Barum Czech Rally Zlín 2018

[Hartusvuori]

Rally Guide 1 was published last week including the itinerary (without stage names as per usual).

http://www.czechrally.com/en/24890-documents

Friday starts with QS and ends with the traditional Zlín city stage.

On Saturday there'll be two times 4 stages.

On Sunday there'll be two times 3 stages.

That totals in 15 stages and 214 ss-kilometres.

I have again a special interests for this event this year, because after 5 years of absence everything is booked now.

[Jarek Z]

On Saturday there'll be two times 5 stages.

Something is wrong with your maths ;) On Saturday there'll be two times 4 stages (page 22 in the rally guide that you posted).

Publication of the List of entries approved by the FIA
Date:
13 August 2018
Time:
18:00

Only 2,5 months left! :D

[Mirek]

It's always same SD + City on Friday, 8 stages on Saturday and 6 on Sunday. The question is only about particular stages and their direction ;)

[Hartusvuori]

Something is wrong with your maths ;) On Saturday there'll be two times 4 stages (page 22 in the rally guide that you posted).

My maths is flexible and immune to double-checking as well. ;-)

[Mirek]

Complete timetable: http://www.czechrally.com/wcd/docs/2018/bcrz_2018_itinerary.pdf

Some classic roads temporarily out (Pindula, part of Březová, part of Halenkovice/Košíky - mainly due to the swine flu), some old roads back to fill the space (part of Kudlovice), few kilometers completely new (part of Halenkovice) and something never driven in this direction (half of Kašava).

[Mirek]

It looks like some local drivers will switch to R5 cars for Barum rally. At least Jakeš and Březík (reining gr.N champion) shall drive Fabia R5 instead of their usual cars.

[steve.mandzij]

Complete timetable: http://www.czechrally.com/wcd/docs/2018/bcrz_2018_itinerary.pdf

Some classic roads temporarily out (Pindula, part of Bezová, part of Halenkovice/Košíky - mainly due to the swine flu), some old roads back to fill the space (part of Kudlovice), few kilometers completely new (part of Halenkovice) and something never driven in this direction (half of Kašava).How's that about the swine flu?

[Mirek]

The authorities want to keep the swine flu located on a small and controllable area and for that reason they don't allow any activities which could lead to scaring of the animals and their exit of said zones.

However I have to say that it doesn't look like they really try to solve the situation. It has been already nearly 1,5 years since the swine flu was discovered with some dead wild boars.

[Jarek Z]

At the finish line of Rallye Weiz Hermann Neubauer said that he's going to compete in Barum Rally.

[WUff1]

At the finish line of Rallye Weiz Hermann Neubauer said that he's going to compete in Barum Rally.

Let´s see if he really solved his setup problems, but I suspect Austrian top level is too weak for a top ten result in ERC, especially at Barum (also thinking of Baumschlager´s result at Bohemia).

[Jarek Z]

Dani Sordo confirmed:
https://as.com/motor/2018/07/26/mas_motor/1532594261_873406.html

[Mirek]

Yessss! :)

[dimviii]

nice news,lets see how Dani can perform against Kopecky and Luky.

predictions?

[Ucci]

nice news,lets see how Dani can perform against Kopecky and Luky.

predictions?

If i20 R5 will run without technical problems, anything beside victory is in my opinion disappointment. This is what I have already mentioned few weeks ago-if you want to beat Kopecky on his home yard, you need one of the world's top (tarmac) driver.

[Mirek]

Honestly I don't expect Sordo to be the fastest. For sure he can win but in my opinion he will need some bad luck of his opponents to become a winner. IMO Barum is completely different than any event Sordo ever drove. Also from what I could see in Ypres there are questions regarding i20 suspension performance. That's a thing which is absolutely crucial on Barum. Moreover nobody ever drove i20 R5 on Czech roads and there is no specific know-how existing for setting the car for our roads. That shall be a major limiting factor.

[nafpaktos]

nice news,lets see how Dani can perform against Kopecky and Luky.

predictions?

Faster than Lucky but not faster than Kopecky,i am refering an overall performance and not to some ss.

[Rally Power]

My money’s on Sordo.

[Mirek]

By the way just like last year the hardest and the longest stage of the rally is the last one so that we can take some drama till the end for granted. Also this variant of the stage was never used on Barum before.

[Jarek Z]

Honestly I don't expect Sordo to be the fastest.

So you think that Sordo will not be able to "demonstrate the capabilities of the Korean machine to potential customers"? ;)
https://www.fiaerc.com/world-rally-star-sordo-set-for-erc-action-in-zlin/

[Mirek]

He will be definitely able to demonstrate the capabilities of the Korean machine to potential customers. The point is that I do think that the machine lacks in suspension performance and will suffer from non-existing know how related to specific Czech roads (despite that this year's Barum is reasonably less bumpy than some other editions).

Also nobody came and won on Barum on the first attempt since 2007 (lucky victory for Vouilloz) and only two drivers managed that in 21st century (Travaglia in 2002 was the second one).

The names which tried in between are quite big... some succeded on several attempts (Hänninen, Loix, Basso), some never (Mikkelsen, Neuville, Tänak, Lappi, Meeke, Novikov, Rossetti, Wilks, P-G andersson etc.).

[Fiat-131-Abarth]

He will be definitely able to demonstrate the capabilities of the Korean machine to potential customers. The point is that I do think that the machine lacks in suspension performance and will suffer from non-existing know how related to specific Czech roads (despite that this year's Barum is reasonably less bumpy than some other editions).

Also nobody came and won on Barum on the first attempt since 2007 (lucky victory for Vouilloz) and only two drivers managed that in 21st century (Travaglia in 2002 was the second one).

The names which tried in between are quite big... some succeded on several attempts (Hänninen, Loix, Basso), some never (Mikkelsen, Neuville, Tänak, Lappi, Meeke, Novikov, Rossetti, Wilks, P-G andersson etc.).

I think wie should also add, that 2007 Vouilloz was lucky because the Fabia S 2000 wasn't ready, Kopecky didn't start and Kresta and Pech were driving with Gr N Lancers.

If Kopecky has no major problems I wouldn't bet a single cent on Sordo.

[Mirek]

Not only that ;) Loix crashed while leading, García-Ojeda suffered broken propshaft at the very last stage while leading and Kresta changed wheel already on SS2 (otherwise he was fast enough even with gr.N to challenge the top S2000).

[mknight]

The names which tried in between are quite big... some succeded on several attempts (Hänninen, Loix, Basso), some never (Mikkelsen, Neuville, Tänak, Lappi, Meeke, Novikov, Rossetti, Wilks, P-G andersson etc.).

While the list is nice quite a lot of those drivers went there at very different points in their career often with less than competetivie hardware. Tanak once on DMACK, P.G. once with Proton, Neuville with 207 when the series was dominated by Fabias etc etc....

so it's truth with modifications.

That said I doubt Sordo can win if Kopecky stays out of his typical issue (puncture - though this year he avoided it so far).

[RS]

What are the chances of seeing more than one works Skoda on Barum?

Would be pretty disappointing not too after most other Czech Championship events having more than one and Nordgren having done the last few ERC rounds..

[Mirek]

I think there will be two cars present.

Jan, Kalle and Olle-Christian in Germany, Jan and Jusso in Barum (my guess).

[tommeke_B]

Any more rumors on who's going to drive? Already looking forward... :)

[Mirek]

All quiet on the Barum front...

[Mirek]

According to Pluto Nordgren will not start.

[PLuto]

It looks like there will be only one Skoda driver :(

[Ucci]

What about Tomas Kostka?

[Mirek]

Silence

[PLuto]

It looks like most of the non-regular czech drivers like Kresta, Kostka or Valousek will not start this year...

[Mirek]

Unfortunately Václav Kopáček was forced to cancel all the remaining season due to his injury from Rally Hustopeče :(

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Sordo i20 R5 test https://youtu.be/BrGc58246IQ

[Mirek]

Some very bad news today. Szeja brothers had a serious accident on test. According to the information from local press both were seriously injured (fortunately their lives shall not be in danger) and had to be airlifted to the hospital using two helicopters. One of them was stuck in the car and had to be cut out. The accident happened near Mladá Boleslav on a former Rally Bohemia stage.

[Mirek]

Kreim and Herzig were testing on stage Kohout from Rallye Český Krumlov
http://www.rally-mania.cz/fotogalerie/2018/1628/1628_test_pred_barum_rallye_zlin_kreim_herzig_570c 98ce47.jpg
http://www.rally-mania.cz/fotogalerie/2018/1628/1628_test_pred_barum_rallye_zlin_kreim_herzig_3b03 5128b3.jpg

http://www.rally-mania.cz/photogallery.php?id=1628

[Mirek]

Some very bad news today. Szeja brothers had a serious accident on test. According to the information from local press both were seriously injured (fortunately their lives shall not be in danger) and had to be airlifted to the hospital using two helicopters. One of them was stuck in the car and had to be cut out. The accident happened near Mladá Boleslav on a former Rally Bohemia stage.

Based on latest unconfirmed info the local newspaper rather overblew the situation. The injuries shall not be serious. It will likely take some time to recover though.

[Jarek Z]

Based on latest unconfirmed info the local newspaper rather overblew the situation. The injuries shall not be serious. It will likely take some time to recover though.

Thanks for the information Mirek.
According to the article at http://rajdy.autoklub.pl/news/wypadek-szejow-na-testach,86941 Jaroslaw Szeja (driver) is already out of hospital. His brother broke a rib and a collarbone, but is expected to leave hospital soon. They had to cancel their appearance in Perger Mühlstein Rallye in Austria.

[Mirek]

Dziekuje Jarek

[Mirek]

According to his facebook Raphaël Astier will start as well (with Abarth 124). Theoretically also Andrea Nucita and Andrea Modanesi shall start within the Abarth Challenge.

[Mirek]

Another test of Sordo on stage Kohout of Rallye Český Krumlov
http://www.autosport.cz/zavody/fotogalerie.php?id=126&id=1474&autor=122

http://www.autosport.cz/img/fotografie/52c09b14fe58a9502ceaa8fd1e17e947.jpg

[Mirek]

Entry list for historics revealed. 93 cars (H group = competitive, L group = show only).
http://www.autosport.cz/zavody/soubor.php?f=20810

Nice to see Tomáš Enge after many years again on Barum with Škoda 130LR :)

[Jarek Z]

It seems Gryazin is confirmed:
https://www.fiaerc.com/gryazin-stakes-claim-for-zlin-erc-gold/

[Hartusvuori]

According to RG1, we should get the entry list in 3 hours, at 18.00 Czech time.

[Fiat-131-Abarth]

According to RG1, we should get the entry list in 3 hours, at 18.00 Czech time.

Here it is:
http://www.autosport.cz/zavody/soubor.php?f=20623

[tommeke_B]

A little bit a let down from a few traditional drivers (no Valousek, Kostka, Kresta), but all in all great entry list! I'm also looking forward to the fight in R2! Nice to see Grégoire Munster (son of Bernard Munster) on the list with an Adam R2. He has shown good progress in Belgium and the German Adam Cup so far... Also interesting to mention, Barum will be his 17th rally this season!

[Mirek]

I am satisfied. It's also a great mix of machinery and together with the historics it's 241 cars. Who can survive watching that on one place? 😂

Tom, Valoušek hasn't driven a single rally this year, so has Kresta therefore there was nearly no chance to see them. With Kostka it's a different story and honestly I have no idea why he doesn't start.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

@ChrisIngramGB:
Maybe the best R5 competition of any rally ever with the likes of Sordo, Lukyanuk, Kopecky!! https://t.co/sFDXSYkOzx

[Hartusvuori]

@ChrisIngramGB:
Maybe the best R5 competition of any rally ever with the likes of Sordo, Lukyanuk, Kopecky!! https://t.co/sFDXSYkOzx

Yep. Any rally ever.

[Mirek]

I wouldn't say so without doing a deep check in some Rally Portugal etc. editions but for sure some IRC S2000 Barum (or Ypres for example) editions were even stronger (not in terms of numbers but in terms of quality they were).

By the way Sordo already once started in IRC/ERC against Kopecký and he won (with Mini RRC on Corsica) ;)

[Hartusvuori]

I wouldn't say so without doing a deep check in some Rally Portugal etc. editions but for sure some IRC S2000 Barum (or Ypres for example) editions were even stronger (not in terms of numbers but in terms of quality they were).

By the way Sordo already once started in IRC/ERC against Kopecký and he won (with Mini RRC on Corsica) ;)

I should stop being sarcastic without using emojis. Empty hyberbole statement by Ingram.

[Mirek]

Sory, I'm too tired. Should have gone to bed already :D;)

One crazy curiosity... Pluto's charm somehow caused that there is more crews from Tchai-wan than from neighbouring Slovakia :D

[Jarek Z]

A little bit a let down from a few traditional drivers (no Valousek, Kostka, Kresta)

A let down? Who needs Valousek and Kostka when you have Lukyanuk, Kopecky, Sordo and Gryazin?
In my opinion a great entry list!

[Mirek]

Kostka and Valoušek have been always much faster than Gryazin on Barum. That has not been his strong event at all. Let's see this year.

[PLuto]

Kostka and Valoušek have been always much faster than Gryazin on Barum. That has not been his strong event at all. Let's see this year.

But Nikolay was working a lot on his driving skills on tarmac. He is much faster this year.

[PLuto]

Tom, Valoušek hasn't driven a single rally this year, so has Kresta therefore there was nearly no chance to see them.

Surprisingly it was not too far away, there were some attempts to start with Ford Fiesta R5 or later with Hyundai i20 R5, but finally it didnt happened.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I should stop being sarcastic without using emojis. Empty hyberbole statement by Ingram.

God forbid a young competitor showing some excitement when facing a WRC driver & an ERC local legend ..

[Hartusvuori]

God forbid a young competitor showing some excitement when facing a WRC driver & an ERC local legend ..

Even a young driver such as Ingram should have a better memory. It might be the best R5 entry where he is a part of, but it doesn't make it the best ever.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Even a young driver such as Ingram should have a better memory. It might be the best R5 entry where he is a part of, but it doesn't make it the best ever.

Give us a break. He actually said 'maybe' and was just excited and not meaning to be taken literally.

[RS]

Perhaps we could discuss it instead of bitching at each other? :)

Ingram said R5, and maybe he’s right.. other than Neuville/Ypres have any other current WRC drivers started with R5 elsewhere?

[Mirek]

Breen many times, Evans many times, Ostberg many times, Lappi many times, Lefebvre many times, Mikkelsen at least once, Meeke few times, Paddon few times, Tänak few times too I think. It's way more of those who have than those who haven't.

[RS]

Many of those before they had WRC contracts or whilst they weren’t under contract. Sordo is a current WRC driver and former WRC tarmac winner, I think he (and Neuville on Ypres) is on a different level to those you mention.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

@RhysYatesRally

Some exciting news: It's going to be a busy week....

Aiming to keep my @MSA_BRC & @FIAERC hopes alive by contesting both the @UlsterRally & @barumrally in the same week.

Delighted to be driving a Kresta Racing Fabia R5 for Barum too !

“It was going to be pretty impossible to get the car from Antrim to Zlin in time for a decent shakedown and we have been lucky enough to work out a great deal with Roman (Kresta) and his team to drive one of his Skoda’s. I`ll be using my own car in Ulster run by CA1 Sport and jumping on a plane pretty much as soon as the rally is over”.

http://www.rhysyates.com/from-antrim-to-zlin-yates-to-contest-back-to-back-brc-and-erc-rounds/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Ingram said R5, and maybe he’s right.. other than Neuville/Ypres have any other current WRC drivers started with R5 elsewhere?

One or two have driven R5's, but usually to get tarmac practice (like Ostberg & Paddon). I dont think Sordo in Barum falls into this category...

So WRC's Sordo, ex-ERC Champ Kopecky, and the rocket Lukyanuk... have there been a stronger trio to beat in an R5 / ERC rally ?

[Mirek]

@RhysYatesRally

Some exciting news: It's going to be a busy week....

Aiming to keep my @MSA_BRC & @FIAERC hopes alive by contesting both the @UlsterRally & @barumrally in the same week.

Delighted to be driving a Kresta Racing Fabia R5 for Barum too !

“It was going to be pretty impossible to get the car from Antrim to Zlin in time for a decent shakedown and we have been lucky enough to work out a great deal with Roman (Kresta) and his team to drive one of his Skoda’s. I`ll be using my own car in Ulster run by CA1 Sport and jumping on a plane pretty much as soon as the rally is over”.

http://www.rhysyates.com/from-antrim-to-zlin-yates-to-contest-back-to-back-brc-and-erc-rounds/

He'll be using the car which was reserved for Nordgren...


One or two have driven R5's, but usually to get tarmac practice (like Ostberg & Paddon). I dont think Sordo in Barum falls into this category...

So WRC's Sordo, ex-ERC Champ Kopecky, and the rocket Lukyanuk... have there been a stronger trio to beat in an R5 / ERC rally ?

Only Sordo, Latvala and Ogier havet driven R5 in a competition from all WRC works drivers and half of the rest drove at least once against Kopecký or Lukyanuk and most of the time it was in ERC events. There is really nothing that special about that.

As a Brit You should at least remember that Evans spent quite a large part of the last season figting Kopecký (and even Mikkelsen) in R5...

[PLuto]

https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39149963_1821154854598968_2851433873055678464_o.jp g?_nc_cat=0&oh=ced62895e5974a49e092caf09ca82fa6&oe=5BF3D6A6

[mousti]

I think you can compare it by Ypres this Neuville Abbring Bouffier. Abbring super quick but crash prone like Luky and Bouffier always very fast in Ypres and Neuville, Ogier his biggest in all those years.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G935F met Tapatalk

[Fast Eddie WRC]

As a Brit You should at least remember that Evans spent quite a large part of the last season figting Kopecký (and even Mikkelsen) in R5...

Not pure R5 events... WRC.

Other WRC drivers have driven R5's but BEFORE they were in WRC.

[Mirek]

Other WRC drivers have driven R5's but BEFORE they were in WRC.

No, absoutely not. Neuville (Ypres 2x), Evans (dozens of events), Ostberg (ERC Canarias against Lukyanuk + many events in Norway) or Paddon (Sanremo at least) definitely drove R5 after they were WRC drivers. And Mikkelsen even 3 months after he won WRC Rally Australia (Monte Carlo).

[Fast Eddie WRC]

No, absoutely not. Neuville (Ypres 2x), Evans (dozens of events), Ostberg (ERC Canarias against Lukyanuk + many events in Norway) or Paddon (Sanremo at least) definitely drove R5 after they were WRC drivers. And Mikkelsen even 3 months after he won WRC Rally Australia (Monte Carlo).

I was talking about purely R5/ERC events. I already mentioned Ostberg and Paddon (tarmac practice so were not the hardest to beat).

As for Mikkelsen he did WRC2 not ERC, as did Evans after he was demoted by M-Sport.

Yes current WRC-man Neuville is one example at Ypres, as said by Mousti.. (but he crashed early on in 2017, plus it isnt ERC now with top drivers, only TER)

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39149963_1821154854598968_2851433873055678464_o.jp g?_nc_cat=0&oh=ced62895e5974a49e092caf09ca82fa6&oe=5BF3D6A6

At least the promoter 'gets it'. It's a tough battle between these three, never mind the young ERC drivers taking them on.

[Hartusvuori]

I was talking about purely R5/ERC events. I already mentioned Ostberg and Paddon (tarmac practice so were not the hardest to beat).

As for Mikkelsen he did WRC2 not ERC, as did Evans after he was demoted by M-Sport.

Yes current WRC-man Neuville is one example at Ypres, as said by Mousti.. (but he crashed early on in 2017, plus it isnt ERC now with top drivers, only TER)

Ingram wrote R5 competition. I consider WRC2 as R5 competition.

[Mirek]

Browsing through the past videos I just accidentally found this old gem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWp2gPEhDJ0&feature=player_detailpage#t=672s

[Mirek]

Test of Jakeš: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuOubxILB48

It's on stage Starovice from Rally Hustopeče.

[Ciko]

It seems this will be a rainy event....
weather forecast (https://www.yr.no/place/Czech_Republic/Zl%C3%ADn/Zl%C3%ADn/long.html)

[Mirek]

Yes, it looks like the only cold and rainy weekend in otherwise record hot and dry summer.

[Jarek Z]

Lukyanuk says he is going to concentrate on championship points this time:
https://www.fiaerc.com/lukyanuk-erc-title-my-focus-in-zlin/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Lukyanuk says he is going to concentrate on championship points this time:
https://www.fiaerc.com/lukyanuk-erc-title-my-focus-in-zlin/

We'll see... ;)

[Mirek]

Due to the simple fact that the rally will be likely all wet basically anything can happen. The only sure thing is a lot of crashes.

[Mirek]

New car of Březík
https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39583829_1942723512686989_7593624903723515904_n.jp g?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=AeGUnqtCqxLJpm957D52Ls1U9epdMM4zKZqkCWaYg ElWyWMijjQJ03TWHAJA2gUY1VCd_pU2iiUUp07ot8tFkdQ9kJz 9OyApLF5S5IqYCOQ6Bw&oh=deffefcdf5af5c635bc7cb6e2e496d25&oe=5C0287C2

[tommeke_B]

Car for Yates, great design! Nice to see a big sponsor backing him.

https://scontent.fbru1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39603371_2229514693731890_1720387040614285312_o.jp g?_nc_cat=0&oh=b4675fd46ce775602c9d99d3f138a182&oe=5C019D9C

https://scontent.fbru1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39753168_2229514360398590_632637086289100800_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=0&oh=f9b3ecf24b695cbf16279dd599a3016d&oe=5C00C903

https://scontent.fbru1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39616346_2229514810398545_203038965396144128_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=0&oh=022b1161ae8dfa94a6e889e5d1030331&oe=5BFA634D

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Good sponsor but I prefer his black and yellow livery, much more individual and recognisable.

[Hartusvuori]

Emma Falcon's car blew engine on today's pre-event tests. They are sorting out now how to get a spare engine to start the event.

EDIT: The team has found a new engine. She'll start the event.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

How come Černý has switched from Škoda to a Ford Fiesta nowadays ?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Toksport testing...

https://twitter.com/lolo62500/status/1031875449314574337

[Jarek Z]

Together with Lukyanuk:
https://www.facebook.com/lukyanuk/posts/1090014351157812

[Mirek]

How come Černý has switched from Škoda to a Ford Fiesta nowadays ?

He changed his team for the whole season. He's using the Gemini car which Bouffier used last year.

[Mirek]

Cais lost a wheel on test (looks like broken screws to me): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKmcQRQ-plU
https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39760460_10212411048700287_4322530020988813312_o.j pg?_nc_cat=0&oh=6b0cedaf7d92e6e57c30973efd7c6c42&oe=5BFEFE56

Sordo
https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39745179_1974821545908056_8178055466060873728_n.jp g?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=AeFS5PZ2r1vXwUoTkn5X-BGrfqqJyMlKZ3NAyVIIYswZWLm53qAqoxT6rA_-lwHxO5cO7bg926tVWuW36qHwfesI5wOv7937MU93ZMxq9Q1obA&oh=f535a307182965525e5a5abbb28c83ac&oe=5C00EAED

[Mirek]

Updated forrecast with muuuuch less water (still some rain on Friday and Sunday morning): https://www.yr.no/place/Czech_Republic/Zlín/Zlín/long.html

[Mirek]

Car for Yates, great design! Nice to see a big sponsor backing him.

The livery is locally prepared. Rallydesign is a company from Zlín.

[Mirek]

Jakeš's and Březík's new cars together. Note new sponsor for both of them - Hungarian MOL Racing Fuels.
http://www.autosport.cz/img/clanky/b_76aa6a51148f4990faad9f6c6c278593.jpg

It's by the way confirmed that between 18:00-19:00 there will be a lot of oldtimers on the city stage including 17 Bugatti cars.

[Mirek]

Photos from the official test: https://www.ewrc.cz/foto/53302-test-pred-barum-rally-2018/496/
https://www.ewrc.cz/images/2018/photos/test_pred_barum_rally_2018/jje_d3s_6758.jpg

[atsiotras79]

Eyvind?

[Mirek]

Spectacular video from the official test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SZY9cWL2P4

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Toksport's Ingram & Avcioglu testing with Lukyanuk:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/rallyfotopl/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2412586085448632

https://scontent.flhr4-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39900526_2412588272115080_3224294625564950528_o.jp g?_nc_cat=0&oh=c158a879149815ccd2f695682a69123c&oe=5BF58843

[Jarek Z]

Jakeš's and Březík's new cars together. Note new sponsor for both of them - Hungarian MOL Racing Fuels.

Both liveries are great, but to be honest it is hard to see the name of the new sponsor. Did MOL pay too little? ;)

[Jarek Z]

Toksport's Ingram & Avcioglu testing with Lukyanuk:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/rallyfotopl/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2412586085448632

Interesting that the tests were organized in Kłodzko. That's southern Poland, not Czech Republic.

[the sniper]

Car for Yates, great design! Nice to see a big sponsor backing him.

It'd be interesting to know how this deal with Monster Energy came about. Great to see them involved though, the car looks great! Presumably it's the UK division sponsoring him? Seems a bit random really, given that Monster have seemingly had little interest in rallying up until now, beyond following Block into the WRC (and they weren't shown on the rendering of the car he'll use in Spain this year), but here they are sponsoring a somewhat unremarkable Rhys Yates for a random ERC outing... Good for him, but seems odd to me! If this design had turned up on an R5 Polo on Rally GB with Petter Solberg, it'd make more sense*!

*One can dream anyway!

[Jarek Z]

Monster have seemingly had little interest in rallying up until now, beyond following Block into the WRC

Monster have been for years very active in the world of offroad rallying.

https://www.automobilsport.com/uploads/_neustart2/dakar-2013/dakar-monster-energy-x-raid-minis.jpg

[the sniper]

Monster have been for years very active in the world of offroad rallying.

https://www.automobilsport.com/uploads/_neustart2/dakar-2013/dakar-monster-energy-x-raid-minis.jpg

Indeed, but you know what I meant. ;)

[Jarek Z]

Emma Falcon's car blew engine on today's pre-event tests. They are sorting out now how to get a spare engine to start the event.

EDIT: The team has found a new engine. She'll start the event.

They loaned the engine from a Czech driver Ondrĕj Bisaha. More about it here:
https://www.fiaerc.com/falcons-erc-czech-mate-to-the-rescue/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Toksport's Ingram & Avcioglu testing with Lukyanuk

Video: https://youtu.be/i_Qea8ybHtQ

[PLuto]

Dont forget to make pickems ;)

[Mirek]

Video: https://youtu.be/i_Qea8ybHtQ

Thanks, that road looks very much like Semetín stage from Barum, maybe somewhat smoother but otherwise very similar.

[Mirek]

Brynildsen, Habaj a Zawada excused themselves.

Here goes Brynildsen's big talks about taking the title...

[Jarek Z]

Some very bad news today. Szeja brothers had a serious accident on test. According to the information from local press both were seriously injured (fortunately their lives shall not be in danger) and had to be airlifted to the hospital using two helicopters. One of them was stuck in the car and had to be cut out. The accident happened near Mladá Boleslav on a former Rally Bohemia stage.

Szeja brothers have confirmed that they will miss Barum Rally, but are already working on a return to regular rallying already this year.

[Kestask]

Thanks, that road looks very much like Semetín stage from Barum, maybe somewhat smoother but otherwise very similar.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmwQoH3HSvJ/ onboard from Lukyanuk

[TWRC]

Looking at the forecast again at yr.no, it's gotten worse, and seems like we'll be getting quite low temps and a lot of rain during the rally...
https://www.yr.no/place/Czech_Republic/Zl%C3%ADn/Zl%C3%ADn/long.html

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Ingram tweet including helmet-cam (?) from PET...

https://twitter.com/ChrisIngramGB/status/1032673606562709504

[Fast Eddie WRC]

U-28 pre-event quotes:

https://www.fia.com/news/erc-2018-fia-erc-junior-under-28-championship-pre-event-quotes

Ingram: "You need the confidence to attack those bumps, it’s a rally that rewards big balls. You’ve got to be braver here than on any other rally I’ve done.” :cool:

[PLuto]

Scrutineering passed, now it is time for free practice and shakedown.

[dimviii]

shakedown times
https://rally-base.com/2018/barum-czech-rally-zlin-2018/?ssGroupId=3

[tc10a]

Qualifying Top-10:
01. Gryazin 2:50.026
02. Kopecky +0.047
03. Kreim +0.157
04. Lukyanuk +0.349
05. Sordo +1.150
06. Herczig +2.068
07. Jakes +2.263
08. Odlozilik +2.487
09. Ingram +2.683
10. Pech +2.895

Gryazin in front of Kopecky and especially Kreims pace after already a very good Rallye Deutschland (puncture prevented top result) looks very promising. Already quite a margin after top 5 for the short stage.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Impressive times from Gryazin and Kreim.

Not such a good time in QS for Ingram but at least he has some local support ! ;)

https://i.imgur.com/7TJTOjG.jpg

[Antreas]

any local tv for live stage?

[tc10a]

The predicted bad weather has arrived - heavy raining now on webcams in Zlin area.

[dimviii]

https://www.ewrc.cz/images/2018/photos/barum_czech_rally_zlin_2018/jje_d3s_7682.jpg

https://www.ewrc.cz/foto/45657-barum-czech-rally-zlin-2018/496/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

any local tv for live stage?

Last year there was a stream on YouTube. Maybe one this time, have to see.
Local TV just has 5 min reports.

https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/sport/moto/rallye/379859-rozjizdi-se-barum-rallye-kopeckeho-kralovani-chce-ukoncit-sordo/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Shakedown & Interview with Sordo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izR_VFRmNwQ

[Mirek]

There was a huge rain indeed but now the roads are already dry again. New rain possible later tonight...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Others are in Qualifying order but Kreim chose to start 15th...

[RS]

Gryazin onboard from qualifying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INyrTGdoc-Y

[the sniper]

Well now I'm even more curious about the Rhys Yates/Monster Energy situation... Looking at the Shakedown videos, he's got the same livery, but the Monster logos have gone and are replaced by his usual Brettex (family business?) sponsorship! The original ERC tweet about it has also been deleted: https://twitter.com/FIAERC/status/1031828248169275393

Maybe it was just to advertise the potential sponsorship opportunity to Monster...? Maybe PLuto can find out what's gone on here?

[dimviii]

Others are in Qualifying order but Kreim chose to start 15th...


Special M.
‏

Fabian Kreim surprisingly didn't come to road position choice.That means much worse conditions for him tmrw.
#barumrally

[Mirek]

Others are in Qualifying order but Kreim chose to start 15th...

He didn't chose that. He just didn't arrive in time...

[dimviii]

Passats DeCanto video
https://youtu.be/pwy6SHLDVhI

[Fast Eddie WRC]

He didn't chose that. He just didn't arrive in time...

Could be a big mistake...

[Mirek]

Prokop with his Dakar car as a zero car on the city stage.

[RS]

Erc qualifying: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hlC0Vv7Bdcc

[Mirek]

Rain coming again...

[dimviii]

lol

Q:
What do you know about Barum Czech Rally Zlín? Did you get any information from your Hyundai team-mates, given that Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen have both started here in the past?

DS:
The only information I had was 'don’t go there'! Everybody talks about it being a difficult rally. I can see it has difficult stages. They're really nice but for fighting for victories and driving really fast, it's quite difficult. It looks like with this [rainy] weather it will even more difficult and also with the local specialists. Jan [Kopecký] is really, really fast here. It will be a big challenge.

https://www.fia.com/news/erc-pre-event-press-conference-transcript-0

[Mirek]

Rain seems to be gone. The road is drying.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Sordo lost time with a puncture on SS1.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Kreim and Magalhaes also with slow times, even behind Sordo !

[Jarek Z]

So many problems already on the show city stage?

Sordo : puncture
Herczig : double puncture
Jakeš : hit something, puncture?
Černý : stopped in the stage
Nucita : rear wheel damage
Tempestini : accident in SS1, hit a wheel
Klausz : puncture
Brož : puncture - stopped in the stage
Kamenec : puncture

Paulo Nobre hates it all :)
"To be honest, I hated it, it is important for the public, we should do it. We are here, didn´t make any mistake, we will continue tomorrow."

[Mirek]

Most of that happened on the same place where I was (Tommeke too). It's a very short cobblestone section. One of the very first historic cars ripped off the first cobblestone and that started a domino. In the end there was like 5-6 meters of missing cobblestones. The marshals kept removing the free ones but it was still growing larger and larger. Nearly all punctures happened here so did an accident of Brož.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Watching videos of the Historics they were a bit crazy at times with cars lapping close behind each other while others were doing doughnuts for the fans. Is this a serious rally or a show ?

[Mirek]

There are two groups. Part of the historics drive only for show. Part is doing a normal rally. It's a tradition and there has never been an accident from that since 2006 when the city stage was first run.

[Mirek]

Weather now... Light rain keeps coming, roads are fully wet. The rain shall be gone in about half an hour. It shall stay cloudy with some possible showers especially for the last stage if today.

[Mirek]

Small offs for Ingram and Jakeš according to Tommeke. I am on another place. Sordo looked quite slow honestly and the ALS sounded strange.

By the way several Fabias with Vančík engine have really loud and nice sound!

[Mirek]

Yates was also off at Tommeke's place.

[RS]

Kopecky has problems with GPS system.. can someone explain why this is a problem? Is it not just for safety tracking?

[Mirek]

Probably some annoying alarm sound or something.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Bad start for Ingram and Yates but a long way to go...

[Fiat-131-Abarth]

Neubauer again very slow

[Fiat-131-Abarth]

Mirek do you know why Julian Wagner didn't start into the Rallye yesterday.

[Mirek]

He had some problems with engine on QS.

[dimviii]

what cheating did he talks?
Gryazin Nikolay - Fedorov Yaroslav
"It was very slippery, at some places there was wet tarmac. We are driving good and trying not to take any risks. It is difficult to go through, also because of cheating from other guys but OK." / "Místy je to mokré, snažíme se neriskovat."

[Mirek]

Nucita had a big crash. I don't know how to add a photo from phone.

[Mirek]

what cheating did he talks?
Gryazin Nikolay - Fedorov Yaroslav
"It was very slippery, at some places there was wet tarmac. We are driving good and trying not to take any risks. It is difficult to go through, also because of cheating from other guys but OK." / "Místy je to mokré, snažíme se neriskovat."

Probably meaning that there is some dirt in places from possible illegal recce. I din't know what else he could mean.

[RS]

Kopecky went off, or puncture?

Edit: slow puncture

[dimviii]

By the way several Fabias with Vančík engine have really loud and nice sound!

is he allowed to use different mapping from works programm?

[dimviii]

Kopecky went off, or puncture?

Edit: slow puncture

puncture


edit
(4 - Kopecký Jan / Dresler Pavel): front left slow puncture

[dimviii]

Pech lost wheel

[Mirek]

is he allowed to use different mapping from works programm?

I think yes.

Pech out due to problem with wheel hub before SS3!

[dimviii]

(4 - Kopecký Jan / Dresler Pavel): I don´t know, maybe we were pushing too much and hit something, maybe there was a stone after we hit a wall.

[dimviii]

Kopecky 17,8sec from Luky.Nothing lost if he can gain 2-3 sec per stage.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Sounds like very tricky wet muddy conditions... anything can happen.

[dimviii]

Kopecky puncture
https://twitter.com/FIAERC/status/1033275780493664256

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Ingram really struggling, lost confidence and cant afford a crash due to low budget... :(

[RS]

Good time by Mares.

[dimviii]

Nucita

https://www.ewrc-results.com/quickp/45657_39970192_1983619768361567_155994251572805632 _n.jpg

https://scontent.fbud2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39997232_10212032909448429_5562257410262827008_o.j pg?_nc_cat=0&oh=d4277780d52e1cca5ab5d2088658a84d&oe=5C04833A

[dimviii]

FIA ERC

We're hearing that Stage 4 will be delayed due to the huge amount of spectators. More info as soon as we get them.
#FIAERC #GotTalentProveIt #BarumRally

[dimviii]

from rally-base

Stage was delayed for 27 minutes.

[Jarek Z]

Neubauer again very slow

Be careful when criticising him. I was almost banned on this forum for saying such things :)

[Jarek Z]

Bad news for Britain. Rhys Yates crashed on SS4 and is out of the rally.

[Jarek Z]

Good time by Mares.

So maybe Kopecky is right when he says that Mares has big balls? :D

Finally, there is a young Czech driver – Filip Mares – who is showing lots of promise. What do you think of his performances so far and potential for the future?
“I hope, I really hope because in Czech we are missing some young talent to fight with me or with Pech. Hopefully he’s the next one. He’s doing really good steps, he’s learning from rally to rally. For sure Barum will be difficult for him but if he has big motivation, big balls you can do some good times on the Barum Rally for sure.”

source:
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc-qa-jan-kopecky-2/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Lukyanuk not pushing at all but fastest on SS4. Magalhaes cant get near him.

[Ucci]

Ingram really struggling, lost confidence and cant afford a crash due to low budget... :(

Sometimes it is good to be on a low budget. Because driver takes different approach, no 101% pushing; which is in this weather conditions one way to retirement.
He wil have enouhg opportunities to push....

[Jarek Z]

Lukyanuk not pushing at all but fastest on SS4. Magalhaes cant get near him.

Because he is driving on ice ;)
" I have never seen something so slippery in my entire carreer as the last section of this stage. I had two moments so I had to be careful."

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Bad news for Britain. Rhys Yates crashed on SS4 and is out of the rally.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DlcCT8SW0AAgBfP.jpg:large

[dimviii]

Lukyanuk not pushing at all but fastest on SS4. Magalhaes cant get near him.

never could get near him.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

never could get near him.

Exactly, but in the Championship just 9 pts behind...

Would be a farce if Lukyanuk didnt win the title.

[dimviii]

Mārtiņš Sesks
‏
Traffic jam before SS4 - 24 min delay due to oil on the road.
Everything is for us so far, but we are ready for new challenges if track starts to dry
#FIAERC #BarumRally

photo
https://twitter.com/MSesks/status/1033295608977797120

[dimviii]

Exactly, but in the Championship just 9 pts behind...

Would be a farce if Lukyanuk didnt win the title.

i dont care about championship,i want to see fights,and Magalhaes cant provide any fight, at any rally,even he is competing non stop for years.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Gryazin is going really well. Is there any chance he can do the remaining events and challenge for the U28 title ?

Only the best 4 results count and he could have 3 good ones after Barum...

[Mirek]

Before the rally I promised very strong local 2wd competition and I think I was right :-)

[dimviii]

Before the rally I promised very strong local 2wd competition and I think I was right :-)

yes very good fight,pitty that Kamenec lost a lot at ss2,they would be 4 crews very tight.

ss4
Stage is stopped because of crash st.no.89.

[Mirek]

I am at start of SS5, still dry but light rain just started.

[Mirek]

Lukyanuk big moment in the second corner of the stage.

[KKS]

some people on wets ans some on dry here?

[cosmin_sb]

Kopecky recover a lot on the SS5, 13s faster that Lukyanuk

[nafpaktos]

Comments from Sordo??

[dimviii]

Comments from Sordo??

(5 - Sordo Dani / Del Barrio Carlos): There were some difficult corners and very fast sections. This stage was a little bit nicer but the other ones were tricky, very slippy, quite demanding.

[cosmin_sb]

Comments from Sordo??
Sordo: "There were some difficult corners and very fast sections. This stage was a little bit nicer but the other ones were tricky, very slippy, quite demanding." / "Tahle zkouška byla lepší, ale stejné tam byly náročné zatáčky."

[dimviii]

Broz crash
https://www.facebook.com/FiaEuropeanRallyChampionship/videos/885696241627121/

[Jarek Z]

i dont care about championship,i want to see fights,and Magalhaes cant provide any fight, at any rally,even he is competing non stop for years.

Yes, Magalhaes disappoints again. He loses almost 2 minutes to Lukyanuk after just 5 stages :/

[dimviii]

eWRC-results
‏
SS5 @barumrally stopped, probably spectator injured by stone @FIAERC

[Jarek Z]

Norbert Herczig crashed on SS5 and is out of the rally.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Slow time by Kreim and better one from Ingram who has gone ahead of him overall and also Mares in U28 ! ;)

[bomber21]

This rally is an adventure! Too many incidents!

[Ucci]

Kopecky completely humiliated other drivers on the Kudlovice stage. I would not expect such bid delays from Sordo, Gryzain, Luky, local drivers and Kreim (my god-he lost 2,5sec/km???!!), because all those drivers spend at least 2.000 competetive km/per season; and do not tell me that such mudy and slipery conditions are met for them only here??

[stefanvv]

There is local knowledge that always helps.

[Rally Power]

i dont care about championship,i want to see fights,and Magalhaes cant provide any fight, at any rally,even he is competing non stop for years.

You make it sound like he’s useless; still he’s usually ahead all the others ERC regulars wich are also unable to match Luky pace. Since the end of Peugeot Portugal team, Magalhães is a privateer running on a tight budget, almost on a rally to rally basis. With a larger budget, like Kajto had last seasons, he could risk more and try to press Luky to mistake, but he knows that a heavy crash can mean the end of the season for him. It’s not the ideal way, but to focus on reliability rather than raw speed is the only one he can take to continue on a top level series, like he wishes and deserves.

Btw, great rally so far from the top 4.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Kopecky puncture, lost 14s.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dlc3TFrXoAUOnrn.jpg

Sordo & Mares also cracked wheel rims...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

You make it sound like he’s useless; still he’s usually ahead all the others ERC regulars wich are also unable to match Luky pace. Since the end of Peugeot Portugal team, Magalhães is a privateer running on a tight budget, almost on a rally to rally basis. With a larger budget, like Kajto had last seasons, he could risk more and try to press Luky to mistake, but he knows that a heavy crash can mean the end of the season for him. It’s not the ideal way, but to focus on reliability rather than raw speed is the only one he can take to continue on a top level series, like he wishes and deserves.



It's only thanks to Seajets he's here at all.

He may do better here now:

(2 - Magalhães Bruno / Magalhães Hugo): We have good feeling now, we changed the car setup completely. It was very nice.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Wow, Kreim sets the SS6 fastest time !

[RS]

Kopecky rediscovered his puncture fetish these last two weeks :(

[WUff1]

Be careful when criticising him. I was almost banned on this forum for saying such things :)

But he´s right. He´s too nervous, we´ve seen this many times before in his career.

EDIT: Now he´s retired, a typical retirement of him ...

[Fiat-131-Abarth]

And now Neubauer crashed. Third rally in ERC third time he didn't finish leg 1

[dimviii]

Herczig
https://twitter.com/petrizzo1976/status/1033354764623462400

Sordo broken rim
https://www.ewrc-results.com/quickp/45657_dlc4j12x0aazwwz.jpg

[itix]

I'm surprised that Sordo is struggling so much. Is the i20 slow or is Sordo slow on the broken Czech tarmac?
He is a world class driver after all and I was expecting him to be way ahead by now.

[Mirek]

I am on Rajnochovice 2. It's only damp, no rain now.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Ingram slow on SS7... any info ?

[dimviii]

I'm surprised that Sordo is struggling so much. Is the i20 slow or is Sordo slow on the broken Czech tarmac?
He is a world class driver after all and I was expecting him to be way ahead by now.

for any driver,Barum its not easy,specially at these conditions.
i wait to see him at plain dry stages,if any

[itix]

for any driver,Barum its not easy,specially at these conditions.
i wait to see him at plain dry stages,if anyTrue, historically he hasn't been great in the wet.

[dimviii]

Stage is stopped, because police is going to road.

?

[Mirek]

Stage is stopped, because police is going to road.

?

Rumors that someone commited suicide next to the stage...

Anyway the stage is running again.

[itix]

Rumors that someone commited suicide next to the stage...

Anyway the stage is running again.Oh wow? Let's hope that's not true :(

[Jarek Z]

Despite suicidal tendencies the rally continues.

Roland Stengg, who is in a disappointing 9th position in ERC3, commented his performance on the side of his car :
https://www.fiaerc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/096b19af-c728-4860-b6db-1c9559ef01cb.jpg

[itix]

I have to say I'm impressed with the pace of Erik Cais.

As far as I can tell he started rallying this year, is 19, and is leading the R2s. That's impressive. No gravel events that I can find though.

Any info Mirek? His future looks bright.

[Jarek Z]

I have to say I'm impressed with the pace of Erik Cais.

As far as I can tell he started rallying this year, is 19, and is leading the R2s. That's impressive.

Yes, his stge times are impressive indeed. But he doesn't score points in ERC3, does he?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I saw Kreim had a puncture on SS8... still he beat Ingram, Sordo & Magalhaes' times !

It must've happened very slowly or very late in the stage.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DldSgfFXgAA9MG8.jpg:large

[Fiat-131-Abarth]

Very fair notional times for foreign R2 crews. Reminds me to the situation on Rallye Sumava.

[Lead]

Very nice battles going on. I wonder can Lukyanuk hold off Kopecky tomorrow.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Gryazin dropped time on the last stage. Looks like Luky v Kopecky for the win.

[Mirek]

Very fair notional times for foreign R2 crews. Reminds me to the situation on Rallye Sumava. Well done Pluto!!!!

I don't understand You. Rally Šumava decision was absolutely fair and explained enough. Here all affected ERC competitors got same time so what is wrong? Cais is not doing U27 or even ERC and is therefore irrelevant for this decision. For Your information U27 has other limitations which Cais doesn't have like fuel. He also did this stage much later on drier road.

Plus how do You know it's Pluto's decision?

[Rally Power]

I'm surprised that Sordo is struggling so much. Is the i20 slow or is Sordo slow on the broken Czech tarmac?
He is a world class driver after all and I was expecting him to be way ahead by now.

First time on the Barum and on a R5; due to that, I was expecting him to lose a bit during first loop, get even on the second and get the lead on Sunday to win, but the rain made things harder for him; 50s seems impossible to recover. Overall, the top 3 are making a fantastic job.

[nafpaktos]

Overall classification for today?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dld0EkMXcAA0wL7.jpg

[Fast Eddie WRC]

FIAERC.com
"Junior Under 28 leader Nikolay Gryazin had started the day fighting Lukyanuk and Kopecký but, seeing how treacherous conditions had been earlier, elected to back off and secure his class lead..."

Maybe Gryazin is going to fight for the U28 Title if this is correct.

[dimviii]

Sesks passed Cais at last stage for 3,7 sec.

[dimviii]

tricky ss 2
https://youtu.be/iiH-cjkmEgk

[Ucci]

Very nice battles going on. I wonder can Lukyanuk hold off Kopecky tomorrow.
If it'll be dry, yes. In wet Kopecky is faster, at least on this event.

[dimviii]

lol
https://twitter.com/FIAERC/status/1033386252253503489

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Weird how Ingram and Yates both went off in exactly the same place but no-one else.

Also Herczig's looked a nasty crash but only seen it from onboard.

[the sniper]

Good video from the Rajnochovice stage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXD-AK8sV5k

[Mirek]

Anothet accidents on videos:
https://youtu.be/qk-_uvtDeSs
https://youtu.be/9Bos_hK2k84

[Mirek]

It's been raining for hours now and the roads are completely wet now. It will likely stay like that till finish.

The first stage of today is extremely dirty in some sections. Some places close to the sand quarries look like a gravel rally. Second stage is partially mickey mouse stuff between houses and than a narrow forest road with sure cutting in places. Third stage is quite crazy one. Hi speed crests and jumps, some extremely bumpy parts, crazy high speed forest downill and a middle wide flat out section.

[HaCo]

Keep on posting updates Mirek!

[Ucci]

Anothet accidents on videos:
https://youtu.be/qk-_uvtDeSs
https://youtu.be/9Bos_hK2k84
Incredible slippery conditions.

[Mirek]

I just managed to choose a place which is good when dry but it's not dry and it's utterly boring... :D

[Mirek]

Tommeke reports Pellier off just after the start. I will be on that place in second loop.

[Mirek]

Štajf rolled on same place. Tommeke reports.

[dupanton]

Štajf rolled on same place. Tommeke reports.

With pictures:
https://scontent-bru2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40129777_10215096909808048_7240763705082773504_n.j pg?_nc_cat=0&oh=b638d1d851b822fa60525b4df1f8d9ae&oe=5BFB27DF
https://scontent-bru2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40049143_10215096909928051_5592779676956229632_n.j pg?_nc_cat=0&oh=d9dacdd60bb6ea561cb11279d3b7b338&oe=5C0054C5

[Mirek]

Stages are drying fast

[Mirek]

But light rain just started again...

[Mirek]

I just helped to pull Kamenec from a ditch :-)

[dimviii]

Luky seems to bluffing..


(1 - Lukyanuk Alexey / Arnautov Alexey): We just driving own pace. Really slippery, taking it carefuly. In these conditions I can't push.

[HaCo]

Well he’s doing very well... I don’t know if Mirek can comment on his commitment, if he’s really taking it slowly...

[dimviii]

Well he’s doing very well... I don’t know if Mirek can comment on his commitment, if he’s really taking it slowly...

i am almost 99% sure is bluffing.Mares with pirelli won the stage. Gryazin said he dont push andhe has same almost time with Luky.
Tarabus faster than Luky? hmmm..

[Mirek]

The front runners have advantage today due to having cleaner roads. It's getting dirty very fast.

[Mirek]

It seems that Hankook tyres works perfect on the wet and mud. Jakeš has them.

[KKS]

+2.6 to lead for Jan!!

[RS]

Nice close times on this stage despite being a long one. Battles between Lukyanuk/Kopecky and Gryazin/Sordo seem to be on!

[Mirek]

Knápek on Maják stage
https://www.ewrc-results.com/quickp/45657_40070524_1663745657086858_921007488253086924 8_n.jpg

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Lukyanuk HAS to think of the Championship... there's no point in risking a fight for the win now.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Ingram gained time on Kreim on that last stage... just 13s between them now.

[Mirek]

Completely mad time by Cais on Kašava!

[KKS]

and Sesks lost a lead