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One of the greatest in the history of Bulgarian sport, Iliya Chubrikov, died on Saturday at the age of 85.
He is one of only three native drivers to have won Rally Bulgaria in its history. The others are Dimitar Iliev and Krum Donchev.
Iliya Chubrikov was born on January 8, 1935 in the city of Gabrovo. He began playing sports in elementary school, initially skiing and later motorcycling.
In 1956 he participated in a competition held in the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where he took first place.
In 1967, Iliya and his navigator Kolyo Chubrikov started at the famous past rally “Transbalkania”, which is held in three countries: Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Romania, with a “Bulgar Renault 8” racing car, with a displacement of 1150 cubic meters. . centimeters as the crew earns a victory in their class.
He won the Golden Sands Rally (now Rally Bulgaria) with the successful Renault Alpin 1600 in 1971.
In 1983 he became part of the popular team of the cigarette company “Rotmans”, for which he drove a “Renault 5 Turbo” car. With his new car, he placed third in the Golden Sands Rally, winning the Hebros Rally and the Gunayden Rally (Turkey). Thanks to his good performance during the year, Chubrikov finished fifth in the European Championship.
He ended his career as an athlete in 1990.
Thanks to Iliya Chubrikov, the Renault company is coming to Bulgaria and we are starting to produce cars in Plovdiv.
Earlier this year, for his 85th anniversary, the government nominated the great Bulgarian for the Stara Planina Order. However, President Rumen Radev cut him off and this sparked serious anger in automotive circles.
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