Czech rally news

[Mirek]

Koči as well puncture.

Now it's cloudy in the area, again some showers are possible but likely for the afternoon. Probably no such mix like yesterday when there was each stage different weather.

[Mirek]

I am close to the finish of the last stage and it's raining again.

[Mirek]

What a great event it was! Changeable weather caused that it was both very spectacular and full of drama. Nearly nobody went through the rally without some mistake or problem. In the end Kopecký won ahead of Pech which looks pretty boring but in fact both went through their dramas as well (Kopecký puncture, Pech puncture and two offs). There was awesome fight today between Jakeš and Valoušek. Jakeš despite a spin on the first stage of today managed to get on the podium in the very last stage. Valoušek still won Slovak classification though because both Koči and Grzyb also suffered a puncture and weren't therefore anywhere close. To further describe what was going on I add Dohnal - struggling and only 11th after leg 1 but fastest overall in leg 2. Tarabus was surprisingly fast in the opening stages even setting 3rd time overall in the first night stage with old S2000! After that he suffered two punctures and I think that he wasn't pushing today. Also great battle in 2WD between Mareš and Wagner from the start till the last meter. Interesting fact - these two fastest juniors were also among the few crews who hit no dramas.

I have to say I was disappointed with Tidemand. I expected him to get faster with more stages but the opposite happened and even without the puncture he would probably have a hard time to get on the podium. In the end he finished fifth because Szeja didn't manage the pressure and dropped from 5th to 9th in the very last stage. But hey, Szeja is amateur driver with very little experience with R5 who started to the rally with No.19. Tidemand's best was three 3rd times in the first loop. After that 4th, 7th, 29th (puncture), 6th, 4th, 5th, 4th, 4th, 6th. That mean not a single stage in top three after first loop despite today five of six stages were totally dry and that there were even some gravel sections in the rally.

1. Kopecký (Fabia R5) 1:27:17,5
2. Pech (Fiesta R5) +41,2
3. Jakeš (Fiesta R5) +51,5
4. Valoušek (Fiesta R5) +54,3
5. Tidemand (Fabia R5) +1:53,0
6. Dohnal (Focus WRC) +1:54,6
7. Koči (Fabia R5) +1:59,4
8. Odložilík (Fiesta R5) +2:10,1
9. Szeja (Fiesta R5) +2:12,6
10. Grzyb (Fabia R5) +2:24,4

Notable retirements: Štajf (crash), Vlček (crash), Kopáček (crash). Out of 19 R5 which started in the event none suffered any major technical problem.

Very nice onboard of Grzyb from SS2 (2nd fastest), look at the muddy corner at 2:55. There were many accidents afterwards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U703pEWm_k

Nice video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD4rF2sVTmE

Check 2:55 Tarabus and compare with others. The old S2000 still has much better suspension than R5! It goes over those bumps like there are none while all R5 are bouncing around.

[Coach 2]

Not that I have any reason to defend Pontus, but can not this result be due to local knowledge (or lack of such), then I think first of all on the varying asphalt substrates.

[Mirek]

Another great onboard out, Valoušek from half circuit stage 8. Very aggresive driving.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMlNsOfNpuc

[Mirek]

Superb video including a lot of accidents: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78E1zddIMUI

[Mirek]

Hey WRC1, where are Your photos?

[PLuto]

Not that I have any reason to defend Pontus, but can not this result be due to local knowledge (or lack of such), then I think first of all on the varying asphalt substrates.

Pontus is very well experienced factory driver with lot of experience in WRC and also some czech events.

[Mirek]

More onboards coming

Pech SS7: https://www.mediasport.cz/rally/cesk...rdy/10303.html
Kopecký SS3: https://www.mediasport.cz/rally/cesk...rdy/10313.html
Koči SS5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax_16ESMzMA
Tidemand SS1: https://www.mediasport.cz/rally/cesk...rdy/10315.html
Koči SS4: https://www.mediasport.cz/rally/cesk...rdy/10321.html
Valoušek SS3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekgly4l78M0
Štajf SS9 (crash): https://www.mediasport.cz/rally/cesk...rdy/10297.html
Jírovec (ex-Pech's Porsche) SS9: https://www.mediasport.cz/rally/cesk...rdy/10311.html

[sete]

Former Czech rally star Roman Kresta has enter Rally Bohemia with his Skoda Fabia R5 supported with Mogul.
It was very discussed at beginning of the year the he will enter few selected races.