The 53rd Barum Czech Rally Zlín, held from August 16 to 18, 2024, marked a significant shift in the rallying landscape as Dominik Stříteský, alongside co-driver Jiří Hovorka in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, clinched his inaugural victory in this prestigious event. This triumph ended Jan Kopecký’s dominant streak, who had secured eight consecutive wins since 2015 and eleven in total.
The rally commenced with the traditional Super Special Stage in Zlín’s streets on Friday night, where Austrian driver Simon Wagner set the fastest time, signaling his intent for the weekend.
However, the real drama unfolded during Saturday’s stages. Erik Cais, despite receiving a 20-second penalty for a late arrival at a time control before the first stage, showcased remarkable pace by winning multiple stages and climbing up the leaderboard. A pivotal moment occurred during the first pass through the Bunč stage, where Jan Kopecký suffered a tire puncture, losing over two minutes and effectively ending his bid for another victory.
As Saturday progressed, weather conditions added to the challenge. Heavy rain during the second pass through Rajnochovice caught several teams off-guard, particularly those on dry tires. Erik Cais, affected by the downpour, lost significant time, allowing Simon Wagner to move into second place behind the consistent leader, Dominik Stříteský. The day’s stages concluded with Stříteský holding a lead of 21.1 seconds over Wagner.
Sunday’s stages were characterized by strategic driving from the front-runners. Stříteský managed his lead effectively, despite experiencing minor tire issues and a spin during the 13th stage. His composure under pressure ensured he maintained a comfortable gap over his rivals. Erik Cais continued to push hard, winning several stages, but was unable to overcome the time deficit from earlier setbacks. The final standings saw Dominik Stříteský take the victory, with Simon Wagner finishing 19.2 seconds behind in second place, and Erik Cais securing third, just 4.8 seconds adrift of Wagner.
In the ERC4 category, Hungarian duo Patrik Herczig and Kristóf Varga, driving a Peugeot 208 Rally4, emerged victorious. They finished 48.1 seconds ahead of the Czech team Daniel Polášek and Zdeněk Omelka, also in a Peugeot 208 Rally4. Herczig’s performance not only secured the ERC4 win but also made him the fastest driver in the two-wheel-drive classification.