Sobieslaw Zasada
Encyclopedia
Sobiesław Zasada is a Polish
former rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship
in 1966, 1967, 1971 and was vice-champion in 1968, 1969, and 1972.
Sobieslaw Zasada first raced motorcycles, and in 1951 entered four-wheel racing. After solid racing performances, he received support from the Polish automobile club in Warsaw. Zasada won the European Rally Champion of the GP touring cars in 1967 with his Porsche 912; later that year he was victorious driving his Porsche 911 in the 2055-mile stage race across Argentina.
At the time of his successes racing his Porsche 912 in 1967, Zasada owned a four-person auto repair shop in Krakow. By the late 1990s, Zasada was one of the most successful businessmen in Poland. In 1996 Reuters reported that his Polish automotive group Sobieslaw Zasada Centrum SA launched the construction of Mercedes' Vito mini-vans. The launch marked the first production licensee that Mercedes-Benz had granted in eastern Europe. By that time Zasada controlled two utility car factories and several automotive parts plants.
For his sport achievements and for his contribution to the development of Polish sport, he received the Order of Polonia Restituta
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Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
former rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship
European Rally Championship
The European Rally Championship is the European continental championship series in rallying. It is organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile .-History:...
in 1966, 1967, 1971 and was vice-champion in 1968, 1969, and 1972.
Sobieslaw Zasada first raced motorcycles, and in 1951 entered four-wheel racing. After solid racing performances, he received support from the Polish automobile club in Warsaw. Zasada won the European Rally Champion of the GP touring cars in 1967 with his Porsche 912; later that year he was victorious driving his Porsche 911 in the 2055-mile stage race across Argentina.
At the time of his successes racing his Porsche 912 in 1967, Zasada owned a four-person auto repair shop in Krakow. By the late 1990s, Zasada was one of the most successful businessmen in Poland. In 1996 Reuters reported that his Polish automotive group Sobieslaw Zasada Centrum SA launched the construction of Mercedes' Vito mini-vans. The launch marked the first production licensee that Mercedes-Benz had granted in eastern Europe. By that time Zasada controlled two utility car factories and several automotive parts plants.
For his sport achievements and for his contribution to the development of Polish sport, he received the Order of Polonia Restituta
Polonia Restituta
The Order of Polonia Restituta is one of Poland's highest Orders. The Order can be conferred for outstanding achievements in the fields of education, science, sport, culture, art, economics, defense of the country, social work, civil service, or for furthering good relations between countries...
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- Knight's Cross (5th Class);
- Officer's Cross (4th Class);
- Commander's Cross with Star (2nd Class) in 2000.
External links
- http://www.rallybase.nl/index.php?type=profile&driverid=2521
- http://www.kimrally.pl/kierowcy/zasada.php
- http://www.zasada.com.pl/?go=sobieslaw_zasada