[ERC] Barum Czech Rally Zlín 2025

[PLuto]

It is time to start topic [ERC] Barum Czech Rally Zlín 2025

[Jarek Z]

How do you like this year's merchandise? ;)

https://www.visitrally.com/barumrally/merchandise/274/women-s-thong-bcrz.html

https://www.visitrally.com/barumrally/merchandise/131/men-s-boxers.html

[Jarek Z]

Effren Llarena said he would like to go to Barum, but it's not sure:
https://www.fiaerc.com/en/news/boss-%E2%80%9Chappy%E2%80%9D-as-llarena-racing-opens-erc-scoring-account-

[Andre Oliveira]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GxhSW2tWoAAIaar?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GxhSW2pXUAAapDY?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GxhSW2pXcAIWnZY?format=jpg&name=large

[Andre Oliveira]

National field here

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GxhZrGmXMAAzM9G?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GxhZrGjXQAAfNIB?format=jpg&name=large

[Jarek Z]

Chris Ingram joins MRF Tyres team!
https://www.fiaerc.com/en/news/erc-chris-ingram-joins-team-mrf-tyres

[WRC1]

no Korhonen, no Verstappen, no Gryazin :(

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Chris Ingram joins MRF Tyres team!
https://www.fiaerc.com/en/news/erc-chris-ingram-joins-team-mrf-tyres

Brilliant news for Czech Rally Zlin and for the remaining 2025 ERC events. Let's go Chris !

[PLuto]

Invitation from Adam Březík


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxsFxSodF3Y

[PLuto]

Invitation from Dominik Stříteský


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0oM9H3T25s

[saco0o]

always nice to have ingram on the events! i'd cheer for him but at this point it became literally IMPOSSIBLE to beat the czechs in czechia.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Mixi Csomos also back with Team MRF...

https://www.fiaerc.com/en/news/more-mixi-time-as-team-mrf-tyres-bolsters-erc-attack

[PLuto]

Daniel Polasek and his invitation to Barum Czech Rally Zlín

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnLI3wb1RPw

[PLuto]

If you are going to attend Barum Czech Rally Zlín, this interactive map can be helpful - https://www.czechrally.com/wcd/maps/index.html

[Fast Eddie WRC]

no Korhonen, no Verstappen, no Gryazin :(

And now Ostberg has withdrawn due to co-driver health issues. :(

[PLuto]

Some videos from pre-event tests

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCKFCiXMLJk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an5RIqoZ4eQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHHrlsTdpFU

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Is this why I never see Jon Armstrong on a fan PET video ?

https://www.facebook.com/100058176994748/posts/1147410490541507/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

[Jarek Z]

Phillip Allen is ready :)
https://www.facebook.com/RallyTroll/videos/1480314323060225/

[Jarek Z]

Irish driver Craig Rahill switches to Lancia:
https://www.fiaerc.com/en/news/why-lancia-switch-is-an-%E2%80%9Chonour%E2%80%9D-for-junior-erc-star-rahill

[saco0o]

ingram saying this event is more like a preparation for the last 2 rounds.
good, good! hope for a cool result in the uk round

[Doon]

So confused, what time is the stage tonight UK time? Is it really starting at 11pm Czechia time?

[saco0o]

two livecams showing part of the special stage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFzrdAXZAOo
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzt5AgWGTyM

[WRCStan]

two livecams showing part of the special stage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFzrdAXZAOo
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzt5AgWGTyM

2 windows side-by-side, I paused one to get it in sync. Happy days.

[jcevc]

What is going on, stage interupted and two ambulance went on stage?

[dimviii]

Csomos accident at ss 1

[Morte66]

Well, I really enjoyed this rally last year, so I'm looking forward to this. Hoping for Mabellini to gain points on Marczyk in the championship, and for my favourite Czeck Cais to go really fast.

So far, looking ok.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Csomos accident at ss 1

And puncture for Ingram losing 2 mins. A bad start for MRF cars.

Also Stritesky with 3 punctures !!

[Jarek Z]

https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/90406-barum-czech-rally-zlin-2025/ say that Ingram has a power steering problem.

[Jarek Z]

A bad start for MRF cars.

Yes, also Tempestini hit a tree and damaged suspension already on SS2!

[Morte66]

For all the rally.tv talk, I'm not sure if the first cars are cleaning this road or just moving the mess around.

[Morte66]

Quite a stage from Armstrong. I was ready to celebrate Mabellini's stage win, and Armstrong took 4s out of him.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Amazing time by Jon Armstrong, showing how quick he and the Fiesta can be when all are working properly!

[Jarek Z]

Csomos accident at ss 1

Yes, again:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/media/90406-barum-czech-rally-zlin-2025/4597/
https://www.ewrc-results.com/media/90406-barum-czech-rally-zlin-2025/4596/

[Jarek Z]

So many witdrawals already:
Csomos
Tempestini
Stritesky
and now also Kohn:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/media/90406-barum-czech-rally-zlin-2025/4598/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Philip Allen off road... as expected.

https://www.ewrc-results.com/quickp/90406_531723337_1560624724915448_11795763739202016 85_n.jpg

Roll-cage damaged so he's out.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

10 sec covers the Top 5... fantastic battle with one stage to go today and maybe some weather changing...

[saco0o]

haha we cheer too much for Armstrong eh? but still i dont think hes ready to get top results. hes getting better for sure
GOJON!

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Wagner nightmare ! What a shame he got that puncture while he was so fast and heading for the lead. :(

[Morte66]

With sympathy to Wagner... it's kind of funny how the rally.tv people talked about how fast he was going and how his split made him the rally leader, and then the camera cut to the front of his car.

Don't be a rally commentator. Reality will make a fool of you.

Edit: but it's the end of the last stage, the car is moving, he can get it fixed, and he's still in a very good position in the rally.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

haha we cheer too much for Armstrong eh? but still i dont think hes ready to get top results. hes getting better for sure
GOJON!

Yeahhhh... SECOND OVERALL !

[Morte66]

Ah, Cais... Self-inflicted, but sad. At least it's the end of the day and he should be back tomorrow. Which is good, because I need him to stay in front of Marczyk.

[saco0o]

Yeahhhh... SECOND OVERALL !

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU** YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
he was P4 in the beggining of the loop, whoooa! haha go go go boyyyzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Another great time by Armstrong on SS9, only Master Kopecky was faster, and strengthening his 2nd place.

[Jarek Z]

Irish driver Craig Rahill switches to Lancia:
https://www.fiaerc.com/en/news/why-lancia-switch-is-an-%E2%80%9Chonour%E2%80%9D-for-junior-erc-star-rahill

And what a debut it is! He is leading ERC4 category after SS10:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/90406-barum-czech-rally-zlin-2025/?s=501373&sct=1848

https://img.redbull.com/images/c_crop,w_5000,h_2500,x_0,y_833/c_auto,w_1200,h_630/f_auto,q_auto/redbullcom/2025/8/16/wyihdhev4akhryp1ac4i/craig-rahill-juniorerc

[Jarek Z]

Philip Allen off road... as expected.

I don't know if it is visible outside of Facebook, but here are some videos from Allen's crash:
https://www.facebook.com/100067943257763/videos/pcb.30795295076782333/756379916936868
https://www.facebook.com/100067943257763/videos/pcb.30795295076782333/1467665104245861
https://www.facebook.com/100067943257763/videos/pcb.30795295076782333/649027687642960

[Jarek Z]

Precision is important in this job :)

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1120622683503755&set=a.590926899806672

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Precision is important in this job :)

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1120622683503755&set=a.590926899806672

Super-precise ...

https://x.com/FIAERC/status/1956662266129952911

[Fast Eddie WRC]

6.0s gap between 2nd Armstrong & 3rd Mabellini with 1 stage to go. Come on Jon !

[Morte66]

Oh I think Armstrong has got 2nd and Mabellini 3rd, barring mistakes. It's about PS points vs risk-of-DNF from here.

Good speed from Armstrong in this rally, but that's not really news. I think the question for him is more: does he stay on the road enough for somebody to fund him in WRC2 yet?

Mabellini, though looks like ERC is his home and I'm hoping he's a future ERC champion.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I hope you're right about Armstrong. I haven't felt so nervous for an ERC rally finale since Chris Ingram in 2019.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Fantastic 2nd Place for Jon Armstrong in the good old M-Sport Fiesta ! So happy for him and the team. :)

[Morte66]

Fantastic 2nd Place for Jon Armstrong in the good old M-Sport Fiesta ! So happy for him and the team. :)

Enjoy!

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Armstrong's 2nd Overall to the Barum Rally legend Kopecky is amazing.

Beating all the 2025 ERC regulars is a huge achievement on this super-tough event.

[saco0o]

well let me bite my toungue really hard today!
GO JON! that was cool

[dimviii]

https://www.ewrc.cz/images/2025/photos/barum-czech-rally-zlin_2025/mfe_l56a9796.jpg

[Jarek Z]

Provisional standings after Barum (2 rounds to go):
1. Marczyk - 122
2. Mabellini - 111
3. Armstrong - 81
4. Ostberg - 76
5. Korhonen - 60
6. Reiersen - 60

[Jarek Z]

Highlights from the last day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z1QNIWFqWI

[saco0o]

WHAT? jon can actually win the title?? (sure, it depends on some catastrophic results from miko and mabelini)
well let me hope for those two NOT doing uk then.... lol

[TWRC]

And the Loeb of the East makes it again. Congrats to Kopecky for a faultless drive, it was nice to see how much it still means to Jan after 11 wins to get another. Also, very well done to all 3 young drivers (Armstrong, Mabellini, Wagner) for very strong results. Happy for Cais as well, shame for his time loss.
As far as Mixi goes, I think it is time to have a coach or stop. I think he was somewhat unlucky this time (they said they felt a puncture before hitting the anticut on the inside, then the tyre popped off the rim), but before all this, he hit the tunnel wall as well...

[PLuto]

It was amazing event, after many years with stable weather, so not so much tyre lottery like usually. Everybody was pushing from beginning till the end. And, of course, it was also about punctures. But as lot of people predicted it will be "Open version of Czech championship", it wasnt. Local drivers were beaten by foreigners and only Kopecky saved czech drivers to be on podium. And in Top 10 there is more drivers from abroad than czech ones...

[PLuto]

Saturday video with some crashes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBLC8thyolU

[PLuto]

Mistake of Tempestini and his reason for retirement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkRMw-TX81I

[PLuto]

Very badly crashed car of Jaspar Vaher

https://i.imgur.com/3040Wrol.jpeg

[PLuto]

Mixi

https://i.imgur.com/MQzEafTl.jpeg

[PLuto]

Allen

https://i.imgur.com/REdyjYpl.jpeg

[PLuto]

Mixi in the tunnel

https://i.imgur.com/mO9taHyl.jpeg

[PLuto]

Accident of Jan Kundlak - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3az2R7Na58s

[PLuto]

Accident of Philip Allen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6diEfVV5Wc

[Jarek Z]

- How many more Barum wins have you got in you?
- I don't know... Ask me next year!

https://www.facebook.com/DirtFishRally/posts/pfbid02zH8a8eK5fudAL28afvfH6WN6wLy4QbPcNayXQ9TN7dN qSHKH2hEFTZFcybKSH73wl

:)

[giu canbera]

FIA ERC continues to be the highlight of the year when it comes to Rallying! Impressive season again, whoa.

[PLuto]

And as usually great video of Passats de Canto - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXe1Ec8F9Ag

[Fast Eddie WRC]

It was amazing event, after many years with stable weather, so not so much tyre lottery like usually. Everybody was pushing from beginning till the end. And, of course, it was also about punctures. But as lot of people predicted it will be "Open version of Czech championship", it wasnt. Local drivers were beaten by foreigners and only Kopecky saved czech drivers to be on podium. And in Top 10 there is more drivers from abroad than czech ones...

You're right, the stable conditions made it a bit easier for the non-locals. Plus fewer punctures made for a fairer result.

I heard Andreas Mikkelsen on a podcast last week say that Barum was the toughest rally in his career and he hated the mixed surfaces and narrow roads through the trees. It just shows how difficult a rally it is or can be for less experienced crews.

DF posted an article now:
https://dirtfish.com/rally/erc/the-rally-that-daunts-its-competitors/

[ReRe]

My gallery from Barum Rally Zlín 2025:
https://eu.zonerama.com/TomasR/Album/13757522

[Jarek Z]

Kopecky is the ERC's answer to Ogier :)
https://dirtfish.com/rally/erc/the-ercs-answer-to-ogier/

[PLuto]

You're right, the stable conditions made it a bit easier for the non-locals. Plus fewer punctures made for a fairer result.

I heard Andreas Mikkelsen on a podcast last week say that Barum was the toughest rally in his career and he hated the mixed surfaces and narrow roads through the trees. It just shows how difficult a rally it is or can be for less experienced crews.

DF posted an article now:
https://dirtfish.com/rally/erc/the-rally-that-daunts-its-competitors/

I dont think that there was less punctures than usual. And not only between top drivers, but also in others (especially juniors). But of course it is very specific event. There always were drivers who were able to be fast here and also drivers, who never found "the key". It is very similar to Ypres, also unique event which suits some drivers when doesnt suit to the others. But we can say that also Canarias with its smooth and abrassive tarmac is something specific. Same like Monte Carlo with mixture of tarmac, snow and ice...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Is this why I never see Jon Armstrong on a fan PET video ?

https://www.facebook.com/100058176994748/posts/1147410490541507/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Jon Armstrong said on the recent Stage Mode podcast that he found using RBR (game) on his rally simulator was a factor in his great run in Barum resulting in 2nd Place.