Part of the ERC schedule since the championship’s streamlining in 2004, this weekend's Barum Czech Rally Zlín, which is based in the South Moravian university city, 300 kilometres south of the Czech capital Prague, counts as round six of the eight-event ERC roster for 2024.
It’s a Tarmac test like no other due to the bumpy and sometimes broken nature of the road surface. And to add to the challenge, several stages feature high-speed blasts through forests and intermittent showers are always possible. While the weather might be hard to predict, huge numbers of fans are guaranteed with thousands following the action each year.
With eight wins in a row and 11 in total, Jan Kopecký, the 2013 ERC champion, remains the Barum benchmark. However, the 42-year-old Czech legend and Škoda stalwart will face plenty of opposition, both from home and afar.
ERC regulars Erik Cais and Filip Mareš, Czech championship leader Domink Stříteský, fellow youngster Adam Březík, plus former circuit racer Aleš Jirásek, are among the local contenders to have signed up for action along with Václav Pech, the Zlín winner in 2014 and an eight-time Czech champion.
“You will see there are going much more Czech crews trying to achieve the podium,” said ACCR Toyota Dolák’s Filip Mareš, who will compete in a Hankook-equipped Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. “They will be really strong so to fight for the top five will be a really high target for everyone. Hopefully we will be really strong.”
Runner-up in 2019 and 2022 and third in Zlín in 2021, Mareš reckons you can’t put a price on experience.
“For sure there are some drivers who have proved it is not necessary, but normally you need some experience and the Czech drivers have the experience of these bumpy, dirty roads,” he said. “Rain can also be part of the game and could be a game-changer because there can be slippery places and this is why you need experience. This is one event I would like to run in dry conditions rather than wet ones.”
While Mareš wants a dry home ERC event, Erik Cais, who went to school in Zlín, is hoping for rain. The former downhill mountain bike racer said: “Barum is always really nice in the rain and if it’s your home rally you know the secrets. The biggest rain possible is what I need. I’m really looking forward to that and hopefully it will happen.”
Jon Armstrong (Ireland), Mathieu Franceschi (France), Efrén Llarena (Spain), Andrea Mabellini (Italy), Miko Marczyk (Poland), Hermann Neubauer (Austria) and Simon Wagner (Austria) are all entered for Barum Czech Rally Zlín and will be in the hunt for ERC points.
Czech ERC prospect Kohn gets big Fiesta title chance
Home hero Filip Kohn will be aiming to secure the inaugural ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy title on the fifth and final round of the series from M-Sport Poland, on an event the Prague resident has yet to tackle during his career. Season-long rivals Kerem Kazaz, Martin Ravenščak and Igor Widłak are also set for action in Zlín. The quartet will also chase FIA ERC3 honours along with Renault Clio Rally3-powered teenagers Hubert Kowalczyk and Aleksandar Tomov, plus Fiesta Rally3-mounted Róbert Kolčák from Slovakia.
Polášek faces Hungary rivals in pursuit of home ERC4 success
Daniel Polášek will face strong competition from two Hungarian rivals when he bids for victory on his home round of the FIA ERC4 Championship. Appointed an ambassador for Barum Czech Rally Zlín earlier this year, Polášek is fifth in the ERC4 standings after five rounds and can make further progress in the title race with a strong haul of points on the challenging Tarmac event. However, Hungarian HRT Racing drivers Márton Bertalan and Patrik Herczig will rival Polášek for glory with all three competing in Peugeot 208 Rally4s. Wheelchair user Ciprian Lupu is also set for his first appearance in Zlín after scoring his maiden ERC4 points in Rome aboard his Renault Clio Rally5. Meanwhile, Opel Corsa Rally4-powered Ekaterina Stratieva is preparing for her 15th Barum Czech Rally Zlín start having also claimed ERC4 points last time out. Czech ace Réne Dohnal, the winner of the 2023 FIA European Rally Trophy, won’t be eligible for ERC4 points on Barum Czech Rally Zlín, but will be a contender for RC4 class honours in a Peugeot 208 Rally4.
Barum Czech Rally Zlín route in short
While Friday night’s spectacular super special stage through the streets of Zlín is unchanged from 2023 organisers have made several tweaks to this year’s route with 15 stages scheduled compared to the 13 that were timetabled 12 months ago. Saturday’s itinerary consists of four stages run twice over a competitive distance of 112.47 kilometres and split by a service halt in Otrokovicze. The mainly new Bunč test forms part of the action. Sunday’s route features three repeated stages, including the legendary Semetín and Pindula runs, for another 89.32 kilometres. Halenkovice, which measures 16.58 kilometres, forms the event-deciding Power Stage from 16:05 local time.
How to watch?
Fans across the globe can experience the excitement and drama of the ERC with every stage of every rally broadcast Rally.tv platform. In addition, the ERC is broadcast in a number of countries around the world and fans are advised to check local listings for details.
Barum Czech Rally Zlín 2024: the key numbers
Stages: 15
Competitive distance: 201.79 kilometres
Total distance: 883.49 kilometres
