Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Autograph session attracted more than a thousand rally fans

17. 8. 2023 - Vojtěch Gargulák

The 52nd Barum Czech Rally Zlín is just about to start. Around a thousand of fans came to absorb the atmosphere of the upcoming rally weekend already on Wednesday, when the traditional autograph session of the leading crews took place in the evening. On the ground floor of the Golden Apple Shopping and Entertainment Centre in Zlín, those interested could meet a number of leading crews, including foreign and domestic stars and representatives of female drivers too.

During the roughly hour-long autograph session, fans could have their posters, cards and other souvenirs signed, or take photos with their favourites. People began to gather in and around the shopping centre tens of minutes before the event started, with the queue reaching as far as the adjacent Náměstí Míru square. Because of the high number of enthusiasts, a number of crews voluntarily extended their participation in the autograph session until everyone was served.

"We were very well surprised by the high number of people interested in the autograph session. It is another proof that the fans in Zlín really live the Barum rally and we believe that they will create a great atmosphere on the stages again during the weekend itself," commended Roman Ordelt, Press Relations Officer of the Barum rally.

A great attention of the fans was caused especially by the large participation of the racing teams. In addition to the traditional Barum rally participants from the Czech rally top, foreign stars such as World Championship winners Haydon Paddon of New Zealand and Mads Ostberg of Norway, or former European champions Efrén Llarena, Chris Ingram and Alexey Lukyanuk were signing autographs and taking photos with fans.

The accompanying programme of the Barum rally will continue in the Golden Apple in the following days too. On Thursday there will be an autograph session for the Star Rally Historic crews, and on Friday there will be a discussion and book launch with the authors of Dakar rally photographs Martin Straka and Petr Lusk. In the meantime, the racing crews will be getting ready for Friday morning's qualifying stage and the subsequent ceremonial start in the afternoon, after which they will head to the start of the evening spectator's special stage in the streets of Zlín.

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.