The highlight of the 2024 rally season, the magnificent Dobersberg Autumn Rally, saw the eagerly awaited grand finale of the Austrian Rally Challenge (ARC). Austria’s rally series for popular sports was once again able to prove that a format that keeps costs to a reasonable level and an honest effort to work together ensures that there is a lot of interest among the participants and thus an attractive starting field. Which in turn can inspire the fans – win/win/win for everyone involved.
However, in the end only ONE can become the new club champion of the Austrian Rally Challenge. At the grand finale in and around Dobersberg, there were only two possible candidates left to choose from: Marcel Nimmer and Lukas Dirnberger (both Ford Fiesta ST M1). Both corresponded to the premise of the ARC founders, according to which it should also be possible to fight for the club championship with inexpensive, less powerful cars.
From the first test on this Saturday, Lukas Dirnberger had the “better hand” – similar to his brother Raphael Dirnberger, who in turn was fighting for the club championship in the Austrian Rallye Trophy (ART), but more on that below.
Because Marcel Neuer had technical problems at the ARC Grand Finale, Lukas Dirnberger was able to celebrate as the new ARC club champion in the end. However, the newcomer can console himself with the beautiful title in the Achim Mörtl Junior Rally State Championship, which he won the weekend before.
Lukas Dirnberger is the new ARC club champion
The Dirnberger brothers were born with the joy of motorsport, as Lukas explains: “Our father was active in rallycross and rallying and both Raphael and I drove ourselves at an early age; I initially drove motocross as a hobby , but you’re less comfortable on two wheels than on four. That’s how I started rallycross when I was 13.”
A special feature of this successful pair of brothers: Raphael, being two years older, was often the one who cleared the way in the “jungle”. But the fact that Raphael and Lukas became Ford Racing rookies in two consecutive years is a very special achievement! If you consider that around 400 young hopefuls always take part in the preliminary rounds, including always some real talents. Raphael was also crowned club champion in the Junior ARC a year before Lukas.
Back to the annual ranking of the ARC group: The top 3 are Lukas Dirmberger, Marcel Frühlinger and Max Maier, who led the table before the penultimate race, but then lost his chances for the title due to a rigorous but necessary result.
ARCA: Fast “HVO100 glowers”
In the ARC overall ranking, the two alternative diesel users Markus Jaitz (with legend Johann Drapela on the pillion) as well as Andreas and Silvia Fraissl ended up in fourth and fifth place – the two duos were naturally the only participants to take first place in the ARCA for alternative fuels two prove this and are therefore also honored with the AMF honorary award. But stop! Jaitz and Fraissl were also able to take first and second place in ARC Class 3. Even though the two alternative duos have the most stakes in the ARC3, it is still worth noting that the dedicated Fiat Stilo JTD-HVO 100 “glows” place their mission under a real sporting star.
In the ARC1, Stefan Kaar and Kathrin Redlingshofer-Milev were able to secure the club championship in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI. In front of Rene Kiehfahrer (co-driver Christian Eisenmagen, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V), who was able to take the ARC day victory in the autumn rally with his exceptionally strong performance (seventh place overall!).
Ladies Trophy winners in third place in the ARC1
The women’s duo Pia Steffe and Natascha Vrga came third in the ARC1 2024 in a Mitsubishi Carisma Evo V, who also received the AMF honorary award from the ARC Ladies Trophy.
In the ARC2, Andreas Fraissl’s son, Sebastian Fraissl, and his alternating co-pilots Jürgen and Lukas Pilz were able to clearly prevail.
Finally, the ARC4 is home to the teams that were able to take the lead in the overall ARC – Lukas Dirnberger ahead of Marcel NEUENER and Max Maier.
ART: Raphael Dirnberger club champion in his Rally4 debut year
This year there was an exciting battle in the Austrian Rally Trophy for modern vehicles until the grand finale at the autumn rally. Raphael Dirnberger (co-driver Christian Gimpl) and Thomas Regner (co-driver Gottfried Witzmann) both drove a modern Rally4 vehicle for their first full season this year. At the great finale, Dirnberger was able to place ahead of Regner on each of the eight tests – making the brother of ARC club champion Lukas Dirnberger the club champion of the ART and ART2.
Dirnberger explains: “It went really well this year in my first year of Rally4. Next year we will probably concentrate on the ORM 2WD, in which we were able to come third this year.” Whether the title will be defended in the ART also depends on how the Dirnberger brothers continue to drive next year. After all, Lukas Dirnberger also dreams of moving up to the Rally4 category…
The club champion of the ART1 class for modern all-wheel drive vehicles, Gerold Neumayr from Salzburg (co-driver Christoph Karl, Ford Fiesta Rally2 Evo2), only came third in the ART.
ARCP: Race Rent pilot Frühwald is chosen early
In the ARCP for prototype and production vehicles, Reinhard Frühwald (co-pilots Roman Steinbauer and Manfred Riegler) was crowned club champion before the finale and also received the AMF honorary award. At the OBM Land of 1000 Hills Rally, we still had to tremble because the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX Proto had cooling problems from the lunch break onwards. “With the help of our Race Rent Austria operations team, we were able to bring our car to the finish.” Will the ARCP title be defended next year? “That would be the plan,” says Frühwald.
Robert Zitta (co-driver Nadine Dolzer), a veteran of rallying, took second place in the ARCP 2024, directly behind Franz Auer junior and Petra Chemnitz from Germany.
ARCH: Lada driver Wanko as club champion
In the ARCH for historic vehicles, Lada driver Mario Wanko (co-pilot Eva Kollmann) was sensationally crowned the new club champion, and he will also receive the corresponding honorary award from the AMF.
Wanko, who drives Rally Team Gruber’s yellow Lada 2107, actually only wanted to drive two rallies this year. But things turned out differently: “We immediately came second in the ARCH at the Murtal Rally, and we also drove at the Mühlstein Rally, where we came third in the ARCH. I then thought: If we have a chance of making the ARCH annual podium, then it makes sense to also drive the last two ARC rallies.” And so Mario was able to become ARCH club champion and thus also win the ARCH4. Why did the 29-year-old choose a historic car? He says: “An old car is fun – you still have to drive it yourself, you can feel it…”
Alfons Nothdurfter came second in the ARCH in the Ford Sierra Cosworth, which meant he was able to win the ARCH1. The winners of the ARCH3, young talent Bernhard Hengl and Mika Wendl in the Ford Escort Mk1 rounded off the overall ARCH podium. Patrik and Verena Gaubinger finished fifth overall as the winners of the ARCH2.
Juniors & Team Trophy
Naturally, the young club champion Lukas Dirnberger was able to win the 2024 ARC Junior Drivers rating; among the co-pilots, the winner is Silvano Winkler, co-pilot of Marcel NEUENNER.
The MCL68 won the ARC Team Trophy 2024. Its drivers include ARCA club champion Markus Jaitz and Eugen Friedl.
Big award ceremony in Stössing
The big award ceremony for the Austrian Rally Challenge will take place on November 30th at the “FEIASTÖ” inn (3073 Stössing, Hendelgraben 2) from 5 p.m. Mario Popp from the autumn rally organizing team will lead the program.
The ARC club champions
ARC:
Lukas Dirnberger & Lukas Martinelli
ARC1:
Stefan Kaar & Kathrin Redlingshofer-Milev
ARC2:
Sebastian Fraissl & Lukas Pilz/Jürgen Pilz
ARC3:
Markus Jaitz & Johann Drapela
ARC4:
Lukas Dirnberger & Lukas Martinelli
ART:
Raphael Dirnberger & Christian Gimpl
ART1:
Gerold Neumayr & Christoph Karl
ART2:
Raphael Dirnberger & Christian Gimpl
ARCP:
Reinhard Frühwald & Roman Steinbauer/Manfred Riegler
ARCH:
Mario Wanko & Eva Kollmann
ARCH1:
Alfons Nothdurfter
ARCH2:
Patrik & Verena Gaubinger
ARCH3:
Bernhard Hengl & Mika Wendl
ARCH4:
Mario Wanko & Eva Kollmann
ARC Alternativpreis:
Markus Jaitz & Johann Drapela
ARC Ladies Trophy:
Pia Steffe & Natascha Vrga
ARC Teamtrophy:
MCL68
An interview with ARC club master Lukas Dirnberger will follow in the coming days on motorline.cc
What were the most significant obstacles racers faced during the Austrian Rally Challenge 2024 season across various categories?
1. Can you share your thoughts on the Austrian Rally Challenge 2024 season and the challenges faced by the racers in the different categories?
2. As the ARC club champion, what do you think sets you apart from the other racers and what were some of your key strategies this season?
3. What role do you believe alternative fuels will play in the future of rally racing, especially given the success of Markus Jaitz and Johann Drapela in the ARC Alternativpreis category?
4. How important is it for rally drivers to maintain a balance between performance and preservation of historical elements in their chosen vehicle?
5. As a team, what are your plans for the 2025 season and how do you see the competition shaping up among other teams?
6. What modifications or improvements have you made to your car this year to enhance its performance, and are there any changes you plan to make for next season?
7. How has the introduction of Rally4 vehicles impacted the ARC championship, and what are your thoughts on its potential to become the dominant rally category in the future?
8. What does it mean to you to win the ARC Junior Drivers rating, and what advice would you give to aspiring junior racers looking to make a mark in the championship?
9. As a driver who has achieved success in both the ARC and the ART championships, how do you manage your time and training regimen to maintain peak performance across different vehicle types and categories?
10. what do you think is the future of rally racing in Austria, and how can the sport continue to grow and attract new talent while preserving its rich history and traditions?
