Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Feedback from the leading crews after SS 12

18. 8. 2024 - Vojtěch Gargulák, David Štícha, Martin Bill

After a dramatic Saturday, the 53rd BARUM CZECH RALLY ZLÍN 2024 continued on Sunday morning, when the classic stages Semetín, Pindula and Halenkovice awaited the competing crews. The battle for the podium after the first passes is still very variable, with Dominik Stříteský holding the lead over Simon Wagner and Adam Březík. We asked the leading crews for their fresh impressions before the final section after arriving at the service zone in Otrokovice.

Albert von Thurn und Taxis (GER, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 24):
"It was really great, I'm thrilled with today's first section. I slept well last night, restarted my head and woke up with a great feeling. I can drive freely, without fear and enjoy it. We got a good starting position, which also helped us to set nice times. We got everything out of ourselves and I'm very happy about that."

Jaroslaw Koltun (POL, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 23):
„All was good."

Martin László (HUN, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 14):
"It was a bit wet, so it was a bit slippery on Semetín and Pindula. But it was OK, we had wet tires, it was the first time I drove with both dry tires and wet tires crosswise. Everything is fine, we didn't have any major crises, so it's good."

Václav Pech (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5, starting number 18):
"We did quite well. We were fast last time in Halenkovice too, so I am satisfied. There was no crisis, so everything is fine."

Jan Kopecký (CZE, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 16):
"The first two stages were difficult. The first one was wet, the second one we just passed without trying to push the pace. We have nothing more to lose, we lost everything yesterday."

Hermann Neubauer (AUT, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 25):
"I'm trying not to push and to get to the finish without any mistakes. At Halenkovice we tried a wild mix of tires, which didn't work and it was difficult to stay on the track. A stupid mistake."

Miko Marczyk (POL, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 7):
"We did well at Semetín, we had four wet tyres and the track was clean, maybe only a few curves were muddy. At Pindula it was drier, but in the shade the track was still wet and slippery. We took it slower, but no problem and it was similar at Halenkovice. We are testing some new things and I am happy with them."

Efrén Llarena (ESP, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 2):
"I'm satisfied, we made a compromise in terms of tires. The track at Semetín was wet, at Pindula it was fifty-fifty and Halenkovice was dry."

Filip Mareš (CZE, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, starting number 12):
"The fight for the trophy is still on, but we have the toughest opponents like Adam and Erik, who drive really well and know the terrain. They are both really strong here. The intermediate times show that we have lost time in the woods, where Adam is not afraid to take risks, which makes the competition more complicated for us. But we'll fight, we managed to win Semetín, which was great for us and we'll try to repeat it in the second round."

Adam Březík (CZE, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 17):
"It was good, we lost a bit at Semetín. We also lost a lot in the beginning of Pindula because of the tire choice. In Halenkovice we managed it somehow. In any case, we don't want to throw in the towel, we will try to catch up this afternoon. Erik will of course is another complication."

Erik Cais (CZE, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 11):
"It was quite challenging. I knew that Adam will ride great at Pindula. We were faster before we reached the forest, but Adam had wet tires. He had the advantage and then we missed him. It wasn't an easy tire choice. I will do my best to be third."

Simon Wagner (AUT, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 10):
"In the morning it was a bit risky to choose the tires and it was very interesting on the first two stages. In the end it didn't pay off, Halenkovice was still a bit muddy, but we got the car safely to the finish and that's the main thing. I think it will be very interesting this afternoon."

Dominik Stříteský (CZE, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 15):
"Sunday morning was difficult, mainly because of the puncture on the first stage, then on Pindula, so we are glad that we finished without the third puncture. We are happy that we managed to keep our lead, if not increase it."

Andrea Mabellini (ITA, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, starting number 8):
"The morning was difficult, there was a lot of mud and wet spots on the track. I had a strategy, but it broke in the first SS. We had a puncture again and drove four or five kilometres with it. We'll see what comes in the afternoon. It will be dry, but there is still a lot of mud in the turns."

Hayden Paddon (NZL, Hyundai i20 N Rally2, starting number 1):
"Mud everywhere, especially having our starting position. We probably would have had the right tire choice if we had started higher, but this is life. We'll take it easy this afternoon and try to get the car to the finish."

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