Valvoline Rajd Małopolski 2026 sees tight battle as Byśkiniewicz takes lead

The sixth edition of the Valvoline Rajd Małopolski, held from 2‑4 July 2026, was the longest in the event’s history, featuring 16 special stages on asphalt covering a total of 151.72 km around Wadowice, Myślenice and Maków Podhalański. A pre‑event test stage in Stryszawie was won by Zbigniew Gabryś and Adrian Sadowski, who posted a 1:36.9 time, ahead of the Szeja brothers.

In the first competitive stage, Łukasz Byśkiniewicz and Daniel Siatkowski (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) moved into the overall lead, edging the Szeja duo by just 1.2 seconds. Adrian Rzeźnik and Kamil Kozdroń held third place, 3.5 seconds behind the leaders. The rally also marked the debut of the event within the FIA European Rally Trophy series, attracting strong spectator turnout in the host towns.

Organisers deployed more than 90 police officers and other security services to ensure safety on the narrow city streets and mountain routes, reporting smooth operation with no major incidents. The ORLEN Team, with drivers Adrian Rzeźnik and Kamil Kozdroń, highlighted the rally as a mid‑season milestone in the Polish Rally Championship, emphasizing preparation and the challenge of the long, twisty stages.