“INA Delta Rally” is the oldest, most difficult and most popular car racing event in the Republic of Croatia. Event also has the reputation as being one of the best organized events in this part of Europe and it was organized for the time in 1974 by “INA” auto-moto club, Zagreb; then called “INA-delta TLX Rally”. The Rally ‘struggled’ to obtain European Championship status for more than 15 years. Finally in 1991 FIA granted the coefficient 2 to the Rally and in 1992 the 18th European Croatia rally championship took place.
Organizers of this event are proud to say that this was the first international sporting event to have been organized in the Republic of Croatia then established as new free and independence state.
Top level organization with the help of numerous sports enthusiasts, and the chief sponsor “INA oil industry“, with the support of certain individuals in the Croatian Government made it possible for the Rally to gain coefficient 5 in 1994 and coefficient 10 the following year. Thus, in the short span of four years, Rally grew from an anonymous local event to one of the most prestigious in this part of Europe.
“INA Delta Rally” ” is one of the most important sporting events in Croatia with very rich sporting history. The first event held in November of 1974 was a regional Croatian Championship. Start of the Rally was in Delnice and the 283 km long route led the drivers through the Gorski Kotar and Lika regions to the finish in Rijeka, with one slalom stage and two special stages: Platak (8.2km of tarmac) and Učka (8km of gravel). First ever winner of the Rally was Tomislav Markt, a member of INA team.
Three years passed before ‘delta’ became a part of the Yugoslav National Championship. Start was in Preluka near Opatija, and the 690 km long route with five special stages took the competitors through Ogulin, Delnice, Duga Resa, Sisak to the finish in Zagreb. A total of 44 crews started the event and Aleš Pušnik from Slovenia was the winner.
Additional nine long years had to pass before ‘delta’ made its next step; this time on the international scene. The 13th Delta was an international invitation event and a total of 75 crews from Italy, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia started the event. This was also the first time Rally became a European Championship nominee. The route of the Rally was 607,55 km long and was split into two legs and consisted of 18 road sections and 17 special stages in six different locations. This Rally will also be remembered as the only one to have been won by a female crew; the Slovenian crew of Romana Zrnec as driver and Špela Kožar as co-driver in their Renault 11 turbo.
After that, the whole event was moved for good to Zagreb and the surrounding areas. Since then the special stages have taken place in the mountainous areas around Zagreb, Žumberak, Plešivica and the Croatian Zagorje region.
For the Organizers of the event, the most difficult time was during the war in Croatia. Nevertheless the organization was immaculate as ever and it was during this period that the Rally, now organized by the “Auto Club Delta”, stormed its way through the ranks to become a coefficient 10, European Championship event. In 1992, the first European ‘Delta’ had the coefficient 2 (won by Ž. Šepatavc – N. Krlić from Croatia). In 1993 the Rally had the coefficient 2 again, but the following year coefficient 5 was awarded to the Rally (won by N. Pulić – D.Devunić from Croatia). Already in 1995 the ‘Delta’ had the prestigious coefficient 10 (won again by N. Pulić – D.Devunić from Croatia). Thanks to acquaintances and the ever growing reputation of the Rally and its Organizer a growing number of international drivers of the highest quality have appeared on ‘delta’ (Enrico Bertonne three times European Champ amongst others). The event has maintained its high rank of organizing throughout the years and FIA observer’s reports only confirm this fact.
It is only natural that the Organizer - Auto Club “Delta” Zagreb would not stop at this. Since 1996 the “Zagreb Delta Rally” has been a serious candidate for the highest coefficient rang 20, now known as the European Championship.
We have been asking ourselves than: Can ‘Delta’ crew and based on which arguments, climb to the European Championship or maybe even to a World Rally Championship?! After looking at the facts, answers were affirmative. We have the support of the highest state officials, sponsors and the media; and the event itself is organized by a team of professionals and volunteers whose origins can be traced to the Auto-moto association “Nafta” Gojlo founded in 1949. The timekeeping and race results processing are in the safe and competent hands of “Delta Timing” who have proven themselves time and time again working on rallies in Austria and Slovenia using the most modern and up to date time keeping and computer technology.
Lobbying via our members and high ranking officials and friends close to the FIA organization who are aware of the high quality of the event and see the passion with which it is organized, we have achieved our goal and became a European Championship race with the highest rank in 2007. The same was organized as a European Championship race in 2008 and 2009.
Unfortunately in 2010, due to earlier taken over financial obligations, recession and lack of sponsors, Automobile club “Delta” was forced to cancel “37. Zagreb Delta rally”.
The 46st edition of this event, is also with the European sign - the official FIA Rally Trophyis event.
Although in difficult times due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the whole world, we hope for a great rally and we continue towards our goal and that is the WRC....
And now, a new challenge, sportly said: "Delta" goes on ...
Organizers of this event are proud to say that this was the first international sporting event to have been organized in the Republic of Croatia then established as new free and independence state.
Top level organization with the help of numerous sports enthusiasts, and the chief sponsor “INA oil industry“, with the support of certain individuals in the Croatian Government made it possible for the Rally to gain coefficient 5 in 1994 and coefficient 10 the following year. Thus, in the short span of four years, Rally grew from an anonymous local event to one of the most prestigious in this part of Europe.
“INA Delta Rally” ” is one of the most important sporting events in Croatia with very rich sporting history. The first event held in November of 1974 was a regional Croatian Championship. Start of the Rally was in Delnice and the 283 km long route led the drivers through the Gorski Kotar and Lika regions to the finish in Rijeka, with one slalom stage and two special stages: Platak (8.2km of tarmac) and Učka (8km of gravel). First ever winner of the Rally was Tomislav Markt, a member of INA team.
Three years passed before ‘delta’ became a part of the Yugoslav National Championship. Start was in Preluka near Opatija, and the 690 km long route with five special stages took the competitors through Ogulin, Delnice, Duga Resa, Sisak to the finish in Zagreb. A total of 44 crews started the event and Aleš Pušnik from Slovenia was the winner.
Additional nine long years had to pass before ‘delta’ made its next step; this time on the international scene. The 13th Delta was an international invitation event and a total of 75 crews from Italy, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia started the event. This was also the first time Rally became a European Championship nominee. The route of the Rally was 607,55 km long and was split into two legs and consisted of 18 road sections and 17 special stages in six different locations. This Rally will also be remembered as the only one to have been won by a female crew; the Slovenian crew of Romana Zrnec as driver and Špela Kožar as co-driver in their Renault 11 turbo.
After that, the whole event was moved for good to Zagreb and the surrounding areas. Since then the special stages have taken place in the mountainous areas around Zagreb, Žumberak, Plešivica and the Croatian Zagorje region.
For the Organizers of the event, the most difficult time was during the war in Croatia. Nevertheless the organization was immaculate as ever and it was during this period that the Rally, now organized by the “Auto Club Delta”, stormed its way through the ranks to become a coefficient 10, European Championship event. In 1992, the first European ‘Delta’ had the coefficient 2 (won by Ž. Šepatavc – N. Krlić from Croatia). In 1993 the Rally had the coefficient 2 again, but the following year coefficient 5 was awarded to the Rally (won by N. Pulić – D.Devunić from Croatia). Already in 1995 the ‘Delta’ had the prestigious coefficient 10 (won again by N. Pulić – D.Devunić from Croatia). Thanks to acquaintances and the ever growing reputation of the Rally and its Organizer a growing number of international drivers of the highest quality have appeared on ‘delta’ (Enrico Bertonne three times European Champ amongst others). The event has maintained its high rank of organizing throughout the years and FIA observer’s reports only confirm this fact.
It is only natural that the Organizer - Auto Club “Delta” Zagreb would not stop at this. Since 1996 the “Zagreb Delta Rally” has been a serious candidate for the highest coefficient rang 20, now known as the European Championship.
We have been asking ourselves than: Can ‘Delta’ crew and based on which arguments, climb to the European Championship or maybe even to a World Rally Championship?! After looking at the facts, answers were affirmative. We have the support of the highest state officials, sponsors and the media; and the event itself is organized by a team of professionals and volunteers whose origins can be traced to the Auto-moto association “Nafta” Gojlo founded in 1949. The timekeeping and race results processing are in the safe and competent hands of “Delta Timing” who have proven themselves time and time again working on rallies in Austria and Slovenia using the most modern and up to date time keeping and computer technology.
Lobbying via our members and high ranking officials and friends close to the FIA organization who are aware of the high quality of the event and see the passion with which it is organized, we have achieved our goal and became a European Championship race with the highest rank in 2007. The same was organized as a European Championship race in 2008 and 2009.
Unfortunately in 2010, due to earlier taken over financial obligations, recession and lack of sponsors, Automobile club “Delta” was forced to cancel “37. Zagreb Delta rally”.
The 46st edition of this event, is also with the European sign - the official FIA Rally Trophyis event.
Although in difficult times due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the whole world, we hope for a great rally and we continue towards our goal and that is the WRC....
And now, a new challenge, sportly said: "Delta" goes on ...
