This weekend is the 6th round for the 2007 IRC, the Barum Rally Zlín. The Czech round sees another tarmac rally to follow up Rally Vino da Madeira. This is the first inclusion in the IRC for the Barum Rally, which has been part of the European Rally Championship for the past several years.
A total of 122 cars were on the preliminary entry list, including a record 70+ IRC competitors. Of that group there are 15 Super 2000 cars, split into two camps: Abarth and Peugeot.
The Abarth contingent of 9 is headed by the factory entries of IRC point leader Andrea Navarra and Rally Russia winner, Anton Alén (4th in Championship). Former ERC champion Renato Travaglia moves to the Abarth camp and will drive the #2 Grande Punto instead of his usual Mitsubishi Lancer. Former WRC works driver Freddy Loix of Belgium will be joined by Corrado Fontana, Michał Sołowow, Volkan Işik, Tomasz Czopik, and local driver Roman Odložilík in the other Abarth Super 2000 entries.
Peugeot will throw 6 cars at the Czech roads, lead by the Peugeot Sport España team of Enrique García-Ojeda (2nd in championship) and Nicolas Vouilloz (3rd). Joining them are Bernd Casier (7th), Jimmy Joge of Sweden, János Tóth of Hungary and Marco Caviogli (16th overall).
Several local stars will be out including Václav Pech, Karel Trojan, Václav Arazim and Miroslav Jandik all driving Mitsubishi Lancers. They will be joined by another former WRC works driver, Roman Kresta, also in a Lancer Evo IX. Mix in Simon Jean-Joseph in a Citroën C2 Super 1600 to head up the 2 wheel drive class and the Honda Civics of Daniel Solá and Luca Betti and you have a very deep and exciting field.
The points chase tightened in Portugal when García-Ojeda was on the podium for the 4th straight rally to pull within 1 point of the championship leader Navarra. Vouilloz remained in third, 13 points adrift. He has his own battle with Alén and Casier brewing.
On the manufacturer’s front, Abarth’s win pushed them back into first, but by the slimmest of margins. The Peugeot 207’s continued to be strong, putting 2 drivers on the podium to keep within 1 point in the title chase. Mitsubishi failed to score after due to the DQ of Travaglia, who appeared in line for a 2nd place finish. That setback caused the Japanese maker to fall to 31 points out of first. Citroën continues to be a one man team and a distant fourth. For the complete 2007 IRC point standings, click here.
With significant championshiop implications, you don’t want to miss any of the action Stay tuned to the Official IRC website or Barum Rally Zlín website for all the results weekend.
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