Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Flash info after Regrouping no. 2

25. 8. 2018 - Evžen Gargulák

The crews of Barum rally have already passed second loops on stages Březová, Semetín and Rajnochovice. Before the Service Park there is only one stage left, SS Kudlovice. During regrouping in Zlín we interviewed the crews.

Nikolaj Grjazin (LVA, Škoda Fabia R5, Start. No. 9):
“On the last stage we`ll take it easy. Tomorrow we`d like to keep the pace with other U28 drivers and maintain our lead. During this day we changed the setup for more drier conditions, but in forest sections it`s still slippery and muddy.”

Jan Kopecký (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5, Start. No. 4):
“Unfortunately, in Slušovice we had puncture not only on one but two wheels. The The rally is far from over but we cannot afford to push as hard as today, because we have no more reserve tyres. I think it`s my hardest ever Barum rally.”

Alexey Lukyanuk (RUS, Ford Fiesta R5, Start. No. 1):
“It`s extremely difficult. It reminds me of Monte Carlo. There`s one more stage left to go today and we want to have a good position for tomorrow. However, weather is unpredictable.”

Daniel Sordo (ESP, Hyundai i20 R5, Start. No. 5):
“So far it`s good. Because it`s our first time here, we`re getting to know local roads. This rally is mainly about narrow section. I think we`re doing well but it`s still a long way.”

Miroslav Jakeš (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5, Start. No. 27):
“In the morning we had a puncture and we used wrong tyres. It`s a shame I made a small mistake in Rajnochovice, because we could have won. We can`t lose on the last stage and tomorrow we can get close to Sordo.”

Chris Ingram (GBR, Škoda Fabia R5, Start. No. 11):
“I still cannot get used to these conditions. I`ve experienced anything so difficult. We were lucky not to hit a big stone on SS Březová.”

Jaromír Tarabus (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5, Start. No. 21):
“We used tyres for drier conditions but maybe softer would have been better. We made it here without any major complications. It`s one more stage and the whole day on Sunday.”

Orhan Avcioglu (TUR, Škoda Fabia R5, Start. No. 19):
”SS Rajnochovice was quite difficult, it was slippery and dangerous. It`s our first time here, we cannot forget that. We`re doing what we can. On some stages we`re able to keep up, but not on all of them. We have to work on that. We`d like to make it into the top ten. But that`s a long way there from the 20th place.”

Filip Mareš (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5, Start. No. 18):
”In Rajnochovice we finished just behind Jan Kopecký and that makes us very happy. In Slušovice we had some issues. We had to switch onto harder tyres and that slowed us down.”

Bruno Magalhães (PRT, Škoda Fabia R5, Start. No. 2):
“It`s one of the most difficult rallies in my life. It`s really crazy on some sections. I didn`t expect it to be soo difficult. We`re losing grip.”

Fabian Kreim (DEU, Škoda Fabia R5, Start. No. 7):
”So far I`m happy. We did some work on the setup and the stages on afternoon were better. I`d like to keep a steady pace. It`s going to be raining tomorrow and we`ll have to prepare for that.”

Martin Vlček (CZE, Ford Fiesta R5, Start. No. 25):
“It`s mentally were difficult, I can`t get over a stupid a mistake which cost us the top ten. It`s a shame. Hopefully, we`ll do better tomorrow.”„

Jan Černý (CZE, Ford Fiesta R5, Start. No. 12):
“The beginning of Leg 1 was far from perfect and on top of that I`m still dealing with yesterday. It`s hard. Second loops were better and we enjoyed that. We`ll see about tomorrow.”

Laurent Pellier (FRA, Peugeot 208 T16, Start. No. 10):
“It`s good but tough. The setup is too hard and that`s not ideal but we can work with it.”

Martin Březík (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5, Start. No. 29):
”There is one more tough test ahead. I don`t want to jinx it. But apart from the puncture on Semetín, it`s good and we want to make it to the finish line. In Rajnochovice it was like on ice in winter.“

Antonín Tlusťák (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5, Start. No. 57):
“We`re being careful, there is no place for any mistakes. 14th place in this contest is great. We only have to survive one last stage. Tomorrow will rain a lot, that`s going to be tough.”