Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Kopecký confirmed the role of a favourite and has won the Barum Czech Rally Zlín for the third time

1. 9. 2013 - Petr Říha, press centre BCRZ

Czech driver Jan Kopecký (Škoda Fabia S2000) and his co-driver Pavel Dresler won the 43rd Barum Czech Rally Zlín, which has been his third victory at the rally that is part of the FIA European Rall Championship and Mediasport International Rally Championship of the Czech Republic. The second place is taken up by Václav Pech (Mini John Cooper Works S2000) who lost 1:01,6 minutes. The third place was achieved by Jaromír Tarabus (Škoda Fabia S2000) who lost 2:32,7 minutes to the winner.

Jan Kopecký of the Škoda Motorsport team laid the basis for his victory on Saturday bu winning all eight stages and gained more than 30 seconds to Pech. On Sunday he did not risk and kept safe distance between Pech and himself. Pech admitted problems with the choice of tyres, which deprived him of the chance to win. He kept losing more on Sunday. The winner has strengthened his leading position in terms of the FIA ERC.

Tarabus has given an excellent performance. However, it was Roman Kresta's (Škoda Fabia S2000) puncture that helped him to achieve the third place. Despite that Kresta did well on the wet route of the second leg. The triple winner of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín won four stages out of six on Sunday.

The production car category was won by Miroslav Jakeš (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) who used the technical difficulties his rival Jaroslav Orsák (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX R4) had on Saturday and beat him by 1 minute and 16 seconds. The two-wheel drives were won by Jan Černý (Peugeot 208 R2) who ruled the category since the third stage. He beat Elwis Chentre (Škoda Fabia R2) by a minute and 13 seconds.

Final overall standings of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín 2013
1. Kopecký, Dresler (CZE, Škoda Fabia S2000) 2:15:23,0 hod
2. Pech, Uhel (CZE, Mini John Cooper Works S2000) + 1:01,6 min
3. Tarabus, Trunkát (CZE, Škoda Fabia S2000) + 2:32,7 min
4. Wiegand, Christian (DEU, Škoda Fabia S2000) + 3:04,3 min
5. Kresta, Gross (CZE, Škoda Fabia S2000) + 3:58,7 min
6. Jakeš, Norek (CZE, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) + 6:35,8 min
7. Orsák, Kostka (CZE, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX R4) + 7:52,1 min
8. Valoušek, Škardová (CZE, Ford Fiesta R5) + 7:52,6 min
9. Tlusťák, Vyoral (CZE, Škoda Fabia S2000) + 8:27,4 min
10. Kořístka, Drozd (CZE, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) + 9:37,2 min

2WD: 1. (12.) Černý, Kohout (CZE, Peugeot 208 R2) + 13:20,5 min