Czech rally news

[Mirek]

Rally Vsetín is finished. At the beginning it was about a fight of youngsters Stříteský and Březík jr. but Stříteský hit an anticut and had to retire with damaged suspension. Březík jr. won afterwards rather easily ahead of Odložilík who is the champion. 2WD champion Jan Dohnal after winning all previous rallysprints didn't start here and that is a real pity because this time he could have found a proper competition and who knows, maybe he would be defeated. Jaromír Tarabus who does rallies only occassionally lately drove the 208 Rally4 up to 6th place overall!

1. Březík jr. (Fabia R5) 35:50,3
2. Odložilík (Fabia R5 Evo) +27,9
3. Jakeš (Fabia R5) +42,5
4. Melichárek (Fiesta WRC) +49,6
5. Trněný (Fiesta R5) +1:57,2
6. Tarabus (208 Rally4) +2:42,5
7. Dědic (Fabia R5) +2:48,2
8. Hanuš (i20 R5) +2:54,9 (10 sec. penalty)
9. Ševčík (Evo IX gr.N) +2:59,7
10. Trnovec (i20 R5) +3:10,9

Notable retirements: Stříteský (Fabia R5) - damaged suspension, Vlček (i20 R5) - spun into a ditch and couldn't reverse due to loss of reverse gear

[Mirek]

Final results of Rallye Český Krumlov. The event which I didn't follow at all due to my other activities was all about the fight of Pech and Kopecký. With the absence of Mareš Černý was all the time in a no man's land and the rest was somewhere far behind. In the last stage which was the legendary Malonty (after many years run in a proper 25 km length) Pech and Kopecký set the same time. The rest was 26+ seconds down. Simon Wagner with Corsa Rally4 found no competition in 2WD and won by more than 7 minutes...

1. Pech (Focus WRC) 1:16:55,8
2. Kopecký (Fabia R5 Evo) +3,5
3. Černý )Fabia R5 Evo) +1:12,5
4. Jakeš (Fabia R5) +2:43,9
5. Březík jr. (Fabia R5) +2:55,5
6. Stříteský (Fabia R5) +3:26,7
7. Cvrček (Fabia R5) +5:56,5
8. Trojan (Fabia R5) +7:30,1
9. Wagner (Corsa Rally4) +7:39,3
10. Šikl (Evo IX gr.N) +10:31,6

13. (2. 2WD) Číž (208 R2) +12:43,7

17. (3. 2WD) Soldát (208 R2) +14:41,1

[TWRC]

Final results of Rallye Český Krumlov. The event which I didn't follow at all due to my other activities was all about the fight of Pech and Kopecký. With the absence of Mareš Černý was all the time in a no man's land and the rest was somewhere far behind. In the last stage which was the legendary Malonty (after many years run in a proper 25 km length) Pech and Kopecký set the same time. The rest was 26+ seconds down. Simon Wagner with Corsa Rally4 found no competition in 2WD and won by more than 7 minutes...

1. Pech (Focus WRC) 1:16:55,8
2. Kopecký (Fabia R5 Evo) +3,5
3. Černý )Fabia R5 Evo) +1:12,5
4. Jakeš (Fabia R5) +2:43,9
5. Březík jr. (Fabia R5) +2:55,5
6. Stříteský (Fabia R5) +3:26,7
7. Cvrček (Fabia R5) +5:56,5
8. Trojan (Fabia R5) +7:30,1
9. Wagner (Corsa Rally4) +7:39,3
10. Šikl (Evo IX gr.N) +10:31,6

13. (2. 2WD) Číž (208 R2) +12:43,7

17. (3. 2WD) Soldát (208 R2) +14:41,1

Also, season's best result for Jakeš? I really like him, but after his good showing at Barum against Sordo, he couldn't really get back to that speed in the coming years. Is there a particular reason for that? Tyres? Money in general? Getting older?

[Mirek]

Also, season's best result for Jakeš? I really like him, but after his good showing at Barum against Sordo, he couldn't really get back to that speed in the coming years. Is there a particular reason for that? Tyres? Money in general? Getting older?

The following is just my personal opinion how I feel about him.

I'd say that it's a combination of many factors but for me the main is that he doesn't seem to care. You don't see that passion or enthusiasm in him other top drivers have. I have always had a feeling that he was somewhat indifferent - just come, drive and go home. The other factors are the co-driver (he's paying the bills but he's also not a top one), rather old car, few tests. All that combined.

[Walach]

It might be personal opinion of Mirek, but it is quite accurate.

There was a stage during first leg of Rally Cesky Krumlov where he admitted that he was braking into chicane that simply wasn't there. And the reason? Simply rewriting his notes from 2019 rather than making brand new. It pretty sums it all up.

[Mirek]

Onboard of Kopecký from the last stage in which both him and Pech set the same time. It's flat out run over one of our most legendary (and scariest) stages, the last few kilometers were not run for about 15 years I think. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/JanKopeckyOfficial/videos/543077913548617/

[Mirek]

And now also Pech released his onboard from the same stage. Big moment at 10:09.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhubGz7KvAo

[Mirek]

Jan skála will drive Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC from 2C in Prague.
https://www.ewrc.cz/images/2021/web/skal4.jpg
https://www.ewrc.cz/clanek/36622-jedno-wrc-v-soucasne-specifikaci-na-strahove-prece-jen-bude/

[Mirek]

That didn't last long... yesterday evening the government announced again a state of emergency in the country and today the Prague sprint was canceled.

[RS]

Rather quiet here folks, but Czech Championship starts today! Usual suspects present, plus Marczyk for this round.

Results: https://rally-base.com/2022/kowax-valasska-rally-valmez-2022/

[Jarek Z]

How did such a slow driver as Bisaha get number 1 in this event?

[Medved]

He has FIA priority (ERT 2020 winner).

[EstWRC]

nice drive by Virves

[pantealex]

nice drive by Virves

in Slovenia you mean.

[RS]

What was Stritesky disqualified for?

[Medved]

They used spare wheel of another competitor.

https://storage.googleapis.com/download/storage/v1/b/sportity-storage/o/002a91f0-9a6e-4e76-8041-9a7aa86a313e%2F74832542-faf0-4951-ac5c-03a8b587223d_2.4_Stewards%20Decision%20%20No%202.p df?generation=1649572508654233&alt=media

[RS]

They used spare wheel of another competitor.

https://storage.googleapis.com/download/storage/v1/b/sportity-storage/o/002a91f0-9a6e-4e76-8041-9a7aa86a313e%2F74832542-faf0-4951-ac5c-03a8b587223d_2.4_Stewards%20Decision%20%20No%202.p df?generation=1649572508654233&alt=media

Thanks. I’m disappointed, i expected to see more development from Stritesky after some good times last year.

[RS]

What happened to Kopecky on the final stage?

Good drive by Mares!

[Tom K]

I think wrong tyre choice.

[PLuto]

What happened to Kopecky on the final stage?

Good drive by Mares!

It was about tyre choice. Pech had full slicks, Mares three slicks and one medium and Kopecky has cross. He is also not used to use Pirelli tyres in these conditions... Also Marczyk had sometimes issues to be fast with Pirelli as they are different in mixed conditions comparing to what they know with Michelin.

[Lead]

Would have been interesting to see Mikkelsen's stage times in rally Bohemia with the new Skoda RS. Is he racing without time control this weekend?

[Tom206wrc]

Jan Dohnal in a 306 Maxi at Bohemia :D :cool:

[RS]

Would have been interesting to see Mikkelsen's stage times in rally Bohemia with the new Skoda RS. Is he racing without time control this weekend?

I'm sure they're recording their own times but he might not be pusing that hard.. i don't think he's had that much mileage in the car on asphalt and he's supposed to be a kinda safety car hehe

[RS]

Pech out of Bohemia with another technical problem.. Kopecky dropped a lot of time to Mares this morning who now leads.

[RS]

Mares retired on the last stage with a technical problem, gutted for him after a great drive. Kopecky wins from Wagner.

[TWRC]

Mares retired on the last stage with a technical problem, gutted for him after a great drive. Kopecky wins from Wagner.

Wagner was very very impressive for me, obviously he is doing a lot of kms, but still. Gutted for Mares, it was a good fight with Kopecky, hopefully he can nick it the next time.

[RS]

Fantastic video from day 3 of this almost-mixed surface event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUc6nEqXFPA

[dimviii]

Mares with old fabia today passed Kopecky after two stages.Pech leading

https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/81087-kowax-valasska-rally-valmez-2023/?s=414122

[Jarek Z]

Wow! Mares faster than Kopecky in the first round of Czech championship!
https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/81087-kowax-valasska-rally-valmez-2023/?s=414138

[RS]

Stages were quite wet and muddy which are not ideal Kopecky conditions, especially with new car he doesn't know so well. Disappointing result for him bit i expect him to get much stronger as the year goes on.

[dimviii]

Wow! Mares faster than Kopecky in the first round of Czech championship!
https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/81087-kowax-valasska-rally-valmez-2023/?s=414138

Mares with shitty pirelli tyres,Kopecky with michelin.

[RS]

Mares with shitty pirelli tyres,Kopecky with michelin.

This may have been a factor, especially as Kopecky did the asphalt testing of the new car on Pirelli. Don't want to make excuses though, Mares looked really fast.

Second round this weekend, let's see if Kopecky can exploit the new car more.

[Jarek Z]

Entry list for Rallye Šumava Klatovy 2023:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/entries/81036-rallye-sumava-klatovy-2023/

[Jarek Z]

Vaclav Pech wins the rally, Kopecky is second and Mares has an accident:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/81036-rallye-sumava-klatovy-2023/?s=416807
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBK4kY9ly7E

[dimviii]

Stritesky with amazing times at Bohemia rally(Hankook tyres)
https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/80681-rally-bohemia-2023/?s=428253

[PLuto]

So, Stritesky won Rally Bohemia - https://rally-base.com/2023/bohemia-rally-mlada-boleslav-2023/

Pech was fastest, but retired with technical issues. In the final, Stritesky faster than Kopecky for 0,8. You still can be fastest with Evo over RS...

[RS]

Kopecky doesn’t seem to have gelled with the new car. He’s not slow, but certainly not any quicker than with the old car.

Stritesky is a strange one. Super quick on Bohemia, but average elsewhere and still too many accidents.

[saco0o]

RIP Michal! =/

On the morning of Sunday, 26 May 2024, after yesterday's accident on the Podorlická Rally special stage, Michal Fikejs lost his fight for life.
https://cmpr.cz/odpocivej-v-pokoji-michale/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1z0bT4Sz_evy__lI2ue0fm qZcXFcegLqQY1tg66KCqr9BbOAV3r52pTDk_aem_Ad8emQbq3o YpCqYeAcSPvvMl5OurBSSiUaNx6pS2wgT-MHl3ttYTumqDVlN0xCfSwD9OjkY08Z1YK4PvT19hjLap

[Mirek]

Březík won Rally Hustopeče in a tight battle with Kopecký. Stříteský and Cais behind them both went off and lost about 20 seconds. Pech retired after an accident. Super interesting season so far.
https://rally-base.com/2024/agrotec-rally-hustopece-2024/

I guess nobody would guess that the first two event winners would be Stříteský and Březík.

[RS]

Great that Kopecky finally has some competition in the Czech Championship, Barum should be mega!

[Tom206wrc]

Vaclav Pech in a Citroën C3 Rally2 next weekend, is it a one-shot or a car change for the rest of the season :confused:

[PLuto]

Vaclav Pech in a Citroën C3 Rally2 next weekend, is it a one-shot or a car change for the rest of the season :confused:

Only one shot.

[Mirek]

Stříteský is Czech champion!

[PLuto]

For season 2025, Erik Cais is switching to different team and different car - http://www.autosport.cz/clanek.php?cl=23534

Debut will be this weekend on Prazsky Rallysprint

[Tom206wrc]

In Praszky there will be also Zdenek Pokorny driving a Citroën C3 Rally2 ;)

[PLuto]

In Praszky there will be also Zdenek Pokorny driving a Citroën C3 Rally2 ;)

I think it is not brand switch, only his usual car was not available for rent...

[Tom206wrc]

Only one shot.

For 2025 looks like Vaclav Pech definitely switches to the Citroën ;)

http://www.vaclavpech.cz/

[RS]

Will Kopecky continue? He seemed to rediscover his form on the final event last year.

[Walach]

Yes, he will.

[Tom206wrc]

I noticed there's a second Citroën C3 Rally2 in CZ(alongside the one of Vaclav Pech): it'll be driven by Viktor Szabo next week at the RallyeTest Plzen ;)

[Jarek Z]

Entry list for Rallye Šumava Klatovy, the first round of Czech rally championship, has been published:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/entries/92381-milkservis-rallye-sumava-klatovy-2025/

[PLuto]

Official and updated entry list to Rallye Šumava Klatovy is here - https://is.autoklub.cz/racing/entries/list/2ca2a0af-31c9-47b3-b6fd-325b10952b2a

And here is for czech section of historics - https://is.autoklub.cz/racing/entries/list/17a39ce3-cae7-4665-9936-e82ecae3ef3e

[RS]

Official and updated entry list to Rallye Šumava Klatovy is here - https://is.autoklub.cz/racing/entries/list/2ca2a0af-31c9-47b3-b6fd-325b10952b2a

And here is for czech section of historics - https://is.autoklub.cz/racing/entries/list/17a39ce3-cae7-4665-9936-e82ecae3ef3e

A nice mix of cars with the top drivers.

[PLuto]

A nice mix of cars with the top drivers.

Yes, finally it is not only Skoda cup.

[Jarek Z]

Rallye Sumava Klatovy starts on Saturday. Be careful. Rallying can be dangerous:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9iXKWeYUXA