Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Paul Chieusse successfully defended the victory at Star Rally Historic

29. 8. 2015 - Jakub Hofbauer

The French duo Paul Chieusse - Patrick Chiappe was a clear winner of the 8th Star Rally Historic. They won four out of five special stages and they won the gold medal again, having won here in Zlín in 2014. The silver place reached the Czech duo Pavel Karlík – Martin Fabián with Lada VFTS and the third place is held by Jiří Daněk and his co-driver Václav Kubala with Škoda Favorit 136L. These three crews were the only winners at the three announced categories.

Chieusse was gradually building up his lead and even after the Spectators' Special Stage he was ahead by tens of seconds. At the finish line he was leading by minute and a half. However, it need to be said that his way to the victory might have been easier due to the absence of fancied drivers - Albano Frassinetti with ex-factory car Ford Escort RS Cosworth, who excused himself because he had some engine issues. Also, Lubomír Tenkl and his BMW M3 and Jiří Navrátil missed this year's Star Rally Historic. Jiří Navrátil did arrive to Zlín but health issues forced him to leave. Still, the competition was very rich. In the highest class HA/3 the unforgettable Józef Béreš with a unique car Mazda RX-7 was the only one who outperformed Chieusse at one stage. His fine performance hit red light in Slušovice on a local circuit when he made a mistake and did an extra round. His deficit was so high that he decided to retire from the competition. Technical problems meant the end for the Italian showman Claudio Conforto Galli, driving BMW M3, or for a local driver Aleš Máčala, Mercedes 500 SLC. So the least expected cars to appear at the top could use the opportunity to shine on a higher position. Italian Visani with Opel Corsa GSi finished on the unpopular fourth position and behind him was Swedish Hans Gustavsson with Toyota Starlet.

Only 13 cars out of 22, those whose time was measured, managed to cross the finished line. But there were many other cars whose owners and drivers simply wanted to show the world their precious friends and these cars could have been seen at the exhibition drive. In this group there were many Audi Quattro cars, a parade of Škoda cars and two Russian Moskvichs.

Results of the VIII. Star Rally Historic 2015:
1. Paul Chieusse – Patrick Chiappe (FRA, Renault 5 Turbo) 52:51.1 (1. HA/3)
2. Pavel Karlík – Martin Fabián (CZE, Lada VFTS) + 1:26.8 (1. HA/2)
3. Jiří Daněk – Václav Kubala (CZE, Škoda Favorit 136 L) + 3:44.4 (1. HA/1)
4. Massimo Visani – Billi Giuseppe (ITA, Opel Corsa GSi) + 4:13.9
5. Hans Gustavsson – Björn Gustavsson (SWE, Toyota Starlet) + 5:22.3
6. Jindřích Štolfa – Zdeněk Hawel (CZE, Škoda 130 L) + 6:14.4
7. Jiří Petrásek – Otto Slezák (CZE, Porsche 911 S) + 6:23.9
8. Vratislav Hýbner – Nikola Hýbnerová (CZE, Peugeot 205 GTI) + 7:50.8
9. Martin Sopúch – Karin Sopúchová (CZE, Ford Escort RS2000) + 9:23.9
10. „Elefant"– Justyna Kurowska-Ferdek (POL, BMW 318 iS) + 14:33.9