Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Who is going to win the Barum rally this year? Favourites are Kopecký, Cais and Llarena

26. 8. 2022 - Jakub Kudláč

Jan Regner's first sharp kilometres await him in his new position as Clerk of the Course of Barum Czech Rally Zlín. Nothing new awaits the Czech driver Filip Mareš from Entry Engineering - ATT Investments, who will again drive his Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. The main category of the 51st annual event, which takes place not only as part of the prestigious European Rally Championship (ERC) series but also the 2022 Czech Rally Championship (MCR), will begin at 8.45 p.m. with a Friday night Spectator Super Special Stage through the streets of the Zlín city centre.

"It looks like we have had the standard fifty years, and that this year's fifty-first will be a classic one too, but this is not the case. We were surprised how many things have to be solved," said Ing. Jan Regner at the beginning of the pre-start press conference at the Zlín skyscraper, while explaining that organizing such a renowned event is not a routine.

And that's not even for the Czech driver Filip Mareš, who finished the last two years of Barum rally on the podium. "It's great to be back at the Zlín rally. It is the peak of the season for European drivers as well. Last year we finished third, before that we finished second, and so as drivers, we can't set ourselves smaller goals than to fight for the podium again. This year, our performance has made some progress, so we would like to be closer to the best," said thirty-one-year-old Mareš with determination.

The weather can play a lot with him, but also with the others. The forecast is uncertain, which is the worst thing for the riders. "It won't be just about a speed performance, but also about the right tyres. The weather will play with us. I don't care if it's dry or rainy, but the main thing is that it should be constant," said Filip Mareš.

The Spanish Efrén Llarena, the European pre-crowned champion, is also clear about his ambitions for the Barum Czech Rally Zlín. He and his charming co-driver Sara Fernandez are certainly not just coming to Moravia for a ride. "We want to finish on the podium. It's a tough and tricky competition, but we definitely don't want to get lost in it," said the 27-year-old driver with the starting number 1.

Together with him, the favourites of the 51st Barum rally are nine-time winner Jan Kopecký and Erik Cais from Zlín, who crashed out of the first place just six kilometres before the finish line last year. But others, including foreign riders, can also fight for the top positions. It will be clear on Sunday afternoon, August 28.