Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Flash info from the regrouping after the SS3

30. 8. 2014 - Ivan Hudcovský, Mariana Petrů, press centre BCRZ

At eleven o'clock the crews arrived in front of the administration building Continental Barum s.r.o, general partner of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín. The regrouping took place in front of the entry to the Service Park, where we collected the views of the top standing drivers. The crews had already passed special stages Slušovice and Maják.

Esapekka Lappi (FIN, Škoda Fabia S2000, st. no. 3):
'Everything works and we're trying to be fast. If it's possible to win at current speed, we'll just go on. In order to prevent meaningless mistakes, we won't speed up for no reason. We're happy with the car setup and there won't be any changes.

Jaromír Tarabus (CZE, Škoda Fabia S2000, st. no. 11):
'As usual we lost some time in the Super Special Stage yesterday. I liked our performance in Slušovice. Even though we did an unnecessary slide in the first curve, we passed the second part of Troják surprisingly quickly, but with mixed feelings. The Barum Rally is very long and difficult and there's no point in speeding up. Maybe we'll choose softer tyres for better grip. It seems to me that the current ones are quite hard.

Craig Breen (IRL, Peugeot 208 T16, st. no. 1):
'In the service we'll do some small setup adjustments. The car is slightly understeered but it's nothing we can't fix. In Slušovice we had minor troubles with the car. But we made it. We were a bit slower and unsure in the woods of the SS Maják. But once we got out, it was good.

Václav Pech (CZE, Mini John Cooper Works S2000, st. no. 4):
'I can't go fast. When I broke sharply, the wheels got blocked. I am hoping to repair that and I need to drive more carefully.'

Robert Barrable (IRL, Ford Fiesta R5, st. no. 10):
'Our experience from SS Troják was limited due to the fact that front breaks stopped working and we were only left with the rear ones. We lost a lot of time there, but the race is very long and we're holding up. I am hoping to fix this problem in the service.

Kevin Abbring (NLD, Peugeot 208 T16, st. no. 5):
'We managed to set the car in a way that allows us to go very fast. In today's special stages we focused on our performance and made no effort to find out how others are doing. We drove too carefully during some parts of the stages even though we've got good grip. I'm very satisfied with our performance and the team's as well.

Sepp Wiegand (DEU, Škoda Fabia S2000, st. no. 7):
'I feel great so far, the car works and we think we did well. In the next stage we intend to speed up a bit. We're not planning to make any changes in the setup. If we did some, they'd be only minor ones. The rally is very long and at this moment it wouldn't be wise to speed up. Our main priority is to stay on the road.'

Robert Consani (FRA, Peugeot 207 S2000, st. no. 14):
'The SS Slušovice was fun. The SS Maják was more difficult because of the constant change of rhythm. First two kilometres were very fast, the road was wide and then everything has changed. I am happy with our time. We experienced some vibrations and we're hoping to fix this issue.'

Tomáš Kostka (CZE, Ford Fiesta R5, st. no. 17):
'It's not bad. But on bumpy roads we need to slow down and consequently we are losing in comparison with the cars S2000. That's the way it is and we knew it before. Fortunately it'll be better on flat stages. Compared to the last year, we're faster, we have new shocks. But we will never be on the same level with S2000.'

Roman Kresta (CZE, Škoda Fabia S2000, st. no. 9):
'Everything is alright so far. From time to time we hear some bangs from the bottom as our chassis is set very low. I'm looking forward to Troják and Semetín as well.'

Jaroslav Orsák (CZE, Škoda Fabia S2000, st. no. 15):
'We're enjoying the rally and we're going at the pace that suits us. We don't check the times. In Slušovice we wanted to perform a show for spectators. The final time was not on our minds. And as for the setup, it all works perfectly well.'

Neil Simpson (GBR, Škoda Fabia S2000, st. no. 19):
'The special stages are very hard, especially Maják. When the route seemed dangerous, we simply slowed down. The following three stages will be enormously difficult. They could be the most difficult ones I have ever experienced. I enter them with big respect.

Antonín Tlusťák (CZE, Škoda Fabia S2000, st. no. 20):
'Almost all crews are holding up, except for Jakeš, who was unlucky. I can't wait to go through Troják and if we get lucky we won't have any troubles and we'll finish this stage. We're going for the same position in Semetín.'

Jan Jelínek (CZE, Škoda Fabia S2000, st. no. 22):
'The SS Maják was very slippery. This year's roads are unbelievable. We're not used to drive outside of the road in the Czech Championship. But we'll have to get used to it. We're looking forward to Troják and Semetín. Our priority is to finish this competition.'