A spring day in the Murtal

For the second time, Harald König is the main sponsor of the rally, and proudly so. “Because,” says the 45-year-old Styrian, "it really was a great thing last year. And as a former motorcycle racer, albeit only as a hobby, I am practically infected with the subject of motorsport, so it was as clear as day to me that this economically important project must be continued and should also continue in the future. With my sponsorship activities, I can give something back to the Murtal region, where I also have a lot of customers. That is important to me."

Harald König is the owner of ET König GmbH, headquartered in Scheifling. Elektrotechnik König specializes in energy technology and also has branches in Murau, Feldkirchen and Bad Vöslau. Around 100 highly qualified specialists work in areas such as bathroom planning and water installations, heating systems, heat pumps, electrical installations, photovoltaic systems, lightning protection, satellite and alarm systems.

The idea to revive the rally classic came last year from former national champion Willi Stengg, who also appears as the organizer, and also from Peter Hopf, who has been the owner and managing director of the Fahr Aktiv Zentrum FAZ Fohnsdorf since October 2023, where the rally management, service zone and parc ferme will once again be located, as they were in 2024.

The father of two, who comes from Gaal, also runs a rental company with around 200 construction machines as well as an earthmoving and transportation company and also works closely with ET König boss Harald König. Peter Hopf: "I have known Harry as a friend for a long time and can only say that you have to consider yourself lucky to find a sponsor with such a big heart for motorsport these days. The rally is not only a great horsepower spectacle for the fans, but also an important stimulus for the whole region here."

As an active competitor, Peter Hopf is considered a late entrant to rallying and only made his debut in 2023 at the ARC round in Blaufränkischland in a Mitsubishi Evo VII. A year later, he became the overall winner of the Austrian Rally Cup in 2024 with a Skoda Fabia Proto, which he will remain because the Cup competition no longer exists in this form as of this year. It is now integrated into the TEC 7 ORM 2 category. Nonetheless, Peter Hopf will of course be pushing hard there too.

For the regional insider, the organizational work for the ET KÖNIG Rally powered by Peter Hopf Erdbau - Mietpark consists of the important discussions with the mayors of the rally communities, with the fire departments and ultimately also with the important authorities. Willi Stengg is responsible for everything else, such as route details etc.

Further information on the ET KÖNIG Rally powered by Peter Hopf Erdbau - Mietpark at http://www.judenburg-rallye.at