ERC
No repeat ERC win as Stříteský hits triple trouble
Dominik Stříteský’s bid for back-to-back Barum Czech Rally Zlín victories is over after the local ace retired from his home round of the FIA European Rally Championship.
Stříteský, at the wheel of a Michelin-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, retired after damaging three tyres when he ran through a chicane 14.06 kilometres into the 17.67-kilometre Halenkovice stage, the second of the morning and the third of the event.
“Over a chicane and the kerb and it was done,” he said. “I was just too late on the brakes and missed the corner.”
Despite the triple deflation, Stříteský was 8.8sec slower than leader Jan Kopecký but slipped from fourth to sixth overall, 11.6sec adrift of first place. However, with insufficient replacement tyres, Stříteský was forced to retire his Auto Podbabská Škoda PSG ACCR Team entry.
Chris Ingram, the 2019 ERC champion, was also in trouble during SS3. After starting nine minutes late, the Briton was forced to nurse his Team MRF Tyres-entered Fabia to the finish with “no powersteering”. He also reported the steering rack was “definitely bent”.
The first run of the Bunč stage is due to begin at 11:54 local time.
