Over the warm-up. Over the necessary paperwork, namely the administrative check and the scrutineering. Some made tests as well, so everything went according to the normal routine at the Hungarian cross-country World Cup race called HunGarian Baja. However, at such times the competitors showed some fever of excitement that they were eager to push the pedal to the metal.

As expected the two biggest stars, the two-time Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mikko Hirvonen racing with a factory Mini, arrived at almost exactly the same time on Thursday at the administrative check, so they had chance to pull each other’s leg. The Qatari was joking that he practically felt at home in the Hungarian heat, while the Finnish felt spectacularly indignant at being unequal to the desert climate, although recently he had had time to get used to it.

Al-Attiyah won HunGarian Baja three times, Hirvonen once last year. Both of them were glad to return to the race around Veszprém, they love the stages here.

‘This is one of my favourite races. The stages are different from the ones all over the world, bumpy, technical stages, you must focus on until the end, if you do not intend to make a mistake. But I do love it for that reason. I love challenges and the Hungarian World Cup race is full of them. By the way, not incidentally we are fighting for the World Cup leading position’ said Nasser Al-Attiyah.

As of Hirvonen he recalled a totally different race from last year than the one he is in for now.

"Everything was different here a year ago. It rained, the stages were muddy and tricky, while now there is extreme heat and dust." Said Hirvonen "Although I have heard that the rain is coming. Whatever weather is, I expect very hard fight, because Nasser is a strong opponent and it is always great pleasure to compete against him."

"And what has happened since last year? I have gained lot of experience, I learnt something at every race and if you start at a race for the second time, you are definitely better than at first. It allows me to be optimistic.’

The top bikers will arrive on Friday morning to come through the compulsory routine, namely the paperwork. The official starting ceremony will start at 4 pm at Óváros Square in Veszprém, where all competitors will march on featuring the band called Animal Cannibals.

Przygonski with his Mini ahead on Domzala and Kaczmarski with the Toyota Hilux. Italian Championship led by Borsoi ahead on Codecà and Algarotti. Today two laps of the Valvadrom and the grand finale with the Prize Giving Ceremony in piazza XX Settembre.

Hot, muggy weather, and pilots’ sweat. A stony, insidious track with fords full of water. The second day disputed at the Italian Baja didn’t change its classical format to exalt the challenge along the Cosa and Tagliamento riverbeds. No benefit from the refreshing plunges into the fords, but a further complicated and hard selection of the vehicles along the three laps of the Selective Sector “Cantina” of 91,08 km. Highlight Pole pilots and Toyota Hilux Overdrive thanks to Martin Kaczmarski who came first in the morning (1h10’28’’) and Aron Domzala who gained the first position at lunch time (1h05’37’’), while in the afternoon the final line was crossed by Jakub Przygonski (1h04’46’’) with his Mini All4 Racing, always maintaining his leadership in the World Cup. The X-Raid driver got victory with a time of 3h36’01’’7 ahead on Domzala with a gap of 2’35’’4 and Kaczmarski after 4’11’’1. As for the Italian Championship, first position for Elvis Borsoi (Toyota Toyodell) in 4h03’23’’8 snipping 6’10’’8 off the time of Lorenzo Codecà (Suzuki Grand Vitara), delayed mainly by the power steering problems suffered during the second lap. Third place for Nicolò Algarotti (Qyaddy Yamaha) after a gap of 8’17’’0.

“CANTINA 1”. It’s the Toyota Hilux Overdrive of the Pole Kaczmarski to get the best time this morning, from Domanis to Valvadrom, in 1h25’24’’7. Eugenio Amos (Buggy 2wd) gains a fantastic second position with a gap of 21’’, Jakub Przygonski is third (Mini All4 Racing) after 22’’ with a gap of 33’’1 ahead on his Team companion. Behind them, Zapletal (Ford 150) with 1’47’’, Domzala (Toyota Hilux Overdrive) 1’51’’ and Gadasin (G-Force) after 1’53’’ who moves down to the fifth position. Amos leads the Italian rank, Scandola (Polaris Razor) is the virtual second as Side by Side vehicles don’t compete in the World Cup but although they are limited to the TM Group in the Italian Championship, they demonstrate to be highly competitive. Borsoi (Toyota Toyodell) suffers an important delay because of some troubles, keeping anyway his tenth position in the Overall. Also Codecà (Suzuki Grand Vitara) seems to find some obstacle in the fords crossing, but he can still recover. As for TM Trentin (Polaris Razor), with a vehicle not really efficient he has to lag in 2’51’’8 behind Scandola, although behind him we find the Yamaha Quaddy with a brilliant Vagaggini in third. The trio Suzuki Vitara leads T2 class respectively with Spinetti, Alfano and Lolli . A great Lops ahead on Seaidan (Toyota Landcruiser), leader of the World Cup. Another Pole, Wiatr (Sam Mrt) is the leader of TH, followed by Grandi (Nissan Patrol), Petrucci (Mercedes 300GD) and Grossi (Land Rover Defender).

“CANTINA 2”. The second passage encourages competitors. As dangerous points have already been identified, drivers definitely dare to accelerate now. Domzala climbs the classification with the time of 1h05’37’’ advantaging of 6’42’’ his first lap (!), Przygonski concedes just 14’’, Zapletal finishes with 1’58’’, Kaczmarski with a gap of 2’03’’. Chin-up for Abu-Issa with his Mini X-Raid, getting the fifth best time after a gap of 3’41’’ which allows him to anticipate the Hilux Overdrive of Chabot and Alvarez. Ko suffered by Gadasin just in the same point as last year with his G-Force stopped by mechanical problems. Still on the challenging route Novikov, his Team companion: eight position in 7’53’’, tenth in the Overall. Borsoi leads Italians in 1h13’55’’, 4’22’’ slower than during his first passage. Codecà cannot do better than 3’19’’ because of power steering troubles, seizing anyway the second position in the Overall Italian Rank. In T2 Spinetti confirms his superiority ahead on Alfano with a gap of 39’’2 and Lolli who finishes with 1’23’’2, Lops maintains the fourth position, while Seaidan is fifth. Great performance of Side by Side vehicles. Ventura is back on the scene with his Quaddy (1h15’32’’) just availing himself of the broken drive shaft of the Polaris of Scandola. The TM Group classification is revolutionized not only by the first position of Ventura, but also by the second place gained by Vagaggini with a gap of 39’’6, and the third position seized by Tonetti in 1’51’’7, followed by Tinaburri and Versace. The first Razor to cross the finishing line is the one of Cristian D’Agnolo, sixth position after a gap of 20’18’’3, while hot on his wheels there is Trentin with 20’31’’1.

“CANTINA 3”. Record of the day for Przygonski in 1h04’46’’, followed by Domzala in 50’’ and Kaczmarski in 1’49’’. The three Poles who dominated the scene today can happily rest. Zapletal (Ford 150) had to leave the podium, but the Czech still represents an obstacle for all the others. Borsoi, Codecà and Algarotti seize the Saturday’s Italian podium. Penalties and troubles let Ventura move down to the bottom of the TM classification, now led by Vagaggini with a time of 4h13’35’’9. “Unbelievable” is the ironic opinion of the driver from Cordenons. Surprises also for the second place gained by Roberto Tonetti after a gap of 3’24’’1, Italian Champion of motor pentathlon in 1994. Third position reached by Tullio Luigi Versace to complete the temporary podium of Quaddy Yamaha. The TH Group Augusto Grandi Giovanni with Nissan Patrol finished in 4h38’32’’1, Claudio Petrucci second after a gap of 1’20’’8 with his Mercedes 300GD, third in 1’48’’8 Simone Grossi with Land Rover Defender. Very short gaps, tomorrow we will see.

Nasser al-Attijah for the fourth or Mikko Hirvonen for the second time? Or anybody else could win HunGarian Baja? This is the most important question before the start of the Hungarian cross-country World Cup race.

The factory drivers, who have already proved themselves at Dakar, will fight against each other again around Veszprém, so tense battle is guaranteed.

The Hungarian World Cup race will be held next weekend from Friday to Sunday, the official starting ceremony will take place at 4pm at Óváros Square in Veszprém, where the band called Animal Cannibals will also play.

"After the spectacular starting ceremony the competitors could do what they like the most, pedal to the metal" said Zoltán Garamvölgyi, chief organiser of HunGarian Baja.

"This year we are glad to welcome world famous stars again, namely two-time Dakar winner Nasser al-Attijah or Mikko Hirvonen, who had gained his experience at World Rally Championships, but has been performing better and better in cross-country as well, or Kuba Przygonski, who started his career as a motorbike racer and now goes very fast on four wheels either."

"It is obvious that very fierce battle can be expected between them and not only for the World Cup points, but because this race can be considered as one of the last stops of the Dakar preparation for them. This year we have set out fans’ points again and we really ask the fans to watch the race at these points, namely Hajmáskér, zero point and Jutaspuszta."

Last year’s edition was won by Mikko Hirvonen, the technical stages around Veszprém suited him perfectly and since he got used to drive between trees at the World Rally Championships, he was not scared by the forest roads.

It might be the secret for Nasser al-Attijah either to be extremely fast at HunGarian Baja, so it will be interesting to see what they could do against each other. It could also be an issue how the Hungarian drivers enjoying the home soil at least due to their local knowledge might get into the great bigs’ battle.

The local authorities of Veszprém certainly give warm welcome either to foreign or home competitors and not only they were glad that the race returned to the city, but the drivers as well. Especially that the winners will get their hands on world famous Herendi Porcelain trophies.

At the press conference held on Thursday at the Town Hall of Veszprém – where 3x Hungarian Champion Károly Fazekas (car) and 2x Hungarian Champion Richard Hodola (bike) were also spoken –, Péter Ovádi, member of the Municipal Council emphasized that he was pleased to participate again at this prestigious international race.

"I had lots of nice memories from last year’s HunGarian Baja and not only me, but every people who came to the race – said Péter Ovádi. – This can be one of the many reasons that the City of Veszprém is very proud to host this event again."

"During this period of the year everybody has an eye on Veszprém, the hotels are full, many tourists arrive to the city and spread abroad our fame and world-class competitors come to visit us, namely Nasser al-Attijah or Mikko Hirvonen."

"We could say that HunGarian Baja has been linked to Veszprém such as street music or Veszprém Fest and, for our great pleasure, it has found home in our city. Nowadays the whole country has proved to be able to host even the biggest sport events and I am sure that Veszprém also be equal to it and we could see another great race."

The pole leads the Overall Rank with its Mini. The driver from Veneto runs away with the Toyodell

The eagle of Lech flies high above the Italian Baja sky. It is in fact a Pole pilot to lead the rank of the Pordenone race, valid as sixth leg of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies. Jakub Przygonski, the 32 years driver from Varsavia, ends the 19,31 km “Memorial Azzaretti” Super Special Stage ahead on all the others with its Mini All4Racing, the Prologue along the Tagliamento riverbed. He got the time of 14’34’’7, with a gap of 30’’4 ahead on the compatriot Aron Domzala and his Toyota Hilux Overdrive. Third position after a gap of 33’’1 for the Bohemian Miroslav Zapletal driving a Ford 150.

WORLD CUP. The track of about 20 km started near the Ponte della Delizia on the Tagliamento river (in Valvasone), in the so-called Valvadrom area. Przygonski immediately finds the right rhythm, defeating all challengers, included Boris Gadasin (G-Force) who won three times here (2007, 2009 and 2011), but reaching here just the fourth position because of a 36” gap. Fifth place for another Russian, Andrey Novikov (G-Force), after a gap of 39’’2, while the sixth place is seized by another Pole, Martin Kaczmarski, with the Toyota Hilux Overdrive (55’’1).

ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP. First in the Italian rank – the race is valid also for the National Cross Country Rally Championship- is Elvis Borsoi (Toyota Toyodell), seizing the seventh position of the Overall Rank with a gap of 1’00’’1 after unluckily loosing the Tripmaster, the instrument which help pilots in the space/time counting by car. After a gap of 54’’8 from his time (15’34’’8) the Lombard pilot Lorenzo Codecà (Suzuki Gran Vitara), while between them we find Lorenzo Traglio (Tubolare Tecnosport) with a gap of 39’’2.

TM GROUP. Graziano Scandola got a time of 15’43” with Polaris Rzr 1000 XP, defeating all Side by Side challengers just after few meters from the start. Second position after a gap of 38’’8 for Franco Ricci. Third position reach by the tout terrain Italian pluri-champion Mauro Trentin, with a gap of 51’’8, who completes the partial podium signed by Razor turbo, while Amerigo Ventura seizes the fourth place after a gap of 1’02’’7 with the first of the Yamaha Quaddy.

TH GROUP. Among the expired inscription vehicles the leader is Francesco Ceschin, who ends the race with his Mitsubishi Pajero in a time of 17’57’’6. Behind him the Pole Mariusz Wiatr, who reaches the arrival line with a Sam Mrt after a gap of 11’’7 from the partial leader. Giovanni Augusto Grandi completes the podium with his Nissan Patrol Gr suffering a delay of 30’’5.

TODAY’S PROGRAM. Crews will leave the Fair starting from 7.05am to reach the start of the first Selective Sector, called “Cantina”: car number 1 will start at 8am. A 91 km tout terrain track from Domanins to the Valvadrom. Then the other passages: at 12pm the second, followed by the third at 4pm. On Sunday at 8.30am, after leaving the Head Quarter from 7.35am, the last race’s day: pilots will face the Special Valvadrom 1, starting from the Valvadrom and arriving in Rauscedo after a 86 km track. At 12pm once more the same track, then everybody in piazza XX Settembre from 3pm for the Prize Giving Ceremonies.