Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Kopecký, Llarena, Cais, Tempestini and others to take part in Barum Rally

15. 8. 2022 - Roman ORDELT

In less than two weeks, the penultimate event of the eight-part European Rally Championship (ERC) series, Barum Czech Rally Zlín, will start in Zlín (26-28 August 2022). The competing crews will also have to fight for important points in the Sonax Czech Rally Championship (MCR) standings. A total of 115 entries from 21 countries have arrived at the competition secretariat. Almost the entire top of this year's European Championship will come to Zlín, with only Spain's Nil Solans missing from the top seven drivers in the standings.

Among the biggest favourites of the Zlín rally, which starts on Friday 26 August at 4 p.m. from Náměstí Míru Square in front of the town hall, are nine-time Barum rally winner and eight-time Czech champion Jan Kopecký (Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) and the talented young man Erik Cais (Ford Fiesta R5 MkII), who is a World Championship regular this year. A year ago, the Zlín native's sensational triumph was stopped only by a crash in the last special stage.

Among the European top drivers, Efrén Llarena, the almost definite European champion, will come to Zlín, followed by Simone Tempestini from Romania, the second in the standings, fourth Javier Pardo from Spain, and fifth Alberto Battistolli from Italy (all Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo). Simone Campedelli from Italy, Simon Wagner from Austria, Norbert Herczig from Hungary (all Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo), Tom Kristensson from Sweden (Hyundai i20 R5) and Estonian Ken Torn (Ford Fiesta R5 MkII) will certainly be looking for the top positions.

Among the Czech top drivers, besides Kopecký and Cais, the very fast Filip Mareš (Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo), who won three special stages in the previous European Rally, will also take part. Petr Semerád (Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo), Adam Březík (Škoda Fabia R5) and Martin Vlček (Hyundai i20 R5) will also drive with ERC1 priority.

The international field will include Dominik Stříteský, Aleš Jirásek, Michal Horák, Miklós Csomós from Hungary (all Škoda Fabia R5), Antonín Tlusťák (Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo), Petr Zedník (Ford Fiesta R5 MkII) and others. In total, we can find 25 cars of the Rally2/R5 category in the entry list. The multiple Czech champion Václav Pech will drive a Ford Focus WRC in the national field, which will also include Petr Nešetřil (Porsche 997 GT3) and Pavel Ševčík (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX).

In the RGT category we will find Emmanuel Guigou, Raphael Astier (both Alpine A110 RGT), Roberto Gobbin from Italy (Fiat Abarth 124 RGT) and in the ERC3 category Igor Widlak from Poland will drive a 4WD Ford Fiesta Rally3.

In the 2WD category, there are quality entrants, which means there will definitely be a lot to watch. Among the favourites are the trio of ERC4 leader Oscar Palomo from Spain (Peugeot 208 Rally4), ERC4 Junior leader Laurent Pellier from France (Opel Corsa Rally4) and Italy's Andrea Mabellini (Renault Clio Rally4). The top spots will certainly be shuffled by the fast youngster Toni Herranen from Finland, Victor Hansen from Sweden (both Ford Fiesta Rally4), Roberto Dapra from Italy (Renault Clio Rally4) and Paulo Soria from Argentina (Renault Clio Rally5).

Among the Czech drivers, the leader of the Czech championship Jaromír Tarabus (Peugeot 208 Rally4), European Daniel Polášek (Ford Fiesta Rally4), Lukáš Frána (Citroën DS3 R3T), Robert Hordossy, David Štefan (both Peugeot 208 Rally4), etc. In total 74 crews will compete in the international field, of which 44 are with ERC priority, while 17 drivers will compete with ERC1 priority.

Three women behind the wheel will also add variety to the starting field. Adrienn Vogel from Hungary (Ford Fiesta Rally4), Ekaterina Statiyeva from Bulgaria (Opel Corsa Rally4) and Cristiana Oprea from Romania (Peugeot 208 R2) will show their driving skills on the Czech tracks.

More information available at www.czechrally.com and don't forget to follow Barum rally on the official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

In Zlín, 15 August 2022

Roman ORDELT
press agent
Barum Czech Rally Zlín