The second day of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín was packed with excitement, retirements, punctures, and constant changes in the leaderboard.
Morning loop
The day began with Andrea Mabellini in front after the thrilling Zlín night stage. But the lead quickly changed in the first stage of Day 2, Březová, where Jan Kopecký claimed the stage win. Finishing eight in that stage, Mabellini dropped to second, allowing Kopecký to move into the overall lead.
The drama also started early. Miklós Csomós crashed and had to retire, while Simone Tempestini went off the road and hit a tree. Although he tried to continue, suspension damage forced him to withdraw.
In the following stage, Halenkovice, Simon Wagner moved up to second place, only 5.1 seconds behind Kopecký, with Mabellini close behind by 0.8 seconds. This stage was particularly tough for Dominik Střiteský, who suffered three punctures and was forced to continue under Super Rally.
The last morning stage brought another shuffle: Wagner and Mabellini swapped places again. Still, the top three were separated by just 1.2 seconds, keeping the fight wide open.
Afternoon loop
The second run through Březová didn’t change much in the top three, but Wagner and Mabellini exchanged positions once more in SS6 Halenkovice.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Calle Carlberg, the Junior ERC leader. He only needed to finish eighth to secure the championship. Despite leading his category by more than 40 seconds, his Opel Corsa Rally4 suffered a driveshaft failure, ending his hopes early. However, he will have another opportunity tomorrow. If he finishes 10th or above he will be claimed Junior ERC 2025 champion.
The biggest twist came in the final stage of Saturday. Wagner picked up a front-left puncture and went off the road, costing him 18.1 seconds. This opened the door for Jon Armstrong, who delivered a brilliant performance, climbing three places to finish the day in second overall.
End of Day 2 standings
- Jan Kopecký and Jiří Hovorka – 1:05:00.4
- Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne – +6.5
- Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi – +13.0
With such small gaps between the leaders, the final day promises even more action. Anything can still happen at Barum Czech Rally Zlín.