Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

46th Barum Rally and its 230 hard kilometres

2. 7. 2016 - Roman Ordelt

The organisers of Barum Czech Rally Zlín have released Supplementary Regulations, shed a bit of light on the upcoming track and announced the list of official stages. The most prestigious rally event in the Czech Republic takes place as usually at the end of summer (26th–28th August), as the eight event of the ten-series FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) and the fifth event of Auto-club Czech Rally Championship 2016.

Total length is 740 km, and 15 stages on eight section makes 230 km. Almost 40% of the track has been changed compared to last year! The first car enters the three-day rally on 26th August at 4 p.m. from a ramp placed in Zlín square outside of the Town Hall. The winning crew will be seen at the same place on Sunday 28th August at 4:16 p.m.

The promoter of the 46th Barum Czech Rally Zlín is Auto-club Barum Zlín in AČR (Auto-club Czech Republic) in cooperation with other auto-clubs and institutions of the Zlín Region. The itinerary includes nowadays classical sections like Pindula, Maják and an attractive stage in Slušovice and a hugely popular Super Special Stages in the night streets of Zlín and the former Bata's factory. Every year over two hundred thousand fans visit Barum Rally, making it one of the most viewed sports event in the Czech Republic. The major sponsor Continental Barum s.r.o. via this event fulfils the value of the brand Barum and Zlín rally helps to spread its renown abroad. Among other sponsors of the rally are the Zlín Region, the City of Zlín, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Czech Tourism and the Ministry of Regional Development of the Czech Republic. Just like last year, the rally Headquarters is seated in Zlín's and the Zlín Region's dominant building–Bata's skyscraper also known as Building no. 21. Press Centre and a base with technical equipment for media is situated at University Centre.

Before the rally itself, there will be reconnaissance, which is scheduled for Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th August. Scrutineering will take place on Thursdays afternoon and evening in Service Park Continental Barum s.r.o. in Otrokovice. Qualifying Stage in Pohořelice (length 4.71 km) for drivers with FIA and ERC priority is a traditional foreplay of Barum Rally. Based on the results, the drivers will pick their starting number for Saturday's Leg 1 on Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in front of the Town Hall. After the qualification, the section in Pohořelice will be open only for shakedown and thus other drivers. Shakedown will take place from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. One car after another will enter the Barum Rally during the ceremonial start in front of the Town Hall at 4 p.m. But the real rally–Super Special Stage–starts on Friday night in the streets of Zlín and former Bata's factory. The crews will run three circuits but the track is different this year. Later, the cars will be parked in off-limits car-park under the Cinema (Velké kino) in Zlín.

Legs 1 and 2 are prepared for the weekend. For Saturday 27th August are scheduled eight Special Stages on four sections, two runs for each stage. Saturday's second, third and fourth sections include Special Stages Březová (length 11.74 km), Košíky (22.22 km), Hošťálková (13.75 km) and Semetín (11.51 km). In the morning, the crews will first head to Slušovice, then to Kroměříž to mountain range Chřiby and after service stop they will put their cars through tough sections in Vsetín. In the afternoon, the second run on each section is scheduled. Leg 1 measures 128 difficult kilometres in length. Sunday's 28th August Leg 2 includes six Special Stages on three sections–Kašava (length 19.42 km), Pindula (18.43 km) and Maják (13.25 km). The probably most challenging stages are roads in sections five and six as the length between them is 102 km and these stages will truly show the crews readiness and resilience. Beside the already well-known sections like Pindula and Maják, Kašava also has respect among the drivers, mostly because of its hilly character and the need to often change the rhythm.

RALLY SCHEDULE

Thursday 25 August 2016
1–8 p.m.: Administrative Check (Rally HQ - building no. 21)
2–9 p.m.: Scrutineering (Service Park Continental Barum s. r. o., Otrokovice)

Friday 26 August 2016
9:15–10:10 a.m.: Qualifying Stage (Pohořelice)
10:15 a.m.–1 p.m.: Shakedown (Pohořelice)
4 p.m.: Ceremonial Start of Barum Rally (Zlín, náměstí Míru square–in front of the Town Hall)
8:52 p.m.: Start of Leg 1, First Section (Zlín, Vodní Street)
9:30 p.m.: Finish of Leg 1, First Stage (Zlín, below the Cinema (Velké kino))

Saturday 27 August 2016
7:00 a.m.: Start of Leg 1, Second Section (Zlín, below the Cinema (Velké kino), next to Rally HQ)
10:15 p.m.: Finish of Leg 1 (Zlín, below the Cinema (Velké kino))

Sunday 28 August 2016
7:30 a.m.: Start of Leg 2 (Zlín, below the Cinema (Velké kino), next to Rally HQ)
4:25 p.m.: Ceremonial Finish of Barum Rally (Zlín, náměstí Míru square–in front of the Town Hall)