ERC
Březík in the Zlín zone to lead ultra-close ERC contest
Adam Březík heads Barum Czech Rally Zlín by 3.3sec after a flat-out charge through Saturday’s opening three stages in his pursuit of home FIA European Rally Championship glory.
Third after Friday night’s ever-spectacular Zlín super special, the Hankook-equipped Škoda driver moved firmly into contention by going second quickest through SS3, the 25.59-kilometre Troják run, to take third overall.
And it would get better for the Kresta Racing driver when he mastered the tight and twisty Bunč stage – which comes complete with a gravel section – to perfection to take his maiden fastest time of the event and climb from third to first.
“When we went to the finish I felt like we drove too slow and I don’t know how to be faster,” Březík said. “Anyway, the time is good, so we are happy. Sometimes it's better to go through than push.”
Jan Kopecký
© ERC
Jan Kopecký, driving a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 on Michelin tyres, shared the joint fastest time with Filip Mareš on Saturday’s opener, despite Mareš suffering a high-speed slide a handful of corners from the finish.
Mareš then outgunned the 12-time Zlín winner on SS3 by 1.1sec to move into the lead of his home round of the ERC, even though he completed the 25.59-kilometre Troják stage with his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 sporting front-left wheel rim damage.
Having reported his Fabia’s set-up was too stiff for SS3 and too soft for SS4, Kopecký was able to overtake Mareš on Bunč after the erstwhile leader slowed in response to a faulty onboard alert. Having lost 11.7sec, Mareš dropped to fifth, 8.6sec down on leader Březík and 2.1sec behind Andrea Mabellini in fourth.
Filip Mareš
© ERC
After winning Friday evening’s Zlín super special, Mabellini started Saturday’s action 1.6sec in front. But when the Pirelli-equipped Lancia driver could do no better than ninth on SS2 due to a pop-off valve issue, the lead was lost as defending ERC champion Miko Marczyk moved into top spot by 0.4sec after he went third quickest on SS2 before later slipping back. With four stages run, Marczyk is a strong third, 3.5sec behind Kopecký.
European championship leader Teemu Suninen is sixth, with Jakub Matulka seventh and Erik Cais eighth.
Simone Tempestini, who is opening the road for Team MRF Tyres, reported a brief run through a ditch on a first-right corner on SS3, which left his Fabia RS Rally2 with a damaged rear spoiler. The multiple Romanian champion is ninth overall, nevertheless, one place ahead of Simon Wagner, who overshot a junction on SS3 and had to reverse.
Behind Jaromír Tarabus in 11th, Václav Pech was delayed by a visit into a ditch and a front-left puncture on SS3 but holds 12th. Roberto Blach, Filip Kohn and Hungarian champion Gábor Német round out the top 15. Lucas Zielinski (Renault Clio Rally3) and Tom Heindrichs (Opel Corsa Rally4) lead FIA ERC3 and FIA ERC4/Junior ERC respectively.
Following an accident involving the crew of car 7, William Creighton and Liam Regan, SS4 was interrupted and subsequently cancelled with competitors taking an alternative route to the midday service halt in Otrokovice. Event organisers confirmed that both crew were taken to hospital in Zlín for checks and medical assistance.
The 55th running of Barum Czech Rally Zlín is due to continue with the repeat of the 12.51-kilometre Pohořelice stage from 14:52 local time.
Watch the action live on Rally.TV and follow all the news, stage times and results via the Live Centre.
