Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Kostka and Jakeš ready to compete at Barum rally

26. 8. 2021 - Petr Komárek

Two drivers from the Eastern Moravia region Tomáš Kostka and Miroslav Jakeš are going to take part in the jubilee 50th edition of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín. Kostka decided to join the competition just a short time ago and as Jakeš, he is going to aim for the highest places.

Tomáš Kostka, who is turning 37 during the competition, took part in the rally for the first time in 2004 as a driver of Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VI. and since then, he has reached the winner's podium three times. His best final position so far has been the second place in 2016, when he completed the difficult race as a driver of Škoda Fabia R5. In years 2012 and 2014, Kostka finished third. In 2017 and 2019, which where the last two editions he took part in, the Moravian driver came in just behind the podium and finished fourth.

This jubilee edition of Barum Czech Rally Zlín, Kostka and his co-driver Ladislav Kučera are going to race for the team Kresta Racing s. r. o. driving the Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo with start number 12. Kostka also took part in Rallysprint Kopná this year and finished second there. "First, I must say I am really happy that the Barum rally is going to happen. And even with the fans all around so everybody will have the chance to enjoy the competition in his way, which is even better. The Barum rally definitely belongs to summer and to Zlín," says Kostka. "It has been about a week since we decided to join the rally. We were wondering whether we should register or not. Our main priority was to gather a sufficient budget so we could get a quality car," he revealed. At the press conference in the main seat of Barum Continental company, the driver also described their training for the upcoming home competition. "We have already tried out the car several times and more rides are coming. Although the whole affair happened so hastily, our preparations are running as planned. We are looking forward and we will surely do our best."

The native of Zlín would like to extend his series of successful results achieved in past years. "But it's hard to guess our possible final place. I participated last in 2019 and since then, I have left the rally life. Yes, I took a seat in the car at Kopná, but that was after one and a half years. But I believe that it will all be fine and that we will battle for the top positions," said Kostka.

With the starting number 16, Miroslav Jakeš is going to take part in the Barum rally as a member of the Samohýl Škoda Team. Together with his co-driver Petr Machů, they are going to drive the Škoda Fabia R5. The 31-years-old pilot, who started racing when he was four, is  looking out for his twelfth career Barum rally participation. Three years ago, he finished fourth with just three tenths of a second behind the third Dani Sordo from Spain. In 2013, he came in sixth overall and at the same time won with his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX the prestige Colin McRae Flat Out Trophy for production cars.

"It is hard to say what our chances are. We will do our best and then see the final position our effort will be enough for," stated the driver, who reached the third place in Rallysprint Kopná, which has been his best this year's standing so far. Currently, the native of Vsetín is the ninth best driver of the Czech Rally Championship.

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