Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Star Rally Historic: Proven line-up, but also show and news

6. 8. 2023 - Jakub Hofbauer

For the fifteen time, the Barum Czech Rally Zlín will be complemented by a historic car race held under the name Star Rally Historic. The event is already firmly embedded as part of the Czech Historic Car Rally Championship (MCR-RHA), but it also stays loyal to its tradition by holding a demonstration run of legendary cars that is not timed. The entry list includes a total of 65 crews from 6 countries. 38 crews have entered the championship this year, while the list of crews for the demonstration run includes 27 names. And the spectators by the track have something to look forward to!

The category of historic cars is constantly increasing its popularity as the years go by, and along with it comes the trend of foreign and more powerful cars taking over the numerical superiority of small engine domestic Škoda cars. In recent years, the dominant technology has been the former Group A technology from the late 1980s and early 1990s. This year, too, the Star rally will feature several newly built historic gems. Vlastimil Neumann, the three-time winner of the Zlín historic race, has abandoned his proven Ford Escort RS Cosworth for this season, replacing it with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III. The Japanese AWD special is a faithful replica of the factory specials and is equipped with, for example, a unique gearbox corresponding to the original specification. Jiří Hanák, a driver from Kromeriz, will premiere while driving a BMW M3 for the first time. These RWD specials, characterised by a strong sound and a sweeping ride, are on this year's entry list with four entries. The other M3 will be entered by three-time Star Rally winner Jaroslav Vančík, Martin Černý and Lubomír Tenkl.

Even older cars, for which the concept of a front-engine combined with rear-wheel drive was standard in the 1970s, will be represented. Czech rally legend Jindrich Stolfa is heading into these waters after years spent in relatively exotic 2WDs from Rover. The former Škoda factory driver has come up with a classic second-generation Ford Escort RS 1600 for this season, which was one of the most popular competition cars in Western Europe at the late 1970s and early 1980s. Aleš Jirátko and his BMW 2002 Ti will be up against him in the same category, as a regular line-up inseparable for many years. The classic Czech Škoda 130 RS, driven by Jan Schmied, is also included in the same era. The oldest car in the starting field will be the Volvo Amazon 122 S, which will be presented in Zlín by Artur Skrabalak from Poland.

Many spectators traditionally look forward to the demonstration run of the Rally Legends. A number of crews, who are not pressured by the time measurement during this demonstration, can play on the track and bring the spectators to the appropriate euphoria with their attractive drive. And this year there will truly be the show because of a couple of well-known guests from Slovakia. The Spišák brothers and their blue Lada VFTS have been inseparable from the Zlín competition for the last few years and this year will be no exception. And Jozef Béreš Jr., who conquered the audience years ago with his wild ride in the Zlín special with the powerful Audi Quattro S1, is also a guarantee of a great spectacle. This year, he will present himself with an Opel Ascona 400, so there will certainly be a lot of wide turns again. The attractive RWD car has long been associated with both the Béreš family and the Star rally, as Jozef Béreš Sr. attended the very first Star rally in 2008 with the same car. Among the well-known showmen we should also include Josef Urban, navigated by his father Jaroslav with his Škoda 130 LR, and Stanislav Bláha, who is able to get his Wartburg 353W into wild skids despite the front-wheel drive.

However, there will be some interesting curiosities among the legends, besides the showmen. Slovak driver Mário Krajči last appeared on the track just during the very first edition of the Star Rally. Now, after fifteen years, he returns to stages with a unique Porsche 924 Turbo. There will also be a trio of Audi racing cars from the early 1980s and several classic first-generation Ford Escort cars. Aleš Máčala will not miss the home competition with his massive Mercedes 500 SLC, and the oldest era of the sixties will be represented by Miroslav Julínek in a Skoda Octavia TS or Michal Pavlík in a Saab 96. The fifteenth Star Rally Historic will once again be rich!

The complete list of entries can be found at Documents page.

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