Czech rally news

[Mirek]

No, Příbram is canceled due to financial reasons. Next year the calendar will most likely add Rally Pačejov instead of Příbram.

Also the Rallysprint Series has only one event left - Rally Vsetín. Rally Jeseníky is also canceled.

[Mirek]

Something for fans of amateur rallying. Quite funny video from Rally Kroměříž which took place last weekend. It's a new event, part of a semi-amateur Czech-Moravian Rally Cup (ČMPR). There were some championship drivers present as well but the video is mainly about offs and mistakes on the muddy roads.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bogt6nDbSqw

[Mirek]

Two old classic stages return to the Prague Rallysprint. Stage Cementárna was not run since Kuzaj hit a group of spectators in 2008 and Karlík was last run in 2010. it means this edition will be a bit more like a normal rally than usually.

[Mirek]

Pech tested Polo R5 today.

[Mirek]

Last third of the video is Pech driving the Polo: https://www.facebook.com/racing21rallyteam/videos/2522258544533626/

[Mirek]

Lukasz Habaj entered Rally Vsetín. Probably already a test for Barum 2020 :)

[Mirek]

Entry list for Rally Vsetín, last part of the Rallysprint Series. It will take place next Saturday.
http://www.autosport.cz/zavody/soubor.php?f=22100

[Mirek]

Pech will drive Polo R5 in Prague Rallysprint.

[Jarek Z]

Lukasz Habaj entered Rally Vsetín. Probably already a test for Barum 2020 :)

It was Habaj's warm-up before Rally Hungary. Unfortunately his result in Vsetin was very bad - only 6th overall.

Final results:
1. Miroslav Jakeš/Petr Machů (CZ) Skoda Fabia R5 39.16,8
2. Jaromír Tarabus/Daniel Trunkát (CZ) Skoda Fabia R5 +8,4
3. Roman Odložilík/Martin Tureček (CZ) Skoda Fabia R5 +10,4
4. Martin Březík/Marek Omelka (CZ) Skoda Fabia R5 43,9
5. Patrik Rujbr/Jaromír Švec (CZ) Skoda Fabia R5 +44,8
6. Łukasz Habaj/Daniel Dymurski (PL) Skoda Fabia R5 +58,1
7. Karel Trněný/Christian Doerr (CZ/D) Ford Fiesta R5 +1.09,5
8. Vladimír Hanuš/Karolína Jugasová (SK/CZ) Hyundai i20 R5 +2.42,0
9. Karel Štochl/Adéla Vacková (CZ) Ford Fiesta RS WRC +2.46,2
10. Petr Trnovec/Miroslav Staněk (CZ) Hyundai i20 R5 +3.09,5

[Mirek]

Very nice video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRBbZVuWHSs

Tarabus is the overal winner of the P2+ cup within the Rallysprint Series (cup for 4WD and over 2 litre cars). Březík jr. is the overall winner of the Rallysprint Series (only 2WD under 2 litres count).

[Mirek]

Setkání mistrů in Sosnová (Meeting of Champions) is scheduled for next weekend however no entry list is available atm. We know that Pech will drive Polo R5 but nothing about the rest. For sure there are drivers from rally, autocross, rallycross and some Dakar ones entered but we have to wait and see who...

[Mirek]

Entry list for Sosnová: http://www.rallycross-sosnova.cz/data_rs/seznam-jezdcu-sm19.pdf

[Mirek]

Some onboards of Jakeš from Vsetín:

SS5 Semetín: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9g6085gVLM (the first two minutes are same with Barum stage the rest is a completely new road which didn't even exist two years a go)
SS3 Jabloňová: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBjcOKp7WgY

[dimviii]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIMr2N4W4AAp7jf?format=jpg&name=small

[Mirek]

Pech said he already quickly tested Polo and Fabia and that further tests would continue including Fiesta Mk.2.

[Mirek]

Petr Semerád (Fabia Evo) won the show in Sosnová and he said he would like to drive the car also in Prague.

[Mirek]

Dominik Stříteský, who won all events of Czech Adam Cup this year and also the season finale in 3-Städte Rallye in Germany, will drive 208 R2 in Czech Peugeot Cup next year. The car will be serviced by Vančík Motorsport. This is a guy with a lot of potential and I am looking forward to see him growing further.

[Mirek]

Entry list for Mikuláš Rally Slušovice: http://rallysprintkopna.cz/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/mikulas_2019_entrylist_web.pdf

Adam Březík with R5 of his father. He tried it already in one small event on Tatra polygon.

[RS]

Pech said he already quickly tested Polo and Fabia and that further tests would continue including Fiesta Mk.2.

Working out what to drive next year?

[Mirek]

Yes, there will be a lot of things different next year.

[Ralph-Mario]

Calendar 2020 ??

[Mirek]

Not yet released.

[Ralph-Mario]

24./25.4. Sumava
22./23.5. Cesky Crumlov
19./20.6. Hustopece
10./12.7. Bohemia
28./30.8. Barum

Sure?

[PLuto]

24./25.4. Sumava
22./23.5. Cesky Crumlov
19./20.6. Hustopece
10./12.7. Bohemia
28./30.8. Barum

Sure?

Sumava and Barum are sure as FIA ERC (or EHRC) events. Rest should be changed until final publication (but most probably dates will stay as mentioned).

[Mirek]

Entry list for Prague (not seeded): http://www.prazskyrallysprint.cz/pro-divaky/posadky/

20 R5, 4 WRC, 1 S2000, 2 GT and Enge with RWD :D

Pech, Koči, Grzyb, Mareš or Semerád brothers all in R5 cars.

[Mirek]

Calendar 2020 ??

It looks like there will be many changes compared to previous years. Pačejov in MČR, Příbram in sprints and several completely new events in the sprint calendar. That's why it takes time to finalize the calendar.

[Ralph-Mario]

Yes, ´20 3x CZ, MCR...:cool:

[Mirek]

Video from Prague: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0kNlj-zvWM&feature=emb_title
Video from Slušovice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdUVrkNV9GU

[Mirek]

The calendars are out finally.

MČR
3-5th April - Valašská Rally
24-26th April - Rallye Šumava + Rallye Vltava Historic
22-24th May - Rallye Český Krumlov
16-21st June - Rally Hustopeče
10-12th July - Rally Bohemia
28-30th August - Barum Rally
25-27th September - Rally Pačejov (first time in MČR)

Rallysprint Series
8-9th May - Rally Kopná
5-6th June - Rally Plzeň (new event in Rally Šumava area)
24-25th July - Rally Příbram (moved from MČR)
7-8th August - Rally Fulnek (new event in Valašská rally area)
11-12th September - Rally Vyškov
9-10th October - Rally Moravia (new event in former Rally Jeseníky area)
23-24th September - Rally Vsetín

[kollma]

5-6th June - Rally Plzeň (new event in Rally Šumava area)


Are you sure about the area? I have heard something about Úněšov which is quite far from any area where Rally Šumava has been ever driven.

[Mirek]

Aha, thanks for the information. I meant the note more or less generally for our foreign friends just to give them a hint where they could expect it to take place :)

[Ralph-Mario]

What is the problem of Rallye Most ? No comeback ?

[WRC1]

16-21st June - Rally Hustopeče



??? 5 Days Hustopece? is it Round of WRC too? ;)

[Mirek]

What is the problem of Rallye Most ? No comeback ?

PLuto can give you better info for sure but I think that the organizers aren't interested to do it again.


??? 5 Days Hustopece? is it Round of WRC too? ;)

Hehe, good eyes. Maybe they added couple more championships to the mix :D

[Mirek]

Just couple of days after he drove Prague Rallysprint Marian Šín passed away from a serious illness which he was battling for a long time. He probably knew it was his last event when he entered it. I had no idea about that...
https://www.ewrc.cz/clanek/34537-zemrel-marian-sin/

He was best known as an F2 kit car driver around 15 years a go.

[Ralph-Mario]

PLuto can give you better info for sure but I think that the organizers aren't interested to do it again.



Thx anyway

[PLuto]

PLuto can give you better info for sure but I think that the organizers aren't interested to do it again.

It was not acceptable to make rallysprint with only stages on circuit or roads around circuit. And organisers were not able to find/organise proper stages out of circuit.

[Ralph-Mario]

But the special stages 2017 were very good ? Moutain race tracks ?

[PLuto]

But the special stages 2017 were very good ? Moutain race trakes ?

That stages were organised by external group of people usually doing amateur races and cooperation was not working.

[Ralph-Mario]

Thx. Sad to hear.

[Mirek]

Jindřich Štolfa (ex-Škoda driver from 90') will drive an absolute rarity in 2020 historic events. The car - Rover XW 220 GTi - was actually homologated in gr.A but never ever did any rally in such spec. (only circuits). It's a nice car nevertheless!
https://www.ewrc.cz/clanek/34560-tym-okolo-j-stolfy-chysta-pro-sezonu-2020-prekvapeni/
On the right side it is (the car shall be ready for Rallye Vltava in April).
https://www.ewrc.cz/images/2019/web/stolfa_rov1.jpg

[kure91]

Jan Černý with Polo R5 from Racing 21 (Vojta Štajf) - https://www.facebook.com/jancernyrally/posts/2818329471578218

[Mirek]

If I understand right the Polish Proto cars are now allowed in Czech championship.

[Mirek]

Černý (černý = black in Czech)
https://scontent-prg1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/87327233_2837325099678655_5164866037941796864_o.jp g?_nc_cat=1&_nc_ohc=56kQpN50hwgAX_xqKJg&_nc_ht=scontent-prg1-1.xx&oh=923dba91c9d6bad5fd9e40a9058ef956&oe=5EF3FE6F

[Mirek]

First Proto car for Czech championship is out. Fiesta Proto for Jiří Pertlíček jun.

[Mirek]

This year I ignored Prague rallysprint completely but here You can find a nice onboard of Petr Semerád from stage Cementárna which was run after many years and which is pretty good IMHO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHALu3uFmk

[Jarek Z]

Jan Černý with Polo R5 from Racing 21 (Vojta Štajf) - https://www.facebook.com/jancernyrally/posts/2818329471578218

Cerny is now a member of Orlen Team and was present on the official presentation in Warsaw yesterday (Orlen is the owner of Benzina):
https://twitter.com/TeamORLEN/status/1234555342761099264

[Mirek]

At this moment it is not possible to organize Valašská Rally. The organizers will try to hold it in a different date.

[kure91]

Big surprise from Václav Pech, more in video (only in Czech) - https://youtu.be/rLdI58Ihjmo
1939

[Mirek]

Rallye Šumava/Vltava also moved to yet not specified date.

[Ucci]

Big surprise from Václav Pech, more in video (only in Czech) - https://youtu.be/rLdI58Ihjmo
1939

Wow, this is a surprise.
I just understand some sentences, can you Mirek explain few things:
- where does car come from?
- why did they decide to move on old WRC?

[Mirek]

The car is from Dohnal, Pech arranged it as a part of a new three year deal with EuroOil (yes, he has secured backing for next three seasons - at least in theory). Dohnal's team will supervise the preparation.

Regarding the reasons - they are not explicitely mentioned but he said he never managed to fully addapt to the R5 and that he likes to drive the old-stylish WRC more.

The question is what will Dohnal drive if anything.

[Ucci]

The car is from Dohnal, Pech arranged it as a part of a new three year deal with EuroOil (yes, he has secured backing for next three seasons - at least in theory). Dohnal's team will supervise the preparation.

Regarding the reasons - they are not explicitely mentioned but he said he never managed to fully addapt to the R5 and that he likes to drive the old-stylish WRC more.

The question is what will Dohnal drive if anything.

Thanks Mirek! And what a "jewelry" they still have in the garage....Focus WRC 99', Corolla WRC.....

[Mirek]

I think that the Focus (I think it's 02) is not a real WRC but only a display car from the times when Pech drove it.

Check this link. This is an enormous collection of cars of Jírovec (owner of Czech BMW dealership and Pech's sponsor until the end of last year). Well, I think every petrolhead shall at least click on the link :)
http://www.inveltclassic.com/eng/

[Ucci]

I think that the Focus (I think it's 02) is not a real WRC but only a display car from the times when Pech drove it.

Check this link. This is an enormous collection of cars of Jírovec (owner of Czech BMW dealership and Pech's sponsor until the end of last year). Well, I think every petrolhead shall at least click on the link :)
http://www.inveltclassic.com/eng/

I've checked this inventory of Mr.Jirovec.....in one word: unimaginable!
Until now I thought that just some oil moguls from Middle East can afford something like this...but actually this collection is much closer to me....

[dimviii]

Until now I thought that just some oil moguls from Middle East can afford something like this...but actually this collection is much closer to me....

there are plenty of such collections.At Greece i have seen collection much better than this.
2-3 integrales with works martini colors,torino licence numbers even with stickers from factory last rally entry.
quattro a2 with HB colors and Ingolstand licence numbers,celica st 165 tte with Koln numbers etc.
This guy has more than 100 cars,not only rally cars,but very well choosen models.Had 3 person permanent who their job was to restore his cars.

[Mirek]

When the championship is not running there is a "replacement" RBR virtual Valašská Rally. Nearly 700 drivers from all over the world registred themselves including Nikolai Gryazin, Mattias Adielsson, Václav Pech, Ondřej Bisaha, Martin Koči, Vojtěch Štajf, Miroslav Jakeš, Petr Semerád, Martin Vlček, Adam Březík, Martin Březík, Jaromír Tomaštík, Gabriel Morales, Kacper Wroblewski, Jan Hloušek etc.

[Mirek]

Rally Hustopeče is canceled.

[Mirek]

A great onboard from Hrdinka from Valašská Rally 2002 with Impreza WRC. It's crazy how much more bumpy and difficult the very same stage looks with these car which had a suspension stiff like a brick and half the travel they have today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCTXsQQTZn8&feature=emb_title

And a special quest for Jeppe. When you visited Valašská rally with Jaro, you were with me on this stage (even run in the same direction). Find the spot :)

And by the way in the virtual RBR Valašská rally Pavol Spišák was the fastest among the real licensed drivers. You may know him from Barum Star Rally where he drives a blue Lada VFTS together with his brother. If you saw him you sure remember him :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rmZTr0aVSY

[Jeppe]

One crazy stage and driver definitely ;) Stage is very bumpy and lots of broken tarmac. But maybe the camera technology makes stage look even more bumpy: lens angle and aspect ratio are different than we are used nowadays with these wide-angle lenses. Angle is a lot narrower and it makes aspect look more ´aggressive´..

Add yes, I did found the spot - it´s around half way in very steep downhill. Nice spot to watch and Ásin makes us indelible impression, we still remember his huge ride with Evo IX.

[Mirek]

New car of Hýbner
https://www.facebook.com/vratislav.hybner/videos/3230371837006929/

[Ucci]

There is (finally) something happening in Czech republic; a rally test!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bgvt9vXy_o&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2FVlt08aOlsX3S6E_ZL3mEsSFLGgq4hzlgfEnq4 _6IXF0LgVfNiONzcDA

So Mirek, what is Daniel talking about (he is also mentioning Porsche)? Thanks in advance.

[PLuto]

There is (finally) something happening in Czech republic; a rally test!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bgvt9vXy_o&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2FVlt08aOlsX3S6E_ZL3mEsSFLGgq4hzlgfEnq4 _6IXF0LgVfNiONzcDA

So Mirek, what is Daniel talking about (he is also mentioning Porsche)? Thanks in advance.

Nothing extra special. He is returning back to rallysport after some break. Currently only for one non-official race and then he will see how it will work. There was question about Porsche which he likes to use in private life - if he doesnt want to try it in rally. And he refused, he prefer 4WD.

[PLuto]

And in basic, there is plenty of tests during last three months. Some drivers are sitting in a rally car almost every second week. But as it is not official race or official action, it is not published by pictures or videos.

[Mirek]

New calendars for 2020 season are out!
http://www.autosport.cz/clanek.php?cl=21113

[Mirek]

Since nothing is happening atm, here you have two videos from tests of Erik Cais. The first one is recent from yesterday, the other is few weeks old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCV6wDPX2iw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TxkjqnmyEw

[Mirek]

Jari Huttunen on Rally Bohemia and possibly not only there.

[Tom206wrc]

Apparently two Peugeot 208 Rally 4 in CZ, by teams Brynda and MRS Carso :confused:

Their first event would be Rallysprint Pribram by end of july...

[Mirek]

Apparently two Peugeot 208 Rally 4 in CZ, by teams Brynda and MRS Carso :confused:

Their first event would be Rallysprint Pribram by end of july...

It's chassis No. 1 and 2, originally test cars. They want to start already on Bohemia 10-12th July.

[Tom206wrc]

I don't see any 208 Rally 4 on final entrylist Bohemia Rally :(

[Mirek]

Finally they won't be there (aside of a short drive outside of the competition in Sosnová arena I believe).

Test Kopecký: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjmjsvTm3xc&feature=emb_title

If someone of you wants to attend Bohemia please be aware that Sosnová arena is accessible only with tickets from the internet. No tickets to on sale on the place due to Covid regulations. Other stages with no limitations, service rules will be decided on Wednesday based on the situation.

[Mirek]

No spectator entry into the service during Rally Bohemia.

Anyway a really great entry list.
Modern: http://www.autosport.cz/zavody/soubor.php?f=22459
Historic: http://www.autosport.cz/zavody/soubor.php?f=22618
Legend: http://www.autosport.cz/zavody/soubor.php?f=22619

[Mirek]

Rally Bohemia online:
https://rally-base.com/2020/rally-bohemia-2020/?ssGroupId=1

Historics online:
https://rally-base.com/2020/rally-bohemia-2020-historic/?ssGroupId=1

[the sniper]

Huttunen impressive so far!

[Jarek Z]

R5 cars are faster than WRCs. What the hell? :confused:

[Jarek Z]

Despite the hard times of pandemic entry list is great! :up:

[dupanton]

Strong performance by Radstrom as well, totally dominating R2/Rally4

[Ucci]

R5 cars are faster than WRCs. What the hell? :confused:
Well, to be honest, Pech's Focus is dating back to 2007...to be on the same speed as brand new works Fabia R5 and i20 R5, is still an achivement. The advantage in the pure power of WRC car is lost when you compare suspension....

[dimviii]

Kopecky took 4,7 sec from Jari at first stage!

edit Semerad and Mares also faster from Jari,maybe a problem/spin?

edit2 Huttunen Jari - Lukka Mikko
small off

[dimviii]

again 4 sec faster time for Kopecky

Huttunen Jari - Lukka Mikko
"Not good at all. We have made changes in setup and it is not working."

[Jarek Z]

Well, to be honest, Pech's Focus is dating back to 2007...to be on the same speed as brand new works Fabia R5 and i20 R5, is still an achivement. The advantage in the pure power of WRC car is lost when you compare suspension....

But at the end of the day it was the 14-year-old Ford Focus WRC that was faster than the brand new Skoda Fabia R5. Vaclav Pech wins the rally!

[pantealex]

But at the end of the day it was the 14-year-old Ford Focus WRC that was faster than the brand new Skoda Fabia R5. Vaclav Pech wins the rally!

Fabia Rally2 EVO ;)

[Mirek]

The Focus still is a faster car if properly driven, set and maintained (this one certainly is being run by very capable team). That's a simple fact.

Per Czech rules only WRC cars allowed in the championship are those which had Czech registration already in 2014. It means that Pech's only chance to defeat Kopecký was to get the only eligible faster car - Dohnal's Focus.

[Mirek]

Fun fact - Pech won Bohemia only for the second time in his long and successful career. In the more distant past the event used to be dominated by Kresta and in last years by Kopecký (last year by Rovanperä).

You may have watched the coverage from Rally Video Novinky but some particularly nice shots are here:
Huttunen in a potato field: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl3j522DK4s&feature=youtu.be&t=77
Pech total flat out: https://youtu.be/5jLAhW43YBo?t=74
Same place from outside: https://youtu.be/5jLAhW43YBo?t=421
Semerád's crashed car: https://youtu.be/IgPIlm4rDZ0?t=162
Pech's big moment: https://youtu.be/IgPIlm4rDZ0?t=253

Great video with another Huttunen's off (and many other offs and mistakes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elx7o_T6p68
Two spectacular offs of Matěna and Šimek here: https://youtu.be/dL37yKKVDDo?t=122

All in all I think that it was a great event. It looks like Huttunen may drive another events of the championship so the battle of the three may continue. Also great performance from Radström!

[Tom206wrc]

So René Dohnal and Robert Hordossy will be the drivers of the 208 Rally 4 at Rallysprint Pribram :confused:

[Ucci]

Looking at this video, Vaclav Pech urgently need a fitness training (jogging and workout), because he looks totally exhausted after arrival into TC (at 02:40):
https://www.ewrc-results.com/video/32382-rally-bohemia-2020-rz-12-huttunen-mimo-trat/

[RS]

To be able to outpace other Czech drivers on day one at least, Huttunen and the latest Hyundai R5 must be damn quick!

Re: Pech, I would rather see him in a Polo or new Fiesta R5 so he is competing on a level playing field.

[pantealex]

To be able to outpace other Czech drivers on day one at least, Huttunen and the latest Hyundai R5 must be damn quick!



Huttunen is still driving old i20 R5, not the latest spec...

[Mirek]

Great video from Bohemia (only modern event): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1-NeGx1GAU&feature=emb_title

[Mirek]

On Saturday the Rallysprint season started too. After a big battle 19-years old Petr Semerád (younger brother of Martin) claimed his first ever overall victory (in his second proper 4WD event). There's more to come for sure! With most of the very top MČR drivers not starting the event was long time dominated by Vojtěch Štajf before he crashed out on the penultimate stage (quite hard). Afterwards it was a question whether Martin Vlček can keep his thin lead over Petr Semerád which he gained in the morning (when Petr made some mistakes such as one very funny off). Among 2WD Jan Dohnal in ex-Simon Jean-Joseph's Clio S1600 defeated René Dohnal with the new Peugeot 208 Rally4 (before René's one mistake they were very close). The performance of the Rally4 Peugeot was definitely very good although there still some work to do especially with the rear axle on jumps as far as I can tell from the videos. By the way the two Dohnals are not related.

1. P. Semerád (Fabia R5 Evo) 38:07,3
2. Vlček (i20 R5) +1,8
3. Odložilík (Polo R5) +33,7
4. Bisaha (i20 R5) +1:02,6
5. Trněný (Fiesta R5) +1:24,7
6. Adolf (Fabia R5) +1:39,3
7. Tomek (Fabia R5) +1:57,5
8. Šimek (Fiesta R5) +1:59,6
9. J. Dohnal (Clio S1600) +2:17,1
10. R. Dohnal (208 Rally4) +2:45,2

Crash of Štajf: https://youtu.be/0XrAYdGYFfs?t=135
That lucky ridiculous off of Semerád: https://youtu.be/WniANeEunAQ?t=192

[Tom206wrc]

Thanks for the info Mirek, I was exactly asking myself if René and Jan Dohnal were from the same family ;)

[dimviii]

Pech leading with 4,3 sec Kopecky after day 1

https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/62096-kowax-valasska-rally-valmez-2020/?s=294271

[PLuto]

Pech is winner again, this time on very fast stages of Kowax ValMez Rally (usually called Valasska) - https://rally-base.com/2020/kowax-valmez-rally-2020/

[Mirek]

ValMez rally was a bit strange in several aspects. Unusual date, both rallysprint (only 1st leg) and MČR event in the same time and also the route was a bit improvised and therefore some stages were a bit too flat out. One stage was even calnceled because of too high average speed in the first run (135 km/h).

MČR:

1. Pech (Focus WRC) 1:11:14,6
2. Kopecký (Fabia R5 Evo) +5,3
3. Mareš (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:04,6
4. Černý (Polo R5) +1:10,5
5. Jakeš (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:51,8
6. Semerád P. (Fabia R5 Evo) +2:15,7
7. von Thurn und Taxis (Fabia R5 Evo) +2:49,1
8. Jelínek (Fabia R5) +3:56,1
9. Bisaha (i20 R5) +4:22,5
10. Adolf (Fabia R5 Evo) +4:28,6

MČR 2WD:
1. Dohnal J. (Clio S1600)
2. Stříteský (208 R2) +1:50,2 (30 sec penalty)
3. Stejskal (Clio R3T) +3:03,2
4. Lukašík (Fiesta Rally4) +3:38,8
5. Pohlídal (208 R2) +3:42,2

Rallysprint P2+:
1. Jakeš (Fabia R5 Evo) 38:20,2
2. Semerád P. (Fabia R5 Evo) +20,2
3. Bisaha (i20 R5) +44,0
4. Trněný (Fiesta R5) +45,6
5. Jelínek (Fabia R5) +1:03,3

Rallysprint 2WD:
1. Dohnal J. (Clio S1600) 40:48,9
2. Dohnal R. (208 Rally4) +37,0 (one spin)
3. Stříteský (208 R2) +40,1 (two slow punctures)
4. Smékal (DS3 R3 Max) +41,3
5. Gargulák (208 R2) +53,8

[atsiotras79]

Ok, I will throw the ball of fire first...
This championship is getting interesting discussion wise...
Everybody loves the upset of the works driver loosing from the privateer but this “window of old cars” I think could damage the championship long term...
The Czech championship for me was one of the “TOP” advertisements for FIA! Always new spec cars and actually a lot of them in all the rallies which is the reason that made Barum, Bohemia, etc, some of the top international rallies outside WRC. The local entries are the ones that bring a rally to a higher level...
If this situation continues I have a feeling that next year the number of these WRCs and S1600s will rise all of a sudden...
I don’t have anything against these cars but I believe each era has its cars and this is going the wrong way for a championship I simply love and try to follow for many many years...

I would really like to hear the opinion of the locals over there...

[Mirek]

I was against the rule as it was set in 2014. At that time the number of crews in the international championship (MMČR) was rapidly decreasing and the popularity of the sprint events with mix of all cars was growing at the same time. So ASN decided that the WRC cars (and other older or national cars) can start even in the main championship even if that means to loose the international status. That would be quite fine for me but the issue is how they did it with the WRC cars. They simply decided to freeze the situation as it was. In October or November they released a rule that the cars which have Czech registration till the end of the year can start in next seasons of the MČR but nobody expected that Dohnal would be able to buy a Focus WRC in such a short time before the end of the year (nothing against him, he used the window which was there). Therefore instead of some old Fabias, Octavias or 206 (which really aren't competitive anymore) there was this one Focus, was perfectly legal and nobody could buy a similar car to compete against it because that is forbidden by the rules. When Dohnal was driving it, he was fast, occasionally able to win but he was not Pech who is yet another level. In between another strange thing happened. The Focus burned completely two years ago but M-Sport gave Dohnal a certificate that his second Focus chassis (used for spares) is the same chassis as the burned one. Everybody knows it's new chassis but the paper is always right. Now with Pech the situation is completely weird. At the end of the year it's possible that Škoda works team will leave MČR because they don't want to loose against a privateer with 12 years old car (simply that's how it is) and everybody else is forbidden to buy a car able to compete with Pech in the Focus. ASN will be forced to react on that somehow but banning the car will be obviously pretty bad for a large part of the public. I don't know what they will do. All solutions are bad for someone.

[atsiotras79]

The funniest part is that nobody else can buy a similar car...
Is this the same for S1600 too?

[Jarek Z]

My opinion is simple. Pech won two rallies, but has zero points in the championship. How much sense does it make sport-wise?

[Mirek]

My opinion is simple. Pech won two rallies, but has zero points in the championship. How much sense does it make sport-wise?

Pech has full points. You are wrong.


The funniest part is that nobody else can buy a similar car...
Is this the same for S1600 too?

No, S1600 cars are completely free but that's ok for me. They don't count into any Peugeot cups, junior trophies etc. which are relevant for the young drivers.

[the sniper]

My opinion is simple. Pech won two rallies, but has zero points in the championship. How much sense does it make sport-wise?

It'd be better if that were the case. Let the rich guys play with their toys and entertain the spectators. Keep the actual competition fair.

[Jarek Z]

Pech has full points. You are wrong.

Ah, sorry then! Somebody told me that WRC cars cannot score points. Thank you for correcting me.

[Jarek Z]

It'd be better if that were the case. Let the rich guys play with their toys and entertain the spectators. Keep the actual competition fair.

Yes, I agree.

[PLuto]

I would like to add some words to Mirek. Situation with the rules few years ago was simple - plan was to make big championship for FIA approved cars (without WRC), Rallysprint serie primary for 2WD cars and then Pohar 2+, which should be for all 4WD cars with older homologation or national homologation, including all WRC. This Pohar 2+ should be mixture of big events and rallysprints. This was prepared, but somebody from current WRC owners pushed a lot to change it to that stupid version, which is currently valid. Dohnal has found info about these changes before it was approved and published and found this way to buy a new car and put it to Czech plates. After that decision I have immediatelly told that it is wrong decision and I still have the same opinion. Also in that time I was talking - if that WRC cars will be driven by drivers like Dohnal, Trneny or Tomastik, it will be ok. But if there will be Pech, Kresta or Kostka behind the wheel, it will be disaster... And now we have it here...

[atsiotras79]

Let me get it straight... I don’t have anything against Pech or the car, actually I enjoy the battles this year.
But I see the danger of loosing top R5 entries in future if that doesn’t change...
History says that in every country that the top national championship “adopted” rules in favour of old cars for any reason, the championship hit bottom in immediate future... eg Greece, Bulgaria, etc...

[dimviii]

for me it is strange that the national Czech manufacturer, couldnt ''push'' for banning wrc cars via Czech asn

[Mirek]

Let me get it straight... I don’t have anything against Pech or the car, actually I enjoy the battles this year.
But I see the danger of loosing top R5 entries in future if that doesn’t change...
History says that in every country that the top national championship “adopted” rules in favour of old cars for any reason, the championship hit bottom in immediate future... eg Greece, Bulgaria, etc...

I think that none of us is against the drivers or car owners. They do everything what is allowed or isn't forbidden and that is perfectly fine.

[Mirek]

Video of Valašská Rally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbH2EKTJjkg

[Mirek]

Břetislav Enge, father of Tomáš Enge and a successful circuit and rally driver, passed away :(
http://www.autosport.cz/clanek.php?cl=21273

[Mirek]

Results of Rally Vyškov (Rallysprint Series) from last weekend.

1. P. Semerád (Fabia R5) 34:11,0
2. Tarabus (i20 WRC) +3,2
3. Černý (Polo R5) +13,6
4. Vlček (i20 R5) +15,2
5. Odložilík (Polo R5) +28,6
6. Bisaha (i20 R5) +47,8
7. Trněný (Fiesta R5) +59,0
8. Adolf (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:43,3
9. Tomek (Fabia R5) +1:52,6
10. Hanuš (i20 R5) +2:17,4

2WD
1. J. Dohnal (Clio S1600) 36:55,2
2. R. Dohnal (208 Rally4) +9,9
3. Smékal (DS3 R3 Max) +20,6
4. Stříteský (208 R2) +54,7
5. Lehký (Fiesta Rally4) +1:16,4

And a great livery of Tarabus & Trunkát in their premiere with Hyundai
https://www.ewrc.cz/images/2020/photos/rally_vyskov_2020/rca_53.jpg

[Jeppe]

Tarabus with i20 WRC?

[PLuto]

Tarabus with i20 WRC?

Yes, it was one shot for this rally. Original plan was to do few races abroad with R5 car, but they were forced to change plans due to virus.

[Mirek]

This weekend Rally Pačejov will take place as the next round of MČR. Entry list is here: http://www.autosport.cz/zavody/soubor.php?f=22690

[Mirek]

In this video even if you don't understand the interview you can check the huge rally car collection of Jiří Jírovec. Roughly between minute 1 and 2 there is the overview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-OOXLViVQU

Two more Focus WRC, one Impreza and one Corolla WRC are not shown because they were in the workshop at the time. So add another four WRC cars to this.

[dimviii]

Kopecky 1 sec/km faster from any other r5 and wrc crew.
https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/62192-invelt-rally-pacejov-2020/?s=294762

[Mirek]

Yes, Kopecký seems to be in an angry mode :D

By the way some stages are new for everyone. Some are known for the usual sprint crews. Pech did the sprint only once in last few years, Kopecký never I think.

Just for info who didn't notice. The second leg is tomorrow because Monday is a bank holiday in Czech Republic and the organizers wanted to save days off of everyone involved.

[Ucci]

Yes, Kopecký seems to be in an angry mode :D

By the way some stages are new for everyone. Some are known for the usual sprint crews. Pech did the sprint only once in last few years, Kopecký never I think.

Just for info who didn't notice. The second leg is tomorrow because Monday is a bank holiday in Czech Republic and the organizers wanted to save days off of everyone involved.
What is the weather like on the stages?

[Mirek]

Probably dry in open areas and damp under trees and in forests. I am not there myself.

[Mirek]

Pech stalled the engine in a hairpin on SS7 and lost another 10 seconds.

[Mirek]

Some great footage in these videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzOrm0B9C_k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FytVxYPGMm8

[Mirek]

Spectacular footage from first loop today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC1gOb741O4&feature=emb_title

The stages today are wet and dirty and very difficult even when dry (also mostly known to the sprint crews).

Meanwhile Semerád crashed (on wrong tyres) and Mareš run out of fuel at the end of SS11 (lost third place with a chance to attack Pech by that). There are still some questions about Kopecký who is being investigated by stewards for possible outside help. We'll see what comes out of that. Pech reported some issues with boost level.

[Mirek]

So, final results of this very difficult and among the crews very popular event. Final video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v2az1dOVns&feature=emb_title

1. Kopecký (Fabia R5 Evo) 1:17:59:1
2. Pech (Focus WRC) +1:07,7
3. Černý (Polo R5) +1:49,1
4. Odložilík (Fabia R5 Evo) +2:22,6
5. Jakeš (Fabia R5) +2:30,7
6. Vlček (i20 R5) +4:12,6
7. Štajf (Polo R5) +4:56,7 (10 sec penalty)
8. von Thurn und Taxis (Fabia R5 Evo) +4:57,6
9. Sýkora (Evo IX R4) +6:13,4
10. Šimek (Fiesta R5) +6:58,5

2WD:
1. J. Dohnal (Clio S1600) 1:26:10,5
2. Stříteský (208 R2) +52,8
3. Stejskal (Clio R3T) +2:53,1

Stage victories: Kopecký 11, Pech 2, Odložilík 1

Notable retirements: Mareš (Fabia R5 Evo) - run out of fuel, P. Semerád (Fabia R5 Evo) - accident

The last event, Rally Šumava (may COVID allows), is the home event of Pech. It will be very interesting because both Pech and Kopecký can take the title and it's possible that Jari Huttunen will appear again. On the other hand it's likely that the weather will be even worse and also in general Šumava is similar to Pačejov (it's also in the same part of the country).

[RS]

Why was Kopecky so much in front here? Event more suited to R5 cars? Or was he just driving harder?

[dimviii]

Spectacular footage from first loop today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC1gOb741O4&feature=emb_title

the journalist wore a facemask only when intervied Kopecky.(Kopecky also wore)

[Mirek]

Why was Kopecky so much in front here? Event more suited to R5 cars? Or was he just driving harder?

It's likely down to combination of several reasons.

Many stages were completely new for everyone and while being also difficult that gives Kopecký an advantage because he is used to create pacenotes and drive according to them in new stages from the international events.
First two stages were damp, the asphalts in the area are generally more slippery than in other Czech events and today was completely wet. That created conditions where you can win a lot if you take some risk or have huge confidence thanks to gazillion testing kilometers in all existing conditions.
While Bohemia was also wet it was a very different event. Pačejov is generally much faster with many crests etc. It favours the suspension and especially confidance over the torque and power.
Some stages (especially the short half-gravel one Komušín) are not very suitable to Focus IMHO. The stage is crazy narrow, half-gravel with some very tight places. The car is too large and sits too low.
Pech did some small mistakes such as stalled engine twice in the same pass through a tight hairpin.
Pech reported some troubles with the turbo boost. In his words nothing major but "we can fight with Kopecký only if everything works perfect".

[Mirek]

the journalist wore a facemask only when intervied Kopecky.(Kopecky also wore)

It's the only factory team and they have obviously strict instructions from their bosses. Otherwise masks are mandatory only indoor here now.

[pantealex]

Are Rally2 cars forbidden ?
or is there some other reason that all still use R5 ?

[Mirek]

Are Rally2 cars forbidden ?
or is there some other reason that all still use R5 ?

Sorry, I don't keep in mind everytime someone decides to rename an existing thing.

Also, it's called R5 in the homologation. You can check it yourself.

[RS]

Watching the videos, Kopecky did seem really ‘on it’ which was good to see. He’s often a slightly more cautious driver.

I’m sure there are reasons he does it, but I would much rather see Pech in a good R5 like a Polo or C3. The battle feels a bit meaningless to me when they are driving different classes of car.. plus that Focus is probably one of the most boring WRCs to watch of all time.

One more thing.. the onboard camera positions in the mediasport videos are really good. Great to see the driver in action but also the road!

[pantealex]

Sorry, I don't keep in mind everytime someone decides to rename an existing thing.

Also, it's called R5 in the homologation. You can check it yourself.

Sorry!


I try to ask different way:

Can you use car which is built in 2020 ?
or only older cars ?

[Mirek]

Sorry!


I try to ask different way:

Can you use car which is built in 2020 ?
or only older cars ?

Yes, you can use any FIA eligible car (except 1.6T WRC of both generations, which can be used only in sprint events) plus some older and national cars as well.

[Mirek]

Nice video (with an answer why Porsche 911 is not a good rally car @ 4:16 lol): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhm8yePysDE

[Ucci]

Nice video (with an answer why Porsche 911 is not a good rally car @ 4:16 lol): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhm8yePysDE

Hahaha, indeed P911 is not suitable for shity Czech roads.....hats off in front of every 911 driver who tries to race on such ground...

[Mirek]

Tomorrow morning next round of Rallysprint Series - Rally Morava (former Jeseníky, but now under new organization) will take place despite very bad recent Covid situation. Officially it shall be run without spectators. First stage shortly before nine a.m. Live results here: https://rally-base.com/2020/futures-contproduct-rally-morava-2020/?ssId=6001&ssGroupId=1

By the way there is the longest rallyspring stage ever I think (15 km), slightly longer than so far the longest one Čečelovice from Rally Pačejov (now MČR).

[Tom206wrc]

Nevkapil has not the speed of Dohnal(René)in the 208 Rally 4...he's far far off the pace :mark: :s

[Mirek]

Nevkapil has not the speed of Dohnal(René)in the 208 Rally 4...he's far far off the pace :mark: :s

That's quite normal tbh.

[Mirek]

Anyway great battle in the event with top five finishing in under ten seconds! Unfortunately Černý retired already in SS1 with technical problems of his Polo (electrical problem). Odložilík (again with Fabia Evo instead of Polo) won the event. Young Adam Březík jumped from fourth to second in the very last stage closely followed by another youngster Petr Semerád. Both overtook Ondřej Bisaha who fell from second to fourth due to a slow puncture. Fifth was Martin Vlček. 2WD was this time a complete one man show of Jan Dohnal with nobody being even close. He was constantly faster also than all gr.N and Proto cars.

1. Odložilík (Fabia R5 Evo) 32:05,9
2. A. Březík (Fabia R5) +2,2
3. P. Semerád (Fabia R5) +4,2
4. Bisaha (i20 R5) +6,3
5. Vlček (i20 R5) +9,8
6. Adolf (Fabia R5 Evo) +58,8
7. Horák (Fiesta R5) +1:30,4
8. Kurka (Mini WRC) +1:31,2
9. Tomek (Fabia R5) +1:50,4
10. Dohnal (Clio S1600) +1:54,9

Černý (Polo R5) and Trněný (Fiesta R5) retired with technical problems.

Stage wins: Odložilík 3, Březík 2, Bisaha 1

Semerád is the overall winner of the P2+ cup already and Dohnal is the overall winner of RSS no matter if the last event in Vsetín will be held or not.

[Mirek]

Video from the rally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_-MjnauHt4

[Mirek]

Onboard of Březík from the last stage with a light touch of railguards around 1:20.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqACXxwBiOw

[Mirek]

Rally Vsetín is canceled due to the Covid measures and the rallysprint season is over. It's quite likely that Šumava will follow and MČR would be over too...

[Mirek]

Rally Šumava is canceled (which is not surprising in the current situation). Pech is therefore 2020 champion.

[Jarek Z]

Pech is therefore 2020 champion.

Congratulations to Pech, but... can we compare this situaltion to Neubauer winning Austrian championship against Baumschlager a few years ago? I mean a driver, who normally cannot win, buys/rents a WRC car to win a championship by having the most powerful car rather than skills and talent?

[PLuto]

Congratulations to Pech, but... can we compare this situaltion to Neubauer winning Austrian championship against Baumschlager a few years ago? I mean a driver, who normally cannot win, buys/rents a WRC car to win a championship by having the most powerful car rather than skills and talent?

I think yes... Last year, on similar car, Pech was on level of Cerny or Mares.

[Mirek]

Yes, but that's not Pech's fault but of our ASN and the rulles. Using the rulles to the maximum is the essence of motorsport and always has been.

[PLuto]

Yes, but that's not Pech's fault but of our ASN and the rulles. Using the rulles to the maximum is the essence of motorsport and always has been.

I am not saying you are not correct. I only answered to question from Jarek Z...

[Ucci]

Congratulations to Pech, but... can we compare this situaltion to Neubauer winning Austrian championship against Baumschlager a few years ago? I mean a driver, who normally cannot win, buys/rents a WRC car to win a championship by having the most powerful car rather than skills and talent?

We have already gone through this story many times...Mirek is 100% right.
With one big fact, which speaks in favour to Pech: he has beaten probably the fastest driver in Škoda Fabia R5 in EU, the driver who has best possible factory support in EU...and Pech has WRC car, indeed, but factory date more than 10 years old, and driving for a private team.
So Vaclav & Petr, huge congratulations to win one of the most (if not the most) challenging championship in EU.

[Mirek]

With one big fact, which speaks in favour to Pech: he has beaten probably the fastest driver in Škoda Fabia R5 in EU, the driver who has best possible factory support in EU...and Pech has WRC car, indeed, but factory date more than 10 years old, and driving for a private team.

You should not forget about others. The championship is not only about Kopecký. Last year Mareš had twice more points than Pech when both had R5 cars. This year he was out of the game from the beginning just because of stupid rules. While I don't blame Pech it certainly wasn't a fair championship for others.

[Mirek]

Pluto, can you please make it clear how it is with awarding the overall title? It looks like I was too fast with writing and Pech won't be crowned champion because of too few events done in the season.

[PLuto]

Pluto, can you please make it clear how it is with awarding the overall title? It looks like I was too fast with writing and Pech won't be crowned champion because of too few events done in the season.

I cannot make it clear as it is not clear. It was also discussed on Autosport forum, but as you are not going there now, you are not aware. Problem is in bulletin 3 (https://www.autoklub.cz/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/bulletin_3_20_final.pdf), where is written that champion will be in case that 4 events will be "vypsány". I wrote it specially in czech as this word is the biggest problem. Or better, interpretation of this word is biggest problem. If we will translate it to english, it is something like "announced". But it is not clear if it is enough if the event is written in calendar or also must be done...

[Mirek]

So now it's official that the titles will be awarded. So the overall Czech champion is Václav Pech, the 2WD champion is Jan Dohnal.

Meanwhile Prague Rallysprint was canceled.

[Mirek]

So what was long time unofficial is now official. Škoda Motorsport leaves MČR. Kopecký will continue only as a test driver for them. However he plans to start in MČR with his own car and team with certain support from Škoda (Škoda will continue supporting several private teams like this year - this year it was Mareš and Jakeš I think). In fact Kopecký has kept preparing his MČR car himself already for several years despite being an official works driver. Therefore I think that the main difference is that he has to find new partners to pay the bills since Škoda won't pay all anymore.

[RS]

Does Kopecky have ambitions to do more than MCR? Seems a shame Skoda kept him there all these years, and now they pull out but he stays anyway..

[Mirek]

It's most likely about the budget they can gather and now with Covid it will be very difficult even with MČR I guess.

[Mirek]

Some news. Setkání mistrů ("meeting of champions") in Sosnová will take place on 18-19th December but without spectators and without TV stream however there will be youtube stream (link will be in time on ewrc).

Now calendars for next year.
http://www.autosport.cz/clanek.php?cl=2140

7 MČR events, 7 sprint events and 3 free events

[Mirek]

Entry list for Sosnová: https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s960x960/131723215_10158812357539868_7296103195037198769_o. jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=2&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=ZpQkScf9oSgAX9XEmhG&_nc_ht=scontent.fprg1-1.fna&tp=7&oh=8a51af90d5acceeb11be63e64a1a9f0a&oe=60028BC9

Live stream should be tomorrow here: https://www.youtube.com/c/maxmann78mediasport/videos

[Tom206wrc]

Next season the Peugeot 208 Cup Czech will run with the 208 Rally 4 too ;) and what I've discovered was that Global Motorsport(the team which organizes the cup)also distributes the PSA Motorsport cars & parts(Citroën C3 Rally2, Peugeot 208 Rally4 and soon the Opel Corsa Rally4)in Poland :confused:

[Mirek]

Big news. Since 2022 all cars without valid FIA homologation will not take points in MČR (they can start). That is the case of old cars as well - such as Pech's Focus WRC or Dohnal's Clio S1600.

[Tom K]

WRC cars were banned from 2006, but do you remember when they were allowed to score points again? 2015?

[Mirek]

If I remember right it was 2015, yes, but that was valid only for cars which had Czech registration before the end of 2014. Other cars were banned all the time and that is the biggest problem with our rules because nobody could buy anythingfrom abroad hence those cars already in use (that one Focus WRC mainly) were protected from competition.

[Mirek]

After a big media fight there is a change in rules for the 2022 season and it looks like these new ones may actually stay...

So how will it be in 2022 in MČR?
- two divisions - one for FIA cars, one for non-FIA cars
- official champion titles to be awarded in the division for FIA cars
- the event start order will be mixed between both divisions
- the absolute event results will be mixed

[Mirek]

I forgot to write that the rule allowing only WRC cars which had Czech registration by the end of 2014 was canceled. Now in the second division it is possible to use any WRC car homologated till 2016.

[PLuto]

I forgot to write that the rule allowing only WRC cars which had Czech registration by the end of 2014 was canceled. Now in the second division it is possible to use any WRC car homologated till 2016.

As it appeared on new page, I would add that this rule is changed since 2022, this year it will stay same like in last years.

[Mirek]

Škoda officially released names of the teams supported in 2021 MČR instead of the factory team which will not start. As you can see they are being supported through particular Škoda dealers. Each crew gets roughly 20 thousand Euro in money, roughly 36 thousand Euro in free spare parts (turbo, gearbox, differential) and free consulting support.

Agrotec ŠKODA Rally Team - Jan Kopecký/ Jan Hloušek
Laureta Auto ŠKODA - Team Filip Mareš/ Radovan Bucha
Louda Auto ŠKODA Racing Team - Jan Černý/ Petr Černohorský
Samohýl ŠKODA Team - Miroslav Jakeš/ Petr Machů
Samohýl ŠKODA Team - Adam Březík/ Ondřej Krajča
ACA ŠKODA Vančík Motorsport - Dominik Stříteský/ Danny Persein
Kontakt ŠKODA Team - Věroslav Cvrček/ Tomáš Prokorát
Autokomplex Menčík ŠKODA Rally Team - David Tomek/ Marek Zeman

[Mirek]

Liveries for Samohýl Škoda team (green for Jakeš, blue for Březík).
https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/157199904_1076225959521104_5693810379227580972_o.j pg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=e3f864&_nc_ohc=cpFyFHDmnZEAX91hm1F&_nc_ht=scontent.fprg1-1.fna&oh=cbaa5055442f04c653802a2639595125&oe=6067CBA5
https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/157421806_1076217912855242_2293556163166066610_o.j pg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=-vuig1mWtVcAX-ODziN&_nc_ht=scontent.fprg1-1.fna&oh=6ea775267e272526f4e2ddeac6ff7abb&oe=606AFCC9
https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/157162300_1076218032855230_3578356027124688137_o.j pg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=VSOgtge6QQoAX-0VbIa&_nc_ht=scontent.fprg1-1.fna&oh=dd41376f3bb3f2e38b898dde9eaf10ed&oe=6067C06B

[dimviii]

Κopecky

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwiL4VwXIAQ-RnB?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwiL5vrXAAUcd8w?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwiL6nwXMAAd3Jj?format=jpg&name=medium

[RS]

So strange to see Kopecky not in green!

Any word whether he has plans to do anything else this year?

[Mirek]

I don't expect anything more.

[RS]

Skoda are calling for the postponement of the opening round of the Czech Championship, is it going to happen?

[Mirek]

The organizers want to go on. IMHO it's very unfortunate to hold it now but I understand that it is also very difficult to postpone it to some other date. Still if my opinion would matter I would postpone it too.

[Mirek]

Entry list for valašská rally with 24 Rally2 and 1 WRC car. Gryazin on the list. Quite a lot of foreign crews on the list. Škoda-supported crews are there.
http://valasskarally.cz/data/home/media/dokumenty2021/VR2021_startovka.pdf

Another good news is that an old and very difficult stage Jarcová-Poličná is in the rally after at least two decades.

[Ucci]

Entry list for valašská rally with 24 Rally2 and 1 WRC car. Gryazin on the list. Quite a lot of foreign crews on the list. Škoda-supported crews are there.
http://valasskarally.cz/data/home/media/dokumenty2021/VR2021_startovka.pdf


Attractive list, indeed!

[Mirek]

Livery of Černý
https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/164630953_290281859121942_5896303193074196256_o.jp g?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=znxlkgl-RccAX8M3H9Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fprg1-1.fna&oh=f95744b32b4bd76ccf47dd8240f68371&oe=60822711
https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/164792585_290282289121899_2196542279657774274_o.jp g?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=UN6TntgitHQAX9pA0QU&_nc_ht=scontent.fprg1-1.fna&oh=f63cdb398b0da3ee329356fceb4b0f67&oe=60826ED8

[Mirek]

Livery of Stříteský
https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/164647298_259709732474749_6776102289708956425_n.jp g?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=973b4a&_nc_ohc=q6ECLSXZYDMAX-leBcy&_nc_ht=scontent.fprg1-1.fna&oh=dc8591178e7e3de99ce77c739ef98070&oe=607F0116

[Mirek]

Cvrček's livery
https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/162422089_4095172577160415_2340461822539213724_o.j pg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=973b4a&_nc_ohc=Gryy2wy8fr0AX_IF_N0&_nc_ht=scontent.fprg1-1.fna&oh=91372fdf4c89d4975d37dbc617fafbd6&oe=6082DA07

[Mirek]

Results of Shakedown: https://rally-base.com/2021/kowax-valasska-rally-valmez-2021/?ssId=6095&ssGroupId=3

Live tomorrow since 9 o'clock CET here: https://rally-base.com/2021/kowax-valasska-rally-valmez-2021/?ssGroupId=1


In other news Rallye Český Krumlov is postponed to a new yet unspecified autumn date.

[Jarek Z]

Gryazin fastest on shakedown:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/shake/69186-kowax-valasska-rally-valmez-2021/

[Mirek]

Shakedown was on Tatra testing polygon. It has little common with the real stages, mainly it's way slower.

[RS]

Kopecky pre-event test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yjvoJQ7fq8

[Mirek]

I know that road. Parents of my classmate from highschool had a holiday house there. Those were some serious parties :D

Besides that it used to be a stage of an amateur event few years back. It's just a few kilometers from Kopecký's workshop, not in the current rally area.

[Mirek]

Pech changing tyre on stage 1.

And likely retired after SS1.

Meanwhile a nice compilation video from 2020 reduced season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcHovEl4Tto

[dimviii]

Gryazin still 4,5 sec ahead of Kopecky after 3 stages

[RS]

Who is this Stritesky dude? Not a name I've seen before.

[dimviii]

wow Kopecky lost 13 sec to Gryazin at ss 4,and now +27 sec.


edit
fKopecký Jan - Hloušek Jan

Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo 0:10 - Late (1 min) at TC

[Mirek]

Who is this Stritesky dude? Not a name I've seen before.

It's his first ever 4WD event :) He drove 208 R2 last year and won Adam cup in 2019 which was his first rally season. He is a young guy from karts driving in the team of famous engineer Vančík under Škoda dealership banner (he is among the officially supported drivers). Moreover Stříteský lost something on SS2 when he caught Tomek...

From various facebook streams and info from the stage it looks like Gryazin is pushing visibly more than Kopecký (the rally is officially held without spectators but at least some static camera streams are available).

[RS]

It's his first ever 4WD event :) He drove 208 R2 last year and won Adam cup in 2019 which was his first rally season. He is a young guy from karts driving in the team of famous engineer Vančík under Škoda dealership banner (he is among the officially supported drivers).


Seems promising!

[Mirek]

Stříteský caught Tomek again, they went through finish in 0,5 seconds.

[dimviii]

Mirek why Kopecky had a penalty? car problems?

[Mirek]

Mirek why Kopecky had a penalty? car problems?

I don't know atm. Due to lockdown restrictions I have to stay in my flat in Prague. Pity because the route this year is superspectacular :(

Great video from SS1 and SS2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrZP_HktfSs

Interestingly Stříteský said he had a slow puncture on SS2 on which he overtook Tomek :D

By the way Březík jr. uses Hankook tyres.

[Mirek]

Video SS3 and SS4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajHZO6a1Iik

Kopecký... He forgot to tighten one wheel during the change on the road section. When warming tyres the wheel went loose (hence the penalty) but the screws were damaged and some nuts were lost. He used one nut from each other wheels and two spare ones to fix the wheel. As a result of lost concentration he hit a rock just after the start of the stage and damaged two rims. Fortunatley without puncture but with vibrations through all the stage.

Cais is ill. We'll see if he'll be able to start tomorrow.

Mareš had a slow puncture on SS4.


I would like to note that Březík, Stříteský and Jakeš drive old-spec Fabia, not the Evo.

[RS]

Good job by Mares today. I suppose Kopecky will push for 2nd tomorrow and no more.

[Jarek Z]

I suppose Kopecky will push for 2nd tomorrow and no more.

Maybe this 2nd is enough. You never know if Gryazin sees the finish line...

[Mirek]

Březík broke right rear wheel on SS3 where Gryazin took a lot of time again. It's short but very difficult stage which is unknown to everyone in the entry field except two old guys who drove it in 1991 and 1992 (Zedník and Macek).

Accident of Březík: https://www.facebook.com/CestiRallyoviSrdcari/videos/810434086348814/?__so__=channel_tab&__rv__=all_videos_card

[dimviii]

https://www.ewrc-results.com/quickp/69186_165693156_468853974465325_145405616083716570 6_n.jpg

[Jarek Z]

3 stages gone today and Kopecky hasn't won even one. Gryazin and his Volkswagen still lead the rally.

Another Volkswagen in trouble:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/media/69186-kowax-valasska-rally-valmez-2021/3217/

[dimviii]

till now Stritesky has a very good pace.

[dimviii]

after ss 7 from autosport.cz

Nikolai Gryazin: "I was quite surprised. Only the first test was dry and we drove clean, but mainly the second was quite demanding, with a lot of dirt. It was impossible to work on it at all, there is no room for error. The last one was very difficult, especially in the fast passage. In some places it was completely dry, in others it was full of dust where the car was running. Nothing easy. We are here and the second section will be easier because we know what we are going to do. In the second rehearsal, we lost something in the slippery, but no drama. I guess we already have a big lead, I didn't have to go full speed. But we will try to improve a little more. "

Filip Mareš: "Today it is even 'more dusty' after yesterday's rain than yesterday. Literally, because there's a lot of dust. It's hard, but nice. So far, I am not satisfied, because apart from Poličná, I had considerable reserves. The goal for the second section is to improve. Nikolai's time at this rehearsal is amazing, hat down. It slid everywhere, sometimes it couldn't be held in the gravel track or on the plane. Beautiful erzeta on a heart. In the second passage, we would like to approach Nikolai's time. I probably chose the tires correctly, like most of the starting field. "

Jan Kopecký: "There is no point in chasing Nikolai, he is simply the fastest. At the moment, we just don't have him, so we focus on fighting Filip to skip him. Poličná is beautiful, but the edges are very wet after yesterday's rain, a lot of dirt and mud. I 'sniffed' it a lot, but if we could go back to those sections where you go in the woods and without villages, then it's very interesting. The great news for Czech motorsport is that there are two young boys who don't get along with it and can achieve great partial results. Then there will be consistency, and I assume that in time he will get involved in the fight for first place.

Dominik Stříteský: "I didn't even know that we drove to Bystřička for the second time. I drive like yesterday, I don't look at the results and I focus on getting used to the car. I move on with each kilometer, I learn, it's fun. "

Erik Cais: "After a rather rough night, when I sweated about two liters of water, it's a little better. More importantly, I perceive it better. The body hurts, but the head is better. The shorter inserts help me a bit today. Poličná in the woods is beautiful, I tried to go there and maybe it was seen in time. "

Jan Černý: “The first SS was not bad, the second was rather terrible and I liked the third, although not as I would have imagined. But we move on. The boys around us go very fast, even the young ones. I'm sorry about Adam, but that can happen. The new test is wonderful, but cruelly difficult. Mud, gravel, maybe I sold it too much. But we have a second pass and we can try again. "

Miroslav Jakeš: "Today we are satisfied. I'm sorry yesterday, those twenty seconds can't be withdrawn. today I was wrong in the double and triple in the retarder, I stopped twice But I have to push and sometimes it doesn't work out. It's going well, it's great that the young boys are coming with us. "

[Mirek]

Final results:

1. Gryazin (Polo R5) 1:15:03,3
2. Kopecký (Fabia R5 Evo) +46,4 (10 sec pen.)
3. Mareš (Fabia R5 Evo) +50,1
4. Stříteský (Fabia R5) +1:10,3
5. Cais (Fiesta R5 Mk.II) 1:18,9
6. Černý (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:24,8
7. Jakeš (Fabia R5) +1:33,3
8. von Thurn und Taxis (Fabia R5 Evo) +3:36,3
9. Cvrček (Fabia R5) +4:05,9
10. Kotarba (C3 R5) +4:07,9

2WD:
1. Dohnal R. (208 Rally4) 1:23:33,1
2. Creighton (Fiesta Rally4) +5,0
3. Stejskal (Clio Rally5) +3:31,8

All in all good rally with great tight battles, however it showed again what has been becoming clear already since some time ago - nobody grows younger and even Kopecký or Pech can't stay on top forever. Great to see Stříteský so strong in his 4WD debut but on the other hand he's local, hence why it's better not to make him a star after one event. This time the event had only one clear ruler and that was Gryazin. Compared to his previous Czech starts this time it was not him but his opponent who made the mistake and he kept the leading position from start to finish. Good job! Sadly 2WD competition was very weak. At least William Creighton come to make it more interesting for René Dohnal. The usual victor Jan Dohnal with his Clio S1600 lost five minutes with a puncture. Stejskal who switched temporarily (as a promotion) from Clio R3T to Rally5 finished on a third place beating far majority of 2WD field including a lot of drivers with stronger cars.

Notable retirements: Pech (Focus WRC) - retired after a big time lost due to a puncture, Březík jr. (Fabia R5) - accident, Göttig (Fabia R5) - double puncture, Ševčík (Evo IX gr.N) - accident

[Mirek]

Great video from SS5-7 (accident of Březík is in including onboard): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaYYZzGOtmU&feature=emb_title

Brutal pass of Gryazin! https://www.facebook.com/rallyvalmez/videos/1109178636227753/
That's the very end of the last stage (maybe first run).

[RS]

I think Gryazin had the legs on Kopecky this weekend anyway but if I understand correctly he won’t take Czech Championship points, so there was little point in fighting him.

But really strong performance nonetheless from Nikolay to beat the Czech guys at home.

[Mirek]

Yes, no MČR points for Gryazin.

[Mirek]

Video SS8-10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opsaQ__6528

[dimviii]

Nikolai Gryazin: "We won, so we are logically happy. For us, it was an important start before the World Cup in Croatia. The local fast tracks reminded us of the Barum rally, which we have already started in the past. In a way, we ended the unfinished work from this competition. But I would like to return to Barumka. The Wallachian rally was very nice. There are nice tracks with fast but also narrow sections. We didn't drive many kilometers, but the special stages were demanding and if the whole Czech championship is like that, then it's not easy here. "
Kowax Valašská Rally ValMez 2021; photo: J.Vaškovič

Jan Kopecký: "Gryazin deserves a huge congratulation, he showed an incredible performance. We seconded him yesterday to the place where I forgot to tighten the bike. Today we focused on Filip to overtake him and we succeeded. Thanks again to him for today's great duel. Of course, yesterday's mistake affected my good mood, because such things really must not happen to us. At that moment, we did not even hope to reach the finish of Lešná. Today, in order not to make a stupid mistake, we focused only on Filip. "

Filip Mareš: "I evaluate the competition positively, but I will not lie that I would somehow rejoice, because our second place was a bit short. We must have found the four seconds. On the other hand, we've never been this close, so we're happy to see a move forward. So we want to continue working on this and, if possible, get ahead of Honza, but this is a long-distance run. We have a good point base and we just have to keep working. Reserves are everywhere, in the schedule, in the ride, it's about the details. It's fast, it's evenly balanced. Hats off to Adam Březík, even though he didn't finish, Dominik Stříteský's great result, Erik Cais is also a great talent, it's good that the top is spreading. The next races will definitely be interesting. "

Dominik Stříteský: "This year's Valaška surprised us a lot. We expected a result around the top ten, but in the end we are in fourth place overall and third in the domestic championship. This is something unreal at the first start with a new car. Today, with the exception of Poličná, he quite sat down with us. This test is so demanding that I lack the experience to be more competitive there. I don't think this result puts more pressure on me. This year we have built on gaining experience and driving the necessary kilometers to be able to fight for these positions more often next year. Maybe that's the reason for this result, that we don't have to allow any pressure. "

Erik Cais: "It was definitely better today, I guess the night rest really helped me. I felt better this morning so we decided to continue the competition. It wasn't 100%, but I definitely felt better in the car than yesterday. This was proved by the last two tests, when I needed to 'break' Honza Černý, which I did. There was a fast pace, so I'm glad we got into the top five. But they race simply everywhere, whether it's a domestic championship or a European championship. In addition, there was competition in the form of Nikolai and the more it went. It was a beautiful race. "

Jan Černý: “The young people blew me away like a candle. I am not satisfied with my performance or the result. I'm not so sure, but the car and the team worked great. That is positive. Hats off to the organizers that they did it and did such a nice race. I believe that Šumava will take place, we will definitely not give up. We'll start more and start fighting.
http://www.autosport.cz/clanek.php?cl=21518

[Mirek]

I'd add one thing to Kopecký. I doubt his car is a lot different than his works one but where is a difference for sure is amount of testing. Since Monza he did only 40 km short test before Valašská rally. In previous years he would have way more testing behind him at the same time and maybe also some international event. I think that this is one of the factors which slows him down somewhat.

[RS]

Nice words from all the drivers above.

Gryazin did have two days testing beforehand but it looks like Kopecky could have battles on his hands this year from closer to home too.

[Jarek Z]

I'd add one thing to Kopecký. I doubt his car is a lot different than his works one but where is a difference for sure is amount of testing. Since Monza he did only 40 km short test before Valašská rally. In previous years he would have way more testing behind him at the same time and maybe also some international event. I think that this is one of the factors which slows him down somewhat.

Welcome to the life of private rally drivers.

[Mirek]

Great onboard of Březík from SS4 Lešná: https://www.facebook.com/adambrezikrally/videos/820923385164219/?hc_ref=ARQdLlKngCsqMWYjG4v3sdk3_8R7E1vyo6PHhwXeQ9 CNtRgDzGUxWC4eoUaeWvVpQYw

Kopná is shifted to the original May date of Rallye Český Krumlov.

[Mirek]

JNK started releasing videos for competitors: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyVHxhzFRTIFGxHLhIFnywA/videos

Gryazin here for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cn2SBjC5To

At the moment no compilation from them.

[Mirek]

Nice video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9SGI4XcQYk

[Mirek]

Rallye Vltava (ERC historic) starts tomorrow and Rallye Šumava (MČR) on Saturday. This year Vltava is shifted one day ahead of Šumava. Still without spectators :(

Live Vltava: https://rally-base.com/2021/historic-vltava-rallye-2021/
Live Šumava: https://rally-base.com/2021/rallye-sumava-klatovy-2021/

Entry list Vltava ERC historic: https://www.pamk.cz/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ENTRY-LIST.pdf
Entry list Vltava MČR historic: https://is.autoklub.cz/racing/entries/list/83d2817c-cc87-4b42-b411-800fb11d5898

Entry list Šumava MČR: https://is.autoklub.cz/racing/entries/list/028d71e8-1061-45dd-bd0c-8804e837b35b

Unfortunately with the withdrawal of René Noller the Czech premiere of Corsa Rally4 is delayed...

[RS]

Seems that Kopecky has got his rythm back this weekend.

[Tom206wrc]

Nice battle between the Dohnals in 2WD :D

[Mirek]

Rally Příbram (Rallysprint Series) is canceled.

[Ucci]

Rally Příbram (Rallysprint Series) is canceled.

Why?

[PLuto]

Why?

Mainly because of budget.

[Mirek]

Unfortunately i had other things to do over the weekend, so I didn't follow Šumava/Vltava a lot. Now I have checked onboards from some of the new stages of the 2021 edition and I have to say wow, that was some proper challenge. Check these onboards.

SS4 Keply - with Petráš from Adam cup (nice driving and a great camera): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n1rgyizObE
SS12 Zdibořická with a long gravel section - with Petráš from Adam cup (nice driving and a great camera): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-VxUHP-4AY
SS6 Mlázovská - with Kraml (DS3 R3T Max): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cQyDOiOwyc

@Jeppe: You may like to check these if you plan to come again ;)

[Mirek]

At least some summary from Šumava/Vlatava for the record.

Šumava ended with a clear victory of Kopecký. This time he was unstoppable. Behind him there was a great fight of Černý and Mareš which ended with only 0,3 seconds difference (Mareš lost 10 seconds with a penalty for being late in TC, he took full points for victory in the second leg). Stříteský ended fourth in his only second 4WD start and first in Šumava (I think). Pech lost a lot of time with broken turbo and subsequent ALS problems (damaged exhaust temperature sensor from the turbo failure). There was a lot of new stages (very difficult ones) with some gravel sections. As you can see from the results it was a Fabia cup with all top 8 taken by Fabias. The most notable retirement ws Březík jr. who run out of fuel.

1. Kopecký (Fabia R5 Evo) 1:21:18,8
2. Černý (Fabia R5 Evo) +29,4
3. Mareš (Fabia R5 Evo) +29,7 (10 sec penalty)
4. Stříteský (Fabia R5) +1:11,4 (10 sec penalty)
5. Jakeš (Fabia R5) +1:52,4
6. Odložilík (Fabia R5 Evo) +2:57,1
7. Cvrček (Fabia R5) +3:04,3
8. von Thurn und Taxis (Fabia R5 Evo) +3:42,6
9. Pech (Focus WRC) +4:11,0
10. Vlček (i20 R5) +4:15,5

2WD:
1. Dohnal J. (Clio S1600) 1:29:05,6
2. Dohnal R. (208 Rally4) +19,7
3. Frána (DS3 R3T Max) +2:49,5

Vltava also saw a great fight but even for the victory. In the end it was won by Zippo with Audi Quattro A2 who overtook Wagner with Porsche 911 SC in the very last stage which favoured his 4WD (there was a long gravel section). Combined overall standings (ERC-H + MČR-H)

1. Zippo (Quattro A2) 1:20:14,7 (half of Vltava stages was different hence why the overall time in comparison with the modern event)
2. Wagner (911 SC) +4,5
3. Káňa (Sierra RS Cosworth) +3:41,0
4. Johnsen (911 SC) +3:54,7
5. Štajf (Kadett GT-E 16V) +3:56,9
6. Janota (Kadett GT-E 16V) +4:42,4
7. Alonso (Sierra Cosworth 4x4) +5:12,6
8. Kortmon (Escort Cosworth) +6:36,8
9. Nothdurfter (Sierra Cosworth 4x4) +6:55,9
10. Knížek (BMW 318iS) +7:42,4

Plenty of videos for example here: https://www.youtube.com/c/maxmann78mediasport/videos

[Mirek]

Erik Cais won Rally Kopná, the first event of the Rallysprint series. In the mostly wet and muddy event he managed to defeat Tomáš Kostka and Miroslav Jakeš. For Cais it's first overall victory.

1. Cais (Fiesta R5 Mk.II) 39:44,8
2. Kostka (Fabia R5 Evo) +9,6
3. Jakeš (Fabia R5) +20,1
4. Grzyb (Fabia R5 Evo) +46,2
5. Březík jr. (Fabia R5) +51,6
6. Semerád P. (Fabia R5 Evo) +59,2
7. Stříteský (Fabia R5) +1:26,4 (30 sec. penalty)
8. Vlček (i20 R5) +1:30,3
9. Štajf (Polo R5) +1:53,8
10. von Thurn und Taxis (Fabia R5 Evo) +2:03,0

2WD:
1. Firla (208 R2) 46:13,9 (30 sec. penalty)
2. Vaňhara (208 R2) +10
3. Srb (C2 R2) +35,7 (without a puncture he could have won)

Video after SS2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUp_lHZ0pUc
Video in finish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvu5T9FC7Hs

[Ucci]

Kostka-TOP performance again.

[Jarek Z]

Erik Cais won Rally Kopná, the first event of the Rallysprint series. (...) For Cais it's first overall victory.

No, you forgot that he won Rally Kipard last year :)
https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/61754-rally-kipard-2020/

[Mirek]

Onboard of Zippo, the winner of Rallye Vltava (Audi Quattro A2). This is the new stage Keply which is (if I am not mistaken) a stage with the highest altitude in Czech rallying history (close to 1000 meters upon sea level).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7xpRIWkqvE

[Mirek]

Second round of the Rallysprint Series will take place tomorrow. It's an all new event Rally Plzeň which continues a tradition from the distant past.
Entry list including unusual rallysprint competitors like Pech, Mareš or Kopáček: http://www.autosport.cz/zavody/soubor.php?f=23453

Online results: https://rally-base.com/2021/lak-racing-rallye-plzen-2021/

[Mirek]

Rally Plzeň is finished, a new event for nearly all competitors except few old guys.The first section was dry but the second one brought some local rains and storms and very changeable conditions. There was also quite a lot of accidents. Václav Pech, who himself is from Plzeň (Pilsen) won ahead of Filip Mareš and Václav Kopáček. In 2WD Jan Dohnal didn't give anyone a chance (he had new engine in the Clio S1600 and his usual rival René Dohnal didn't start here).

1. Pech (Focus WRC) 35:08,4
2. Mareš (Fabia R5 Evo) +29,5
3. Kopáček (Fabia R5) +56,6
4. Štajf (Fabia R5) +1:09,8
5. Odložilík (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:11,4
6. Bisaha (i20 R5) +1:48,1
7. Geipel (Fabia R5) +2:19,5
8. Trněný (Fiesta R5) +2:57,2
9. Kurka (Mini WRC) +3:46,2
10. Dohnal (Clio S1600) +3:48,8

2WD:
1. Dohnal (Clio S1600) 38:57,2
2. Štefan (208 Rally4) +1:18,0
3. Číž (208 R2) +1:58,3

Video first section: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDPSVI0Ug4o
Video second section: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=munGDtGiVx8

[Mirek]

Rally Hustopeče, another MČR event, took place last weekend. Unfortunately I didn't have time to follow rallying, so here are just the results.

1. Pech (Focus WRC) 1:16:54,0
2. Kopecký (Fabia R5 Evo) +6,1 (had a puncture on one stage)
3. Mareš (Fabia R5 Evo) +27,1
4. Černý (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:07,5
5. Stříteský (Fabia R5) +1:20,3
6. Jakeš (Fabia R5) +1:21,2
7. Březík (Fabia R5) +1:44,8
8. Odložilík (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:56,8 (10 sec penalty)
9. Cvrček (Fabia R5) +3:13,7
10. Vlček (i20 R5) +3:22,4

2WD:
1. Dohnal J. (Clio S1600) 1:25:10,1
2. Dohnal R. (208 Rally4) +1:09,1
3. Hordossy (208 Rally4) +2:50,5 (10 sec penalty)

Videos here: https://www.youtube.com/c/maxmann78mediasport/videos

[Mirek]

škoda Motorsport will have three works cars on Rally Bohemia as a part of 120 years celebrations. The drivers are Kopecký, Bulacia and Stříteský which is a nice surprise.

[RS]

Good chances for Stritesky to become the next generation Czech Skoda Motorsport driver after Kopecky. Others are probably too old already.

[RS]

Works Skodas at Rallye Bohemia on Pirelli tyres (first time ever?)

[mknight]

Works Skodas at Rallye Bohemia on Pirelli tyres (first time ever?)

For Bulacia it kind of makes no sense to switch to Michelin when he has to use Pirelli in WRC. Not quite sure why the others switched, maybe Skoda needs more experience with the tires?

In ERC I think Toksport has sponsorship deal with Michelin.

[Mirek]

Kopecký uses Pirelli in Hungary too. Probably better to use same tyres everywhere than a wild mixture of tyres and setups depending on the championship.

Anyway Bohemia live: https://rally-base.com/2021/rally-bohemia-2021/
Historic: https://rally-base.com/2021/rally-bohemia-2021-historic/

Some streams on ewrc facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewrccz/

[Mirek]

Bulacia reportedly crashed before the finish of SS3. He finished the stage and continues with damaged car.

Live splits, streams including Mareš's live onboards: https://live.rallybohemia.cz/2021/3/Splity,

Mareš's onboards and their archive also here: https://www.twitch.tv/rallybohemia

[RS]

Kopecký uses Pirelli in Hungary too. Probably better to use same tyres everywhere than a wild mixture of tyres and setups depending on the championship.

True, although up until this event Kopecky has used Michelin in the Czech Championship.

The cars are also wearing Pirelli stickers and have been on Pirellis in recent promotional photos and videos so it looks like the works team has shifted allegiance from Michelin.. i suppose if they come back to WRC2 as a works team they will have to do that anyway.

[Mirek]

Accident of Stefan Fritz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLWkuSvch00

[Mirek]

Pech retired before SS6 with gearbox oil leak.

Video SS1-5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLaXx_zVFUE

[Mirek]

Video SS6-9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO9fDIHz5kI

[Mirek]

Rally Bohemia is finished and the name of the weekend is Dominik Stříteský. Started a bit slower with a small off on SS2 but got to a third place overall in the last stage of the first leg. The second leg started with a puncture for Mareš which sent him back from the second to the fourth place. Stříteský appeared on a second place just few seconds ahead of Černý and Mareš. To my surprise he didn't give them a chance to fight back and instead kept enlarging his advantage stage by stage to finish on a well deserved second position. First start in the works team, first start with Fabia Evo and fifth 4WD start ever. I really hope Škoda gives him a contract, if anything else they need a local successor of Kopecký.

Černý a bit surprisingly managed to keep Mareš behind him as well. Behind this Bulacia made a comeback from his yesterday's mistake and managed to climb to fifth place (hit a verge stone and as a result drove another two stages without one brake disc and caliper).

After retirements of Pech and Vlček Škoda had 9 cars in top 10. A nice way to celebrate 125 years of the brand and 120 years of the motorsport department.

1. Kopecký (Fabia R5 Evo) 1:27:15,1
2. Stříteský (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:08,4
3. Černý (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:21,4
4. Mareš (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:29,7
5. Bulacia (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:56,8
6. Cvrček (Fabia R5) +2:53,1
7. Odložilík (Fabia R5 Evo) +3:00,9
8. von Thurn und Taxis (Polo R5) +4:08,0
9. Trojan (Fabia R5) +5:57,0
10. Tomek (Fabia R5) +6:10,5

2WD:
1. J. Dohnal (Clio S1600) +1:35:17,8 (20 sec. penalty)
2. R. Dohnal (208 Rally4) +54,4
3. Stejskal (Clio R3T) +2:07,2

Notable retirements: Pech (Focus WRC) - hydraulic, Jakeš (Fabia R5) - accident, P. Semerád (Fabia R5 Evo) - accident, Březík (Fabia R5) - accident, Vlček (i20 R5) - fire

Video SS10-12: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEWuUgLkZaU

[RS]

Kopecky like clockwork again, watching the videos he really uses all the road but accurately and safely. A great benchmark for the young guys.

Stritesky ended with the perfect result for his first time in the works team, i’d say the chances for him going forward are good! I was going to say I feel a bit sorry for Mares who has generally been second quickest to Kopecky in the R5 cars this year and would have been again without his puncture, but I just googled him and didn’t realise he was as old as 30 already! Petr Semerad another one to watch?

Other than his accident, I was pleasantly surprised by Bulacia’s pace on unknown Czech roads (third quickest on leg two)

[dimviii]

Other than his accident, I was pleasantly surprised by Bulacia’s pace on unknown Czech roads (third quickest on leg two)

+1

[Mirek]

Video SS13-15: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHPCrcjrZo0

[Mirek]

Rally Fulnek of the Rallysprint series had pretty weak entry list. Nevertheless here are the results (the last stage was canceled when Bisaha, the first one on the road, crashed into the railbars which ended blocking the road).

1. Odložilík (Fabia R5 Evo) 28:04,4
2. Březík jun. (Fabia R5) +0,8
3. Štajf (Fabia R5) +17,1
4. Trněný (Fiesta R5) +40,0
5. Vlček (i20 R5) +42,8
6. Kurka (Mini WRC) +1:108
7. Dohnal J. (Clio S1600) +1:52,6
8. Hanák (Fabia R5 Evo) +2:03,1
9. Smékal (DS3 R3T Max) +2:18,5
10. Štefan (208 Rally4) +2:32,8

[Mirek]

Vladimír Hubáček, a true rally legend and a tripple winner of Barum rally passed away. He was 89 years old.
https://www.ewrc.cz/clanek/36373-zemrel-vladimir-hubacek/

[Mirek]

Francois Delecour with Alpine on Rally Pačejov!

[Ucci]

Francois Delecour with Alpine on Rally Pačejov!
Great!

[Mirek]

Livery of the Invelt Alpine for Delecour.
https://www.ewrc.cz/images/2021/web/alpine2.jpg
https://www.ewrc.cz/images/2021/web/alpine3.jpg

According to Jírovec they want to invest into the development of the Alpine in a similar way they did with Mini RRC. Pech already started testing. In the future the Invelt car is meant for Jírovec jr. who is now drivng the Adam cup but I guess that Pech will drive it somewhere too.
https://www.ewrc.cz/clanek/36392-francouzsky-bourlivak-francois-delecour-dorazi-na-pacejov/

[Mirek]

Rally Vyškov (Rallysprint Series) online: https://rally-base.com/2021/rally-vyskov-2021/

[Mirek]

Rally Vyškov ended with quite surprising results. The entry list was already rather weak but to add more damage plenty of top runners retired on the first few stages. Březík damaged his car in a chicane, Štajf hit a concrete ramp, Tomek went off etc.

1. Odložilík (Fabia Rally2 Evo) 39:47:8
2. Vlček (i20 Rally2 N) +15,8
3. Kurka (Mini WRC) +1:15,6
4. Trněný (Fiesta R5) +1:48,4 (30 sec. pen.)
5. Hanuš (i20 R5) +1:52,7
6. Štochl (Fabia R5) +2:02,6
7. Hanák (Fabia Rally2 Evo) +2:13,2
8. Semerád P. (Mirage Proto) +2:15,7 (30 sec. pen.)
9. Dědic (Fabia R5) +2:16,7
10. Šimek (Fiesta R5) +2:20,1 (30 sec. pen.)
11. Dohnal J. (Clio S1600) +2:27,3

[Mirek]

Jan Dohnal on Rally Pačejov with 306 Maxi from Loeb Racing. Josef Peták for the first time with his Mégane Maxi (in historics).

[Mirek]

Unfortunately the engine of the 306 Maxi broke already on shakedown. The rally was won by Kopecký who had little opposition this time. Behind him there was a battle between Pech and Mareš but in the end Pech won. Stříteský was fighting for fourth with Černý and when it finally looked like he shook Černý off he crashed in flying finish of the penultimate stage. So Černý took the fourth. Delecour drove nicely and fast and finished eighth overall.

1. Kopecký (Fabia R5 Evo) 1:15:00,8
2. Pech (Focus WRC) +25,0
3. Mareš (Fabia R5 Evo) +38,5
4. Černý (Fabia R5 Evo) +1:16,4
5. Odložilík (Fabia R5 Evo) +2:06,2
6. Jakeš (Fabia R5) +2:23,7
7. Březík jr. (Fabia R5) +2:30,1
8. Delecour (Alpine A110 RGT) +3:55,1
9. Trněný (Fiesta R5) +4:44,9
10. Trojan (Fabia R5) +5:35,6

2WD
1. Číž (208 R2) 1:26:35,6
2. Soldát (208 R2) +42,8 (10 sec penalty)
3. Lukašík (Fiesta Rally4) +50,6
4. Ocelka (Clio Rally5) +59,7
5. Peták (Mégane Maxi) +1:09,7 (30 sec penalty)

Notable retirememnts: Stříteský (Fabia R5) - broken radiator, Dohnal (306 Maxi) - engine, Cvrček (Fabia R5) - missed a flying finish when going off :-)))

Here is at least a video of Dohnal testing the Maxi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cstIOgmwYU&feature=emb_title (his last words: Awesome, that's porn! :D )

[Mirek]

Nice video from the rally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O11AT9G3s8g

[Mirek]

Onboard of Kopecký from Čečelovice, the hardest stage of the rally.
https://www.facebook.com/JanKopeckyOfficial/videos/6230859910320952/

[Mirek]

Rally Morava (former Rally Jeseníky) online on Saturday. It's the penultimate round of the Rallysprint Series.

Modern: https://rally-base.com/2021/futures-contproduct-rally-morava-2021/
Historic: https://rally-base.com/2021/futures-contproduct-rally-morava-2021-historic/

[Mirek]

Final results of Rally Morava which had quite weak entry list are following. After a greatr battle Odložilík won over Březík jr.

1. Odložilík (Fabia R5 Evo) 36:52,3
2. Březík jr. (Fabia R5) +0,8
3. Vlček (i20 R5) +26,9
4. Bisaha (i20 R5) +44,1
5. Kurka (Mini WRC) +1:05,7
6. Trněný (Fiesta R5) +1:17,8
7. Dohnal J. (Clio S1600) +1:47,2
8. Hanák (Fabia R5 Evo) +2:17,0
9. Smékal (DS3 R3T) +3:17,9
10. Pondělíček (Fabia S2000) +3:27,4

None from the top crews retired.

[Mirek]

Despite worse entry list Rally Morava was a spectacular event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcEkCGN_494