Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

We are looking forward to Barum rally, says Stříteský. Will he improve his fifth place from the last year?

29. 6. 2023 - Vojtěch JURÁK

For the third season Dominik Stříteský proves that he is a player to be counted on in the battle for the local elite. The twenty-three year old predator is one of the closest followers of Jan Kopecký and Václav Pech and regularly attacks the top 5 in the domestic championship competitions. Most recently, he finished third at the Hustopeče Rally in June. How will he perform at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín this summer?

"This season so far is fifty-fifty. Twice it worked, twice it didn't due to my mistake," reflects the young driver. He also took third place at the Šumava Klatovy Rally in April, but crashed at the Wallachian Rally and in Český Krumlov. "It was not my cup of tea in Hustopeče, but we managed to defend third place thanks to the rain in the penultimate stage," he adds.

The racer from Kelč in the Vsetín region experienced the Barum rally routes for the first time in 2019, and this year he will be making his fourth start at the prestigious event. "Wallachia is closer to my place, but Barum rally is a matter of the heart. In 2021, I didn't take away happy memories from here after the crash, but last year we did more than well," he recalls his fifth place, his best finish so far at the Zlín event.

"We managed to stay very high in the European competition until the last stage, where we made a mistake. I enjoyed the competition - the conditions were changing, it was not clear until the last test how it would turn out. I think that's how racing should be."

The loss to the elite duo is gradually being cut.

The Vančík Motorsport company has been involved in the preparation of Stříteský's car for the fourth year and the driver is very pleased with the cooperation. "This year Roman Kresta joined us with the chassis, which was a huge step forward for us. He is preparing the shock absorbers for us. We are a trio that works well together. We are slowly closing the gap on the first two," he reminds Kopecký and Pech, who have dominated domestic competitions for a long time.

"It wasn't very visible at Hustopeče, but whereas before we were a minute, a minute and a half behind them, now both Adam Březík and I are able to stay within a minute. And if it goes well, maybe even within half a minute. They are both experienced matadors, and as they challenge each other, they don't ease up on the pace. They are always at their full speed," says Stříteský.

The young driver will have his next opportunity to overtake Kopecký and Pech at the Bohemia Rally in July and then it will be his turn at the Barum rally in August. "It won't be easy, but we will do our best," he is determined.

"We will see how it will look at the Barum Rally - where the European champions will come - and how we will cope with our older Fabia. We are all looking forward to it, Barum rally will be the highlight of the season. It will be a tough race with difficult conditions on the stages, and the pace will be faster than at other events, where we are mostly fighting with Adam."

The home championship has now completed four events out of seven, with Stříteský keeping his position in fourth place after the two third places. Last season, the young driver finished third in the Czech Championship.

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