ERC
Sitting next to Stříteský: the ultimate ERC co-drive. By Peter MacKay
In my privileged position on the Rally.TV team, I have unique access to the remarkable human beings that take brutally potent machinery to the limit on the toughest roads in Europe.
Just seconds after the flying finish and before the driver can gather their thoughts, the door pops open and in goes the camera and I hopefully ask the question that Rally.TV viewers want to know the answer to.
The FIA European Rally Championship’s drivers are renowned for their great humour, honesty and composure. I have always found it astounding how they maintain this standard, even when things might not be going their way. When things do go well, sharing their unfiltered jubilation is a highlight of my job.
A special day in Zlín
During the 2025 Barum Czech Rally Zlín, round six of the ERC season, my towering admiration for these drivers and co-drivers progressed to a previously unfathomable level. How? A flat-out ride alongside 2024 event winner and ERC regular – Dominik Stříteský.
Unlike many TV broadcasters nowadays, I have no competitive background in the sport I cover. However, I have always been in awe of these remarkable athletes, despite having no true comprehension of what they experience behind the wheel. On a sunny Friday in Zlín, I would permanently etch that reference point deep in my brain.
Pulling the curtains back in the Interhotel Zlín, I am greeted with a glorious Czech sunrise. I choose to skip breakfast. Too many unknowns of how my body may react to the totally unfamiliar sensations that lie ahead. Nevertheless, I can’t wait to get to the service park and suit up ready for action.
Stříteský is an ERC event winner and huge talent
© ERC
Suited and booted
After a surprisingly quick change into ERC branded overalls, I walk from our TV compound to the Orsák Rally Sport service area. As silly as it may sound, when I pull on the suit and walk towards the main service park with helmet in hand, I was putting my TV life on pause and pressing play on a new exciting life as a co-driver. Even if only for a few precious hours.
I find Jaroslav Orsák’s team in relaxed tranquillity. All their drivers, including ‘my’ driver Dominik, are out on the Qualifying Stage, the same stage I would soon experience from the passenger seat. As my ever-patient producer rapidly works to install all the necessary equipment to capture every frame and word, I study the qualifying times. Then, Stříteský – 4min 24sec – fastest through so far! I beam with pride. TV Peter must always remain impartial. Co-driver Peter was about to ride with the fastest man in Zlín.
Despite the adrenaline pump of 95kph average speeds over brutally bumpy roads, Stříteský rolls into the Orsák awning and climbs out of his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 in a state of pure calm and immediately into a debrief with his engineer, Tomáš Kolečkář. There is always more time to find. These relentless professionals never stop, or they get left on the scrap heap.
In Dominik Pete trusts, MacKay was in awe of the Czech ace
© ERC
Hometown hero
For Dominik, Barum Czech Rally Zlín is the busiest and highest-pressure weekend of the year. Everyone wants a piece of the local hero. Including our TV crew. Yet, the young Czech star seamlessly transitions from fearless and ferocious rally driver to humble gentleman and consummate professional. No sighs, scowls or huffs. Just a young man displaying maturity well beyond his years.
I first interviewed Dominik on the 2023 Barum Czech Rally Zlín and he has always given concise and polite answers at stage ends. Considering English is not his mother tongue and the intense environment, this is so impressive. Yet, when we climb aboard and the doors close, I’m unprepared for what follows.
As we rumble out of service and head to the stage, I take my chance to ask Dominik all the questions which would be too long and detailed in a quick-fire stage-end interview.
The Zlín native extensively shares how his life has changed after winning his home rally and the local fame that has followed. He reveals his ambitious nature, not willing to rest on his laurels, but to progress to the ERC as 2024 Czech champion. Like any journalist, I can’t help but ask more, and Dominik answers every question eloquently and comprehensively. Short or long ratio gearbox? Geometry of the Fabia RS? Tyre pressures? Nothing seems to be off the table. However, before I can ask Dominik anymore, it’s time to prepare the Škoda for the seven-kilometre stage awaiting us. And with that, a switch flicks inside Dominik. Focus on. At first, reasonably modest acceleration, changing up the gearbox early, then standing on the brakes. And repeat, but stronger, then stronger still.
MacKay didn't want ride of his life to end
© ERC
Ready for lift-off
As we turn off the main road towards the stage, Dominik calmly hops out and adjusts all four tyre pressures before pulling on his helmet ready to continue the preparation for our run.
Thankfully I was well warned for what is about to follow. Dominik immediately accelerates flat out before weaving the Fabia back and forth, painting Michelin rubber onto the baking Czech asphalt in the process. Despite the tight five-point harness, my body thrashes back and forth in the seat. Before I can catch my breath, bang, a brutally instantaneous stop. Then, hard on the power, more weaving, and back on the brakes. And repeat. Before the stage has even begun, Dominik and the Škoda’s abilities are glaringly obvious. As if there was any doubt.
On arrival to the start line, we are met by a queue of at least 30 ERC3 and ERC4 cars waiting for their turn to head into shakedown. The courteous Czech winces as his peers scowl at the defending champion skipping through the crowds. With 10 or so cars still in front, Stříteský calls upon fellow local driver Daniel Polášek to help us slip through to the front.
Finally, after months of discussion and anticipation, it was time for my first experience of full speed in a rally car. All eyes are on us. Mainly to catch a glimpse of the local hero, but also at the lucky sod who has blagged the ride of a lifetime alongside the 2024 Barum winner.
The time is now
I blunder to hand the timecard to the patient marshal, which is promptly returned and we are ready to go. “OK. Let’s go,” says the reassuring calm Dominik. Stage mode on, revs up. As the handbrake is eased back to upright the Fabia RS catapults forward at a rate one can’t possibly calculate for a car with ‘just’ 300bhp. Approaching the right, left, right sequences, my brain calculates what an impressive speed may be, which is instantly made redundant as Dominik flicks the Škoda back and forth and leans into the seemingly fictional grip of the Michelin tyres.
Watching any rally car dip off the side of the road and cut a corner is mind blowing. The compliance of the suspension to stop the car pogoing into the scenery is remarkable. Even more impressive is the resilience that prevents the car snapping in two. As we approach a cavernous cut, again my mortal brain figures that maybe its too deep and Dominik will go round to protect his €300,000 machine. Nope, wrong again. With the throttle buried, we dive into the cut and thump the road with immense force on the way back onto terra firma. The shock comes through the floor and up through the seat, but not enough to cause pain. The Fabia barely breaks a sweat.
I’m dumbstruck by Dominik’s silky-smooth inputs and the Škoda’s seemingly boundless performance. The seven-kilometre stage is disappearing fast. Blind crests are aplenty and Stříteský has no pacenotes as I sit frozen in awe. Yet, the Czech ace takes each crest at the maximum possible speed.
After an initial sequence of slow, medium and fast corners, we go flat out over another crest. On the horizon, at the bottom of a long, downhill straight, hoards of fans eagerly await the arrival of their hero, and some bloke from the telly.
FIA Safety Delegate Benjamin Schmidt checks in on MacKay after run
© ERC
Maximum velocity
As we rapidly approach, we shift quickly into fifth gear and rattle off the rev limiter at maximum velocity. There is no speedometer, but this is likely to be in excess of 180kph, even with the shorter ratio gearbox that Dominik has chosen over a longer ratio option at a previous comparison test.
Hurtling towards a sharp left corner, a long stretch of dark tyre marks signals the range of braking points. As we approach this supposed stopping zone, Dominik is still flat to the floor. The downhill left is now really close and only then does Stříteský stand on the brakes with the deft precision of a surgeon and the aggression of a kick boxer.
A hairpin quickly arrives, surrounded by cheering fans. Once again, Stříteský stands on the brakes very briefly, but sharply. Approaching the apex of the corner, a tiny nip on the handbrake instantly tweaks the rear around, but not fully pointing in the desired direction. Again, my simple brain considers that one must wait on the car rotating before smoothly applying the power and up the hill. However, Dominik and his Škoda live in a different universe. The instant the handbrake is tweaked, Stříteský has already began burying throttle. In a standard road car with ordinary driver, this would usually instigate major understeer. Not the Fabia RS. As the differential, tyre and chassis appear to perform black magic, the Škoda catapults out the corner and up the hill, leaving the delirious fans delighting in its wake.
In awe of an ERC star
I’m still revelling in everything Dominik and his car do. Not wishing for the run to end. Into the village, the stage is nearly done. A highly technical section follows with lots of direction change and nasty curbs waiting to rip off wheels in an instant. Once again, Dominik dances his machine harmoniously around each perilous obstacle. My imagination briefly imagines the worst as we thread between houses and brick walls, but quickly resets to factory settings of trusting Dominik implicitly. And in a blink, the yellow boards appear, then the red boards. It’s over.
“Dominik you are a master!,” I blurt. What do you say to a driver who has just shown you behind a curtain of another world?
As we pull up at the stop line, all I want to know is the time. I knew 4m24s was Dominik’s dominant qualifying time, but what could he do with no pacenotes and a significantly heavier co-driver? “What was the time,” I ask anxiously. “4m27s,” comes the reply from the stop line marshals who hand me a timecard which I shall guard with my life.
No need for a sickbag despite flat-out charge
© ERC
Driving away from the stop line, I ask Dominik how he could be so quick without pacenotes. He had already memorised every corner after three competitive runs and two passes on the recce. Rally drivers really do operate in an unimaginable sphere to everyone else.
On the drive back to service in Otrokovice, I ask more about Dominik’s immediate plans in the ERC and the strategy for the future. However, before long we are already pulling into the Orsák service and it’s all over. Tomáš from Orsák opens the door and smiles as I return with a wide eyed expression of joy and amazement in equal measure. I try to climb out without embarrassment and see my wonderful ERC colleagues waiting to hear about my experience. I make an attempt to sound intelligent in my feedback, but I’m just blown away. It will take some time to digest it all.
Despite the soaring temperatures, I don’t want to take off ‘my’ ERC branded Alpinestars suit. I feel like one of the fraternity. Once the suit comes off, it’s over. Eventually, I prize myself out of the fireproof overalls and in an instant I’m teleported back to normal. When will I experience such a high again? Who knows, but I’m so lucky to have peeked into the enthralling fiefdom of the rally driver. I’ll never forget it.
Watch Peter MacKay's ultimate co-drive by clicking HERE.
With special thanks to Tomáš Kolečkář, Ladislav Kučera, Jaroslav Orsák, Jan Regner, Benjamin Schmidt, Dominik Stříteský, all the Orsák Rally Sport team, the volunteer marshals who worked so hard without financial reward to make Barum Czech Rally Zlín happen, and to Petr ‘Pluto’ Linhart, without whom none of this would have been possible.
