Czech mates assemble to keep home ERC win record intact

While Barum benchmark Jan Kopecký, the 2013 ERC champion, is responsible for nine of the wins since Juho Hänninen became the last non-Czech to win the asphalt event in 2012, Václav Pech took first place in 2014 and will be eligible for the main ERC-counting international event following his switch from World Rally Car to Rally2 technology for next week’s 53rd edition.   

As well as Škoda stalwart Kopecký, who is chasing victory number 12 in Zlín, and double winner Pech, an eight-time Czech champion, ERC regulars Erik Cais and Filip Mareš (pictured below), Czech championship leader Domink Stříteský, fellow youngster Adam Březík, plus Aleš Jirásek, have all signed up for action along with compatriot Martin Vlček.   

The non-Czech contingent is vast with Jon Armstrong (Ireland), Mathieu Franeschi (France), Efrén Llarena (Spain), Andrea Mabellini (Italy), Miko Marczyk (Poland), Hermann Neubauer (Austria), Hayden Paddon (New Zealand), Simone Tempestini (Romania) and Simon Wagner (Austria) among the expected challengers. Mads Østberg is also entered but his participation is not confirmed following his crash on last month’s Rally di Roma Capitale, which left the Norwegian and his Swedish co-driver Patrik Barth requiring hospital treatment.

Philip Allen, Jakub Jirovec, Jarosław Koltun, Martin László, Amaury Molle and Albert von Thurn und Taxis complete the Rally2 line-up.  

Home hero Filip Kohn (pictured below) will be aiming to secure the inaugural ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy title on the fifth and final round of the series from M-Sport Poland, on an event the Prague resident has yet to tackle. He’s set to face opposition from season-long rivals Kerem Kazaz, Martin Ravenščak and Igor Widłak.   

The quartet is eligible for FIA ERC3 honours along with Renault Clio Rally3-powered teenagers Hubert Kowalczyk and Aleksandar Tomov, plus Fiesta Rally3-mounted Róbert Kolčák from Slovakia.

Junior ERC frontrunner Max McRae is entered in FIA ERC4 along with Junior championship rivals Patrik Herczig and Daniel Polášek, a Barum Czech Rally Zlín ambassador.   

Hungarian Márton Bertalan will look to build on his Rally di Roma Capitale ERC4 podium, while wheelchair user Ciprian Lupu is set for his first appearance in Zlín after scoring his maiden ERC4 points in Rome. Ekaterina Stratieva is preparing for her 15th Barum Czech Rally Zlín start having also claimed ERC4 points last time out. Réne Dohnal, the winner of the 2023 FIA European Rally Trophy, completes the entry.  

Barum Czech Rally Zlín takes place from 16 - 18 August. Click HERE for the entry list.  

Download entry list (PDF)