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?)

Quote:

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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