Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

The jubilee Barum rally celebrates together with its general partner

28. 8. 2021 - Petr Komárek

One of the oldest rally competitions on the European continent still carries the name of Continental Barum s.r.o. in its title. It has been the general partner of the show of fast cars in the east of Moravia since the very beginning, i.e. since 1971.

"We have met two anniversaries this year. On the one hand, the 50th anniversary of the Barum rally will take place, and on the other hand, we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Continental AG Group founding, to which the company belongs," mentioned Ing. Libor Láznička, CEO of Continental Barum s.r.o., whose press conference for media representatives took place at its headquarters in Otrokovice. The Otrokovice plant itself will also receive a significant jubilee next year. Exactly fifty years have passed since the opening of the tire factory.

"It is a great honor for us that throughout the whole history of Barum Czech Rally Zlín we have been the general partner of this prestigious race. It is clear to me that an exceptional year awaits us even before the official start lists come out. Both Regners always visit me and every year and demand more and more space for the service park," Láznička smiled. He wishes Barum rally to flourish and no affection by last year's scenario, when the 50th anniversary had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. "2020 was a really bad year 2020. Let's hope that the situation will stabilize and the competition course will be interesting for everyone and an experience for the spectators, even in these difficult conditions. I believe that next year we will meet again at the headquarters of our company - before the 51st year of Barumka," said Libor Láznička.

The Continental AG Group was founded on October 8, 1871 in Hannover, Germany, as Continental-Caoutchouc & Gutta-Percha-Compagnie. At the end of 30s of the last century, the Hanover tire factory was opened. The Barum factory in Otrokovice became part of the Continental Group in 1993. The Barum brand is an abbreviation of the names Baťa, Ruben and Mitas, which stood at its birth in 1948. Three entrepreneurs engaged in tire production before, have established a tire factory in Zlín. The Otrokovice plant started construction in 1966, and was put into operation in 1972.

The 50th edition of the Barum rally is an integral part of the European Championship and the SONAX Rally Championship of the Czech Republic. "We want to organize a quality and interesting racing. We are very happy to successfully fulfill last year's promise to the fans. We do not want to organize rallies without them, because it is the spectator attendance that gives the Zlín rally the right atmosphere, for which we thank them," said Miloslav Regner, long-time director of the Barum Rally. You can find more information at www.czechrally.com and don't forget to follow Barum rally on the official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter profiles.