in downtown Katowice
- The surprise is called Przegibek
- Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium to serve as rally HQ
(28 May 2026) The 82nd edition of the event and the 55th time as a round of the European Championship – these are records that are difficult to surpass and which Rally Poland, our national motorsport classic, can proudly boast. First held in 1921, the rally has crossed almost the entire country during its more than 100-year history. Already during the third edition in 1923, it passed through Katowice and many other cities in Silesia.
This year’s edition, which will be the fourth round of both the European and Polish Rally Championship, will take place from 24–26 July 2026 on asphalt special stages in the Silesian region. The honorary patronage of the event has been assumed by Wojciech Saługa, Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship.
The organizers from the Automobilists Foundation informed the media today about the state of preparations during a press conference held in the impressive interiors of the Silesian Museum in Katowice. Details of the rally route were also revealed, including 15 special stages totaling more than 187 kilometers.
Representatives of the authorities of the Silesian Voivodeship, the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis, the city of Katowice, ORLEN OIL, the Polish Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, and the Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium took part in the conference. The competitors were represented by Polish Champion and Gliwice native Jakub Matulka.
The ceremonial opening of the 82nd Rally Poland will take place on Friday evening in downtown Katowice, while the first stage, GZM Katowice Powered by ORLEN OIL, will be run in the heart of the Silesian capital, right next to the famous Spodek arena. Saturday’s competition will conclude with another spectacular super special stage on the grounds of the Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium. The “Witches’ Cauldron” will also serve as rally headquarters, with the service park and rally offices located there. Sunday’s finish ceremony will likewise take place beside this majestic Polish sports venue.
Only three special stages (Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium, and Hażlach) will retain the same format known from the ERC Rally Silesia 2024. The remaining stages (GZM Katowice, Ochaby, Gmina Jasienica, Kiczyce, and Silesian Voivodeship) have been modified.
The surprise and a return to Rally Poland’s Silesian tradition is the special stage over the Przegibek Pass. This demanding 6.5-kilometer stage, featuring more than fifty hairpins and corners, returns to Rally Poland after 27 years and for the tenth time will host an exciting battle for victory on this iconic test.
Competitors first tackled the Przegibek route in 1967. Italian driver Leo Celli (Lancia Fulvia 1300) won the first two passes of the stage, while the third best time went to Krzysztof Komornicki and co-driver Marek Wachowski (BMW 1600). One year later another Italian, Raffaele Pinto (Fiat 124 Spider), was fastest twice on Przegibek. During the opening round of the 1973 World Rally Championship season, Frenchman Jean-Luc Thérier (Alpine-Renault A110 1800) claimed two victories there.
The famous stage returned to Rally Poland in 1999. Krzysztof Hołowczyc and Jean-Marc Fortin (Subaru Impreza WRC) won the first of two runs, while the second was won by Katowice driver Robert Gryczyński with co-driver Tadeusz Burkacki (Toyota Corolla WRC). Who will join the elite list of nine Przegibek winners this year?
Top competitors fighting for both the European and Polish championship titles will appear at the start in Katowice. On the evening of 26 July, we will learn the names of the driver and co-driver who will join the list of Rally Poland winners.
Statements from the Press Conference:
Waldemar Bojarun – Member of the Board of the Silesian Voivodeship:
The Silesia Rally has long held a strong position in the region’s sporting calendar. This year, the rally is once again part of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) series, but for the first time it will be held as the Rally Poland. An elite international lineup guarantees excitement. Fans will have the opportunity to see in action the most modern and technologically advanced rally cars, with drivers competing for European and national championship titles. It is definitely worth reserving these three July holiday days to watch the world’s top rally teams currently in action — especially since there is no shortage of rally fans here. Attendance is always excellent.
Marcin Krupa – Mayor of Katowice:
The 82nd Rally Poland is one of the oldest and most prestigious rally events in Europe. It is a fantastic spectacle that attracts crowds of motorsport enthusiasts. I am very pleased that the prologue of this event will take place on a spectacular route in downtown Katowice. It is an excellent opportunity to present the potential of the city and the region to a wider audience. I am convinced that participating in this event will provide many unforgettable experiences, which is why I encourage everyone to support the competing crews from across Europe. Let’s meet along the route of the 82nd Rally Poland!
Leszek Pietraszek – Chairman of the Board of the Metropolis GZM:
Rally Poland is gaining a metropolitan identity. It is a great distinction that the heart of this prestigious event will be the Silesian Stadium and the spectacular Super Special Stage GZM Katowice, held in the very center of our Metropolis against the backdrop of Spodek and the Katowice Culture Zone. After years on the gravel roads of northern Masuria, the rally will take place in our region for the first time – a modern, dynamic place ready to host events of international importance. I am convinced that fans will witness motorsport at the highest level here, and participants will feel the unique energy of our region.
Andrzej Wałkowicz – Member of the Board of ORLEN OIL:
Being the strategic sponsor of the 82nd Rally Poland – a legendary event in the world of motorsport – is a special source of pride for us. It is an event of enormous significance that places Poland at the center of global motorsport. For ORLEN OIL, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase the strength of the Polish automotive industry, of which we are a part. In rallying, trust in equipment is the foundation of the fight for podium positions. We build this trust on reliable products manufactured in Polish refineries. We use our domestic production and technological facilities to deliver lubricants with world-class performance. We are proud that, as a leading national producer, we can support competitors and provide fans with top-level excitement. When time and results matter, the reliability of Polish-made products truly makes the difference. Join us along the route!
Michał Sikora – President of the Polish Automobile and Motorcycle Federation:
For more than one hundred years, Rally Poland has shown that it is ‘Polish’ not only in name. From the first edition in 1921 running from Warsaw to Białowieża, through Kraków, Wrocław, the Kłodzko Valley, and Masuria, our national classic has become permanently embedded in the history of motorsport and many regions of the country. The Masurian gravel roads created a unique chapter of this story, and now another lies ahead – a new location and once again asphalt roads in a region that has long been an important point on Poland’s motorsport map. Rally Poland is not only a beautiful tradition, but also one of the most important rally events in Europe. I believe this year’s edition will open another important chapter in the history of our national classic.
Adam Strzyżewski – Director of Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium:
For years, I have watched with satisfaction as the Silesia Rally has consistently developed, and its organization as part of the Rally Poland confirms the prestige and importance of this event. The Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium has remained an important part of the rally for many editions, and I am especially pleased that, in the stadium’s 70th anniversary year, it will become part of one of the world’s oldest rallies. This is a symbolic moment for us — an iconic venue of great importance to the region is joining an event with such a rich tradition and international reputation.
Grzegorz Wróbel – President of the Automobilists Foundation and host of the conference:
It is a great honor for us and also a sign of trust that, after nine editions of Rally Silesia, we have been entrusted with organizing the 82nd Rally Poland. We see this as recognition of our work and experience so far. We are convinced that this will be not only an exceptional sporting event, but also excellent promotion for the entire region. Fans can expect a fantastic atmosphere and a very strong and exciting field of competitors that will guarantee top-level competition.
82nd Rally Poland – What, Where, When?
Friday, 24 July 2026
11:31 – Qualifying Stage – Bieruń, 6.00 km
17:30 – Ceremonial Start – Katowice, Dworcowa Street
21:15 – SSS-1 GZM Katowice Powered by ORLEN OIL , 2.20 km
Saturday, 25 July 2026
09:01 – SS-2 Jastrzębie-Zdrój 1, 17.05 km
10:01 – SS-3 Ochaby 1, 11.20 km
11:01 – SS-4 Gmina Jasienica 1, 19.00 km
13:05 – Service B – Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium
15:01 – SS-5 Jastrzębie-Zdrój 2, 17.05 km
16:01 – SS-6 Ochaby 2, 11.20 km
17:01 – SS-7 Gmina Jasienica 2, 19.00 km
19:05 – SSS-8 Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium, 1.50 km
Sunday, 26 July 2026
08:22 – SS-9 Przegibek, 6.50 km
09:52 – SS-10 Kiczyce 1, 12.10 km
10:45 – SS-11 Hażlach 1, 17.45 km
12:40 – Tyre Fitting Area – Carbonarium Moszczenica
13:05 – SS-12 Silesian Voivodeship 1, 11.90 km
14:02 – SS-13 Kiczyce 2, 12.10 km
14:55 – SS-14 Hażlach 2, 17.45 km
17:05 – SS-15 Silesian Voivodeship 2 POWER STAGE, 11.90 km
19:30 – Finish Ceremony – Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium
Itinerary of 82nd Rally Poland
Partners and Sponsors of the 82nd Rally Poland:
Main Partner – Silesian Voivodeship, Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium
Co-host of the event – Katowice City
Strategic Partner – Metropolis GZM
Strategic Sponsor – ORLEN OIL
Partner of the event – Ministry of Sport and Tourism
Technical Partner – Diverse Extreme