Created: 2026.02.04. 11:20
Dávid Faltusz, last year’s winner of the Hungarian Rally2 Championship and a native of Győr, will begin the 2026 season competing as a driver for Széchenyi István University. His goal is not only to build on his domestic successes but also to prove himself internationally and qualify for the European Championship. After completing secondary school, the talented young athlete also plans to continue his studies at the institution.
Dávid Faltusz already made Hungarian rally history in 2024 when he secured overall first place in the ORB2 category at the II WHB Győr Rally, an event co-organized by Széchenyi István University. With this victory, he became the youngest driver ever to win a Hungarian championship rally event. Last year, he went on to win not just a single race but the entire Rally2 championship series. From 2026 onward, the young driver from Győr will compete in the colours of Széchenyi István University, aiming for further domestic and international achievements.
“Dávid began exploring technical sports at the age of three on a quad bike — although, in my defence, I wasn’t the one who bought it,” recalled Péter Faltusz, the young driver’s father, who himself achieved numerous successes in rallying. He explained that his son was karting by the age of six, and by ten they had built him a rally car from a Škoda Favorit. “After winning junior championship titles came the Peugeot era, and at seventeen his first major adult success was winning the already mentioned Győr Rally. The 2025 championship title is also historic, as no one had previously won the series in their debut season,” he said.
He added that they are optimistic about the new season, as from this year they will compete under the banner of Széchenyi István University’s motorsport division. “The institution in Győr, often referred to as a ‘motorsport university,’ provides a background that can greatly support our professional development and future successes. We are proud to belong here and strive to make the University proud of us,” emphasized the father, who supports his son as team manager in everyday matters and is himself a student in the University’s postgraduate technical sports management programme.
Dávid Faltusz is currently a student at the Győr Vocational Training Centre’s Jedlik Ányos Mechanical Engineering and IT Technical School and Dormitory. He will graduate from secondary school this year and obtain his technician qualification next year. “After that, I plan to apply to the Vehicle Engineering programme at Széchenyi István University. For me, working with cars is a way of life, and it’s something I don’t want to leave behind even after my active racing career,” he outlined. He added that in 2026 he will already compete at the top level of rallying in the Peugeot Cup, where he aims to achieve the best possible results. “The winner of the series qualifies for the European Championship. That is my next major goal. But I would like to make my mark internationally as soon as possible, so in March I will already be starting in Austria in the Mitropa Cup,” the driver explained.
The father-and-son rally pair, Péter Faltusz and Dávid Faltusz, are joining Széchenyi István University in pursuit of ambitious goals (Photo: Máté Dudás)
The young driver says he always focuses only on the next task, but his biggest dream is to one day compete in the WRC, the World Rally Championship, and start in the Monte Carlo Rally. “Oliver Solberg recently won that event, and he also followed in his parent’s footsteps to become a rally driver. There are many similarities between us, which makes his example extremely motivating for me,” he revealed.
Péter Faltusz added that they are building Dávid’s career consciously, following a carefully planned path in which the technical preparedness, infrastructure, and expertise of the Győr university can provide significant support.
Dávid Faltusz achieved his first major adult success by winning the ORB2 category of the 2024 WHB Győr Rally. The photo shows the young driver’s car on the stage in front of Széchenyi István University during the 2025 race (Photo: Máté Dudás)
Dr Ferenc Szauter, head of the University’s Automotive Industry Research Centre, noted that the institution has significant traditions in automotive knowledge and is becoming an increasingly important player in the world of motorsport. “Our student teams achieve world-class results, and a growing number of our current and former students work for companies and teams at the forefront of international motorsport. We offer unique programmes such as the master’s degree in Motorsport Engineering and the postgraduate technical sports management programme, where internationally recognized experts — including professionals from Formula 1 — also teach. At the end of last year, the Széchenyi István University Hungaroring External Department of Automotive Motorsport began operation, playing an important role in practice-oriented education. In addition, our own motorsport division, Uni Győr WMS, is becoming increasingly successful in karting, motorcycle, and car racing alike,” he emphasized. “Dávid Faltusz has joined this team, and his mature thinking is reflected in the fact that alongside his sporting career he is also planning his further education. The University’s dual career model will help him balance competition with his studies and prepare for his future civilian career.”
