Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

European Barum rally will be held in the middle of August again

18. 6. 2024 - Roman Ordelt

The top drivers of the European championship, challenging stages including the traditional Super SS in the night streets of the regional city and a great spectator atmosphere in the middle of the hot summer. All this will be available in the city of Zlín and its surroundings in mid-August during the popular 53rd BARUM CZECH RALLY ZLÍN. It will take place from 16 to 18 August 2024 and will once again be part of the prestigious FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) series. The Zlín Rally is one of the key events and highlights not only of the European Championship but also of the Czech Rally Championship 2024.

Two seasons ago, the European Championship was transferred to a new promoter, WRC Promoter GmbH, based in Munich, Germany. The promoter of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) also secures the rights for the ERC, which was an important development for the championship in the world of rallying. Once again this year, fans will be able to enjoy live coverage of every stage, including service zone inputs, via the Rally TV platform. In the Czech Republic, the O2 TV sport channel will broadcast live coverage of the Barum rally, including the final Power Stage, for which the fastest FIA ERC crews will receive bonus points. The schedule follows the proven format of last year's stages, although some timed sections have been changed and Saturday's stage will offer a greater number of timed tests. "Compared to last year, 29% of the stages have been changed, measuring a total of 202 kilometres. The itinerary also includes the Bunč special stage, which will be run in a completely new form after a year break," said Miloslav Regner, Chairman of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín organising committee.

The prelude to the competition itself will be the 2.77 km long test stage / shakedown in Oldřichovice on Friday 16 August. There will be a qualifying session for registered ERC1 drivers, which will set the order of crews for Saturday's leg. On Friday, the spectator-attractive Super Stage will be held in the night streets of the regional city. On Saturday, two passes on 4 sections of special stages are scheduled and on Sunday, 3 special stages will also be run twice. The final stage, the so-called Power Stage, will be held again in Halenkovice. In total, there are 15 special stages on 8 sections in the itinerary. Traditionally, it will be busy in front of the Zlín Town Hall on Friday, 16 August at 4 p.m. during the ceremonial start and on Sunday, 18 August at 5.50 p.m. during the finish of the rally, announcement and prize giving.

The European Championship has already completed three out of eight races so far. It started unconventionally on gravel in Hungary, continued on the tricky asphalt of the Canary Islands and the third part took place on fast gravel in Sweden. Again this year, a number of very renowned drivers entered the old continent's championship, having been successful in the WRC in previous years. After the three events, Mathieu Franceschi from France (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and reigning European champion Hayden Paddon from New Zealand (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) are in the lead with the same number of points. However, the 25-year-old Frenchman finished with no points in northern Europe after crashing on the Power Stage and resigning from fourth place at the very end. The third place goes to Romanian Simone Tempestini (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2), winner of Rally Hungary. Czech representatives Erik Cais (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) and Filip Mareš (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) are currently in the second ten. In the ERC3 category, the Czech representative Filip Kohn (Ford Fiesta Rally3) is third, while in the ERC4 and Junior ERC categories, Barum Czech Rally Zlín ambassador Daniel Polášek (Peugeot 208 Rally4) is fourth in the ranking.

In recent years, the Star Rally Historic has been an integral part of Barum rally. The popular rally, which has grown into a proper event and a solid pillar of the Czech Historic Rally Championship, will take place for the sixteenth time. "The Star Rally will traditionally start on the city circuit and then take place again on both days of the weekend. It will offer a total of 13 special stages with a total length of 154 sharp kilometres," said Ing. Jan Regner, Clerk of the Course of Barum Czech Rally Zlín.

European Rally Championship 2024 (ERC) standings - drivers:
(after 3 rallies)
1. Mathieu Franceschi (FRA) 56 pts
Hayden Paddon (NZL) 56
3. Simone Tempestini (ROU) 40
4. Oliver Solberg (SWE) 35
5. Yoann Bonato (FRA) 32
6. Mads Ostberg (NOR) 31
7. Mikko Heikkilä (FIN) 28
8. Mikolaj Marczyk (POL) 27
9. Alejandro Cachón (ESP) 26
10. Miklós Csomós (HUN) 25
Jon Armstrong (IRL) 25
15. Erik Cais (CZE) 19
20. Filip Mareš (CZE) 11

ERC4 category standings:
1. Mille Johansson (SWE) 79
2. Max McRae (GBR) 58
3. Calle Carlberg (SWE) 48
4. Daniel Polášek (CZE) 43
5. Aiofe Raftery (IRL) 39

Note: the same order also applies to the Junior ERC category.

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

Zlín, 18th June 2024

Roman ORDELT

Press Relations Officer
Barum Czech Rally Zlín