Millstone rally as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup run

PERG. Motor sports enthusiasts will really get their money’s worth in Upper Austria at the weekend. Mehrnbach becomes the stronghold of local motocrossers, and in the Perg area, the millstone rally is the dress rehearsal for the big guest appearance of the world championship that will follow in autumn.

World Cup dress rehearsal: Many fans are already looking forward to the Central Europe Rally from October 26th to 29th, when for the first time in history a World Championship race will be held in Austria together with Bavaria and the Czech Republic with all the stars like World Champion Kalle Rovenperä. “It’s like winning the lottery six for the whole region,” says Simon Wagner from the Mühlviertel.

With his Skoda he will of course also be present at the “warm-up” for the big highlight of the season on Saturday. The millstone rally, in which Wagner won three of the four previous editions, is not part of the state championship, but with 80 entries it is better than many a race in this league.

Local heroes like Martin Roßgatterer, who already showed his skills at the January Rally this year, and ex-professional cyclist Martin Fischerlehner shouldn’t be missing. “From historical to modern, front, rear or all-wheel drive – everything a rally heart desires is at the start,” says OC boss Peter Medinger. The finish line after seven special stages is at 6.15 p.m. on the main square in Perger.

Serial Winner Hunt: Once a year, the Garrison Training Grounds (GÜPL) in Asenham belongs entirely to the motocrossers. At two kilometers it has one of the longest and most spectacular courses in Austria, which is also known for its jumps such as the “Bankham ski jump”, where it is up to 40 meters long. With the Austrian association and club championships on Saturday and the state championship races on Sunday, numerous amateurs and top drivers come to the Innviertel. One is the big hunted.

Marcel Stauffer won 19 of 20 championship races in the MXOpen and MX2 classes this year. The KTM test rider from Salzburg recently even showed up at the World Championship race in Teutschenthal, Germany, with two ninth places in the field of world-class riders. And with a mini budget. “I can only dream of the conditions enjoyed by the top drivers,” says the series winner from Nußdorf am Haunsberg.

Unfortunately, Michael Sandner from Mühlviertel, who would have been mainly in the World Cup this year, did not get any resistance in Mehrnbach. He is still convalescent after his serious fall in Italy in the spring. But he will be there as a co-commentator.

On the other hand, the US pilots Josh Mosiman and Ryan Morais start their machines. And the eyes are also on Junior World Championships medalist Moritz Ernecker from the organizing club HSV Ried.