Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Kresta and Enge at the Barum rally!

26. 8. 2021 - Bohumil Pácl

The 50th anniversary Barum rally will bring three big surprises to all motorsport fans. Legendary automobile drivers Roman Kresta and Tomáš Enge will drive at the Barum rally stages, also the ACCR president Jan Šťovíček will appear on the route as a co-driver of Mohammed ben Sulayem, a leading figure in the world of motorsport.

A yellow-blue Škoda Fabia WRC will take part in two attractive special stages. Roman Kresta will run it at the opening city special stage on Friday, while next day it will be driven at the semi-circuit stage Březová by another legend of Czech Motorsport – Tomáš Enge.
Another interesting crew will consist of the President of the Autoclub of the Czech Republic (ACCR) Jan Šťovíček, who will sit in the co-driver's seat next to Mohammed ben Sulayem, a fourteen-time champion of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship and a leading figure in motorsport in the Middle East. This crew will also drive in front of the main starting field with the new Ford Fiesta Rally3 from M-Sport. "The fiftieth anniversary of our most popular competition directly encouraged some action. It was an immediate idea and everything was arranged really at the very last minute. I think that especially the short performance of Roman Kresta and Tomáš Enge will be a real treat for the fans. I must also mention that it is a great honour for the Barum rally, its organizers as well as the Autoclub to welcome to our country Mr. Mohammed ben Sulayem, who after his successful racing career became a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council, participates in its development and is one of the most important personalities of motoring world," said Jan Šťovíček, president of the Autoclub of the Czech Republic.

"It will be a bit of a memory of old times for me. Many people may not remember me with the Fabia, but I drove it in the WRC rally in Germany in the past. This time I will only run at the city super special stage, but I hope that even this short performance will please the fans," added Roman Kresta.

"I'm glad to be behind the wheel of a WRC car after a long time, especially when I take it from a champion like Roman Kresta," said Tomáš Enge with a smile, adding: "Originally I planned to start at the Barum rally within the Star Rally Historic, but unfortunately it was not possible due to work duties. But in the end thanks to that, I was able to accept the offer of a ride with the Fabia WRC and I am glad that I can at least briefly please all the fans of this beautiful competition in the year of its 50th anniversary."

The spectators will be able to see the legends of Czech Motorsport and a rare foreign guest at the ceremonial start, at the city special stage and then on Saturday at the spectator-attractive special stage Březová. They will appear twice at the city circuit super special stage in Zlín, first in front of the Star Rally Historic crews and then in front of the main Barum Czech Rally Zlín field. At the SS Březová, spectators must get up early and arrive 40 minutes before the scheduled start of the first Barum rally crew, when, unlike the main field, they will run one extra lap on the circuit part of the stage.

Schedule
Ceremonial start, Friday, 27 August 2021
15:00 Star Rally Historic
16:10 Adac Opel e-Rally Cup
16:30 Selection of the starting position at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín
16:50 Roman Kresta/Tomáš Enge/Mohammed ben Sulayem
17:00 Ceremonial start of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín

SSS Zlín (Super Special Stage), Friday, 27 August 2021
17:00 Bugatti GP (1st ride)
17:30 Demonstration ride
18:00 Bugatti GP (2nd ride)
18:30 Green Rally – parade of selected cars
18:55 Roman Kresta/Mohammed ben Sulayem
19:00 Star Rally Historic
20:45 Roman Kresta/Mohammed ben Sulayem
21:00 Main field of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín

SS 2 Březová, Saturday, 28 August 2021
8:50 Tomáš Enge/Mohammed ben Sulayem
9:00 Adac Opel e-Rally Cup
9:31 Barum Czech Rally Zlín
12:36 Star Rally Historic
14:06 Total Energies Green Rally