Czech rally news

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

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

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.

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

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

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Originally Posted by RS

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

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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.

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-bo...2021-historic/

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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

Pech retired before SS6 with gearbox oil leak.

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

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

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

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)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RS

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

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+1

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

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

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-zem...dimir-hubacek/

Francois Delecour with Alpine on Rally Pačejov!

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Originally Posted by Mirek

Francois Delecour with Alpine on Rally Pačejov!

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Great!

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-fra...zi-na-pacejov/

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

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

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

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=9cst...ture=emb_title (his last words: Awesome, that's porn! :D )

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

Onboard of Kopecký from Čečelovice, the hardest stage of the rally.
https://www.facebook.com/JanKopeckyO...0859910320952/

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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

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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?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TWRC

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?

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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.

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.

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/JanKopeckyO...3077913548617/

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

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-jed...rece-jen-bude/

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.

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

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