Fri 16 Aug 2024
Simon Wagner leads Barum Czech Rally Zlín by a slender margin of 0.8sec after he went fastest on the spectacular event-opening super special stage through the streets of host city Zlín tonight.
With tens of thousands of fans lining the 9.57-kilometre test, the four-time Austrian champion set a benchmark time of 7min 05.5sec to edge out Czech pair Adam Březík and Jan Kopecký in the process.
Erik Cais, another home hero, equalled Březík’s time – despite reporting a bout of understeer – only for a 20sec penalty to drop him down to 17th overall in the provisional FIA European Rally Championship order.
SSS Zlín covers three laps of an ultra-challenging layout, which features a section through a bus terminal and railway crossing.
Following his pacesetting effort, Michelin-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver Wagner said: “It’s incredible, so many spectators. Unbelievable, maybe I did some mistakes, the next few days are going to be crazy.”
Behind Kopecký, who is chasing a record-extending 12th Barum Czech Rally Zlín victory, Hankook-equipped Czech championship leader Domink Stříteský was fifth quickest followed by Andrea Mabellini (MRF Tyres) and Toyota-powered Filip Mareš, another Hankook-shod contender.
Efrén Llarena was eighth quickest with Miko Marczyk ninth and Mathieu Franceschi edging out ERC title rival and defending champion Hayden Paddon, who was the fastest of the Pirelli-equipped runners in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2.
Renault Clio Rally3 driver Hubert Kowalczyk was fastest in FIA ERC3, one place and 5.6sec ahead of Filip Kohn, who set the pace in the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy.
In FIA ERC4 Márton Bertalan proved the driver to beat, going 1.4sec ahead of fellow Hungarian Peugeot 208 Rally4 driver Patrik Herczig.
Barum Czech Rally Zlín resumes tomorrow (Saturday) with the 12.73-kilometre Březová stage from 08:58 local time.
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