Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Chase for winner. Champion Kopecký to face European elite and young guns

18. 8. 2023 - Vojtěch JURÁK

The 52nd Barum Czech Rally Zlín has officially started! The competing crews drove through the pad at the Náměstí Míru square, waved to the fans, but now, they are fully focused on the popular evening Super Special Stage situated in the city centre of Zlín. Who is the favourite of the whole competition this year? That's a hard question as there are many candidates in the starting field but that also indicates that it could be an impressive sports show in Eastern Moravia again.

Jan Kopecký is going to defend his unique series as he won the last seven competitions in a row and celebrated ten triumphs in Zlín in total. "We tried to prepare for this weekend in the same way as in the past because the Barum Rally is an exceptional event for us. Today's results showed that the crews just as the fans have really something to look forward to," said the 41-years-old driver during the press conference before the ceremonial start.

One of the big challengers of the Czech hegemon should be New Zealander Hayden Paddon, who experienced the WRC and even won a rally at this level a few years ago. Although he is going to compete in Zlín for the first time, he arrived in the Czech Republic as the current leader of the ERC. "It's very nice to be here. This rally seems to be very, very challenging and the stages are tricky. From what we have already seen, there is a lot of passion for rally in this country. All those spectators around the stages! We will do our best to enjoy the experience and the competition," the driver promised.

Even though the European elite came to the Czech Republic, there will also be a group of domestic young drivers craving for the top positions. Apart from Adam Březík or Dominik Stříteský it is for example Erik Cais. The Zlín native is looking forward to his fifth start at his home competition. „The youths are very motivated. Today and even in the past, they have already shown how fast they are. It will be a tough battle for us," thinks Kopecký.

During the weekend, the races are going to drive through a few sections coming back into the itinerary after almost thirty years. In the case of Cais, it is even more interesting because his father Miroslav experienced these tracks years ago. "These parts are beautiful, and we talked about them with my father, of course. But not that he would give me some advice. It is better to do the preparations myself just as always," smiled Cais.

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