Sobiesław Zasada

Born in Dąbrowa Górnicza, this graduate of the Krakow School of Economics was active as a track and field athlete in his younger years, but at the beginning of the 1960s he became predominantly involved in the national rally scene in his home country of Poland in various vehicles. From 1964 onwards, he also competed internationally, taking part in numerous rounds of the European Rally Championship in a Steyr-Puch 650 TR, which he won in the following year after finishing third overall in the 1965 season. In 1967, he raced with Lancia and especially Porsche and was able to defend his title. In 1971, he clinched the European Championship for the third time. During this period, Zasada won well over 100 events and was one of the top stars of international rallying.

In the late autumn of his career, the Pole became active once again with Mercedes-Benz. With a privately registered 280 E Saloon and co-driver Andrzej Zembrzuski, he took sixth place in the Safari Rally in Kenya in March 1978. Six months later, the duo finished in second place behind brand colleagues Andrew Cowan/Colin Malkin in a Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC at the cross-country rally Vuelta a la América del Sud, the first factory event for the large coupés. In his third outing with Mercedes-Benz, the 1979 Safari Rally, Zasada was unlucky and did not bring his 280 E to the finishing line after an accident. Even after his active time, Zasada remained connected to the company. Between 1991 and 1996, he was the general representative of Daimler-Benz in his home country.