“The Greatest Success Is That We Have Found Zoltán Bálint”

In 2008 six soldiers started their career in the colors of the military off-road rally team: the members were selected by application and had to fulfil several criteria, so as the resullt of a series of tests the troops, who have excellent technical knowledge and are experienced in car repair were admitted into the Hungarian Defence Forces off road rally team, the Dream Team Cheetahs.

Sports manager Miklós Benyó told us about the beginning: "I liked it very much that I had to work with soldiers, because I thought they are more disciplined than the average people – and it is true. It was easier for us to work together, develop, and make progress, because they wanted success very much. Until the positions were decided the guys were competing each other and everybody showed their best. This lasted for a relatively short period, since it was time for the first race soon – I started to work with them in February and they entered their first off-road rally as early as March, so it was a forced march, but they took it very well. Once the contestants were selected the results have justified us: we made a good decision as regards the pilot."

Last year the Honvéd Dream Team participated in five championships. With pilot Zoltán Bálint and navigator Barnabás Honfi in the seat, in their first season they came in fifth in the absolute evaluation of the national championship and were fourth in their category.

“As regards the professional aspect of sports I am very satisfied, mainly with Zoli Bálint, about whom I can say that there has never been such a talented pilot like him on off-road terrain. And the fact that he is also a soldier is just a special curiosity in the success story" – said Miklós Benyó, who also underlined teamwork: "Every race was successful because the Dream Team collected points in every competition – there are only a few teams about which we can say the same. The good ranking is also the result of our consistent performance and spotless results in every race. Obviously, there were smaller mistakes in navigation or in driving technique in one or two races, but these kind of things happen everywhere. The greatest success is that we have found Zoltán Bálint – he has a perfect constitution from a human aspect and from the point of view of professional sports, who on the one hand represents the Hungarian Defence Forces well, and on the other hand, is very dedicated to the sport. The other important thing is teamwork, without which we could not have closed a successful season."

Miklós Benyó told honvedelem.hu that the team will not participate in the Dakar Rally this year, but it will enter the Budapest–Bamako Rally. "The preparation is in progress, this weekend we will be driving the car Zoli and Barnabás will enter with. The crew will change, there will be Ákos Gazdag sitting in the navigator’s seat next to Zoli Bálint" – said Miklós Benyó, then added: "Zoli’s preparation will continue, it is sure he will drive in the year 2010, we are not even looking for another pilot. The Dream Team 2 will be set up by February and we are searching for new people, but Zoli has a secure position.