Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Rally Historics featuring the duel of Neumann versus Vančík

28. 8. 2022 - Vlastimil Motýl, Jakub Kudláč

A traditional part of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín is also the Star Rally Historic, an event of the Czech Rally Championship of Historic Cars. This increasingly popular rally has become a proper event of the Czech Historic Rally Championship. The event is running the whole three days.

The competition part of the historic field started with the traditional Friday special in the streets of Zlín. It was clearly dominated by multiple Star Rally winners Vlastimil Neumann and Martin Hlavaty in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. The second place went to Jaroslav Vančík and Jan Tománek in a BMW M3 with a gap of 19.2 seconds. The overall third position was taken by Arkadius Kula and Tichanowitz from Poland in a Renault Megane Maxi.

Neumann ruled Saturday's opening SS Březová, taking advantage of his car's performance to beat Vančík by four and a half seconds. The third place went to the crew of Martin Černý and Aneta Kilianová in a BMW M3, which unfortunately gave up after SS 2 and the crew had to abandon the competition. Even more unlucky was Libor Kotrmon, whose car caught fire at the finish line.

After twenty departed cars, the third stage was cancelled due to Patrik Silber's car accident. Vančík and Tománek were the fastest, ahead of Neumann with Hlavaty and Jindřich Štolfa with Zdeněk Hawel in their Rover 220 GTi. Neumann dominated the final morning stage ahead of Vančík. Third were Jiří Kašpar and Pavel Adamek in a Škoda 130 LR. Due to a clutch failure, the then perfectly driving Štolfa and Hawel had to quit after reaching the finish line.
Neumann won the afternoon Březová again by 8.7 seconds ahead of Vančík. This time Vratislav Hýbner and Veronika Teplá in a Ford Sierra Cosworth finished third. In the last 24.32 kilometres long SS Držková, Vančík won by 10.7 seconds ahead of his rival Neumann. Frei finished third.

Neumann is leading the standings after the first day, but after the last stage he is only 7.3 seconds ahead of Vančík. Frei is third and Zenkl fourth. Fifth place is held by the crew of Jurečka Petr and Jurečka Pavel with Subaru Impreza 555.

XIV. Star Rally Historic 2022 – the standings after Saturday's leg:
1. Neumann, Hlavatý (CZE, Ford Escort RS Cosworth) 1:05:51,8 hod
2. Vančík, Tománek (CZE, BMW M3) + 6,7 s
3. Frei, Maryška (CZE, Škoda 130 LR) + 4:23,3 min
4. Zenkl, Omelka (CZE, Škoda Favorit 136 L) + 4:32,6 min
5. Petr Jurečka, Pavel Jurečka (CZE, Subaru Impreza 555) + 6:14,2 min
6. Petr Hejhal, Martin Hejhal (CZE, Škoda 130 LR) + 6:59,2 min
7. Pavlíček, Polášek (CZE, Ford Escort RS 1600) + 8:23,5 min
8. Šrámek, Horáček (CZE, BMW 318 iS) + 8:28,1 min
9. Hýbner, Teplá (CZE, Ford Sierra Cosworth) + 8:44,1 min
10. Drbal, Zdráhal (CZE, VAZ 21074) + 11:38,7 min