Despite being saddled with a 20sec penalty, the 25-year-old had closed to within 4.2sec of leader Dominik Stříteský after seven stages of Barum Czech Rally Zlín.
But with torrential rain falling on SS8, Rajnochovice, and hard-compound tyres fitted to his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, the ACCR Orsák Rally Sport driver was powerless to prevent a substantial time loss. And by taking 41.9sec longer than Stříteský to complete the 13.19km test Cais slipped from second to fourth overall as a result.
“I knew it before the start the heavy, heavy rain is coming and sadly it came immediately we were on the startline [of SS8] and it started to increase a lot, a lot, a lot,” Cais explained. “It was huge, huge rain and for the first two kilometres I was driving under 50kph because I didn’t see nothing but when I saw the videos of the others they didn’t have it like that. Sometimes it’s better to start first [on the road], sometimes it’s worse. But I’m happy we made it through and showed our speed.”
Cais attempted to cancel out his time penalty by winning five stages in succession to close up to leader Stříteský.
“I wasn’t so focused on the time to Dominik, I was focused on the stages and I knew it could be possible to catch him. Also tomorrow are my favourite stages, Semetín and Pindula so I knew there was a big possibility to switch with Dominik. But when the rain came I knew it would be more than impossible.”
Of his tyre choice for Saturday afternoon, Cais said: “It was our mistake. We had information from the airport there would be no rain but the information wasn’t right. That’s rallysport.”
Cais starts the deciding leg of Barum Czech Rally Zlín on Sunday 46.1sec behind leader Dominik Stříteský but a slender 0.2sec adrift of Adam Březík in the race for the final podium placing. “Everything can happen tomorrow but I am a little more realistic because it’s still in the stars what we’re looking for,” Cais said. “I think big pushing is coming for tomorrow.”
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