Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Drivers picked their numbers, Poland’s Habaj goes first to Leg 1

26. 8. 2016 - Petr Říha

Russian driver Alexey Lukyanuk did not take the opportunity to go first to Saturday's Leg 1 of the 46th Barum Czech Rally Zlín. The winner of Friday's Qualifying Stage choose to go as the second one to Leg 1 with his Ford Fiesta R5. Poland's Lukasz Habaj (Ford Fiesta R5) will be the first one to taste Saturday's portion of tough stages.

Qualifying Stage took place on a well-known section between Komárov and Pohořelice (4.71 kilometres) on Friday. Based on the results, pilots from the top ten could pick their starting number for Saturday's Leg 1 on square náměstí Míru, half an hour before the official opening ceremony. Lukyanuk choose number two, then other drivers followed and number one was finally picked by Habaj, who finished sixth in the qualification.

The defending Czech champion Jan Kopecký (Škoda Fabia R5) and the biggest favourite of 46th Barum Czech Rally Zlín was behind Lukyanuk by 0.3 seconds in the qualification. The fastest trio was completed by the leader of ERC Poland's Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Ford Fiesta R5). He goes to Leg 1 as the fourth one.

Starting positions for Saturday Leg 1:
1. Lukasz Habaj – Piotr Wos (POL, Ford Fiesta R5)
2. Alexey Lukyanuk – Alexey Arnautov (RUS, FORD Fiesta R5)
3. Jan Kopecký – Pavel Dresler (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5)
4. Kajetan Kajetanowicz – Jaroslaw Baran (POL, Ford Fiesta R5)
5. Ralfs Sirmacis – Artur Šimins (LVA, Škoda Fabia R5)
6. Tomáš Kostka – Ladislav Kučera (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5)
7. Jaromír Tarabus – Daniel Trunkát (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5)
8. Roman Odložilík – Martin Tureček (CZE, Ford Fiesta R5)
9. Fabian Kreim – Frank Christian (DEU, Škoda Fabia R5)
10. Dávid Botka – Peter Szeles (HUN, Citroën DS3 R5)
11. Jan Černý – Petr Černohorský (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5)
12. Pavel Valoušek – Veronika Havelková (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5)
13. Cédric Cherain – Filip Cuvelier (BEL, Ford Fiesta R5)
14. Martin Vlček – Jindřiška Žáková (CZE, Ford Fiesta R5)
15. Hermen Kobus – Davy Thierie (NLD, Škoda Fabia R5)