The fate of the defending champions of the European Rally Championship in fact already been solved — to the pursuers could catch up with series leader Caetano Kaetanovicha a miracle to happen. And it almost did not happen in the Czech Republic!
In Zlin came all three riders claiming the title in the individual competition — Pole Cajetan Kaetanovich, Russian Alexey Lukyanyuk and Latvian Ralph Sirmatsis. Each of them needed only a victory — the first to advance to secure the championship, and the other two, it was necessary to keep the chance of winning the championship.
However, the chances of each of them in the first place in the Barum Czech Rally Zlín fell sharply after the appearance of the list of participants of Jan Kopecky.
Czech rider came to the rally start in Zlín as early as the 13th, he won this race five times, native spetsuchastki familiar to him as his five fingers. He played Gonza — both in the Czech Republic is called a man named Yang — on a full factory Skoda Fabia R5.
Not only that, it's definitely the best representative of this category of rally cars, so it is also the best of the best — the car factory, a record whose nine wins in ten starts. The ideal input data for the victory, is not it? For example, but without taking into account the rivals...
No, Kaetanovich Sirmatsis and could not do anything to stop the pace of the «great and terrible» Jan. But Lukyanyuk — is another matter!
To begin with Alex won the qualification and first gained the right to choose the starting position — it is not as critical for the asphalt rallies, but it's nice. And then began a duel, which equally did not know, probably never dopa asphalt Barum Czech Rally Zlín.
The first day of the race consisted of nine special stages — or rather first extra passed late on Friday, and another eight on Saturday. Starting superspetsuchastok audience stayed behind Jan Kopecky, who took the lead. But Alexei Lukyanyuk showed the second time, losing a Czech only eight tenths of a second.
Onbord A.Lukyanyuk / A.Arnautov (SS1).
The main battle began in the morning on Saturday. The first three dopa won the Jan Kopecký — Czech rider brought his lead to six and a half seconds. But then Lucas won SS5 and then played just five seconds behind. It became clear that an easy life rally not see the leader. And the beginning of «cat and mouse», alternating with the «giveaway».
Lukyanyuk makes a mistake, his Ford Fiesta R5 falls into a ditch — lost seven and a half seconds. Dopom later Kopecky rides with excessive caution, and «returns» seven seconds. More through additional Russian and all goes to the leaders of the race, for which the Czech respectfully calls him «crazy.» But on the next dope already pilot Skoda Motorsport celebrates his win and regaining the lead. And on that first day comes to an end — Kopecký leads, ahead Lukyanyuk five tenths of a second (!)! And this is after 128 kilometers of distance fighting.
The best moments of the crew Lyukyanyuk — Arnautov.
The second day promised the continuation of an exciting fight — and the audience saw it. A total of six special stages, but they were enough to clarify the relations between the two great riders.
Kopecky, Lukyanyuk, Kopecky, Kopecky, Lukyanyuk — that names the winners of the first five special stages of the second day. Leadership to balance both on the scales — first Gonza increased his lead, then Lucas played his. Before the start of the final special stage Czechs and Russians shared by four and a half seconds — and this despite the fact that at this very dope Lukyanyuk Kopecky played in 4.3 seconds.
But the road dopa came the sad news — Aleksey Lukyanuk had to stop to replace the tie rod.
Accident Lucas.
A small error in one of the corners led to touch the barrel, which limits internal rotation. Little impact was enough to pull broken. The Russians were forced to stop for repairs in the field. They replaced the damaged part and got to finish the special stage, but the last time — ten and a half minutes behind the fastest time of Jan Kopecky.
Problems Alexei Lukyanyuk eased the task of the Czech racer — he calmly brought the race to win. Finished second of his compatriot and comrade-in-arms Tomas Kostka — he lost to Yan two and a half minutes. Third place went to Jan Cerny — he is behind the winner at 2 minutes 42 seconds.
The duo Alexei Alexei Arnautova Lukyanyuk and finished the race in 16th position. But, nevertheless, the Russians were able to get ahead of its principal rivals in the fight for the championship! Cajetan Kaetanovich come down on the first day because of problems with the engine, it came at the start of the second day and finished with 56 results. And Ralph Sirmatsis turned and came down on the 11th special stage.
As part of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín took place and the eighth stage of the youth championship ERC Junior. Permanent member of the series Nikolai Gryazin finished the race in third position, despite the incident, which occurred on the tenth special stage.
The accident Nicholas Gryazina.
Another Russian participant Artur Muradyan was forced to lay down their arms even in qualifying — he blew up the motor.
The next stage of the European Rally Championship will be held in Latvia — from 16 to 18 September there will be held from the beginning of the season moved on autumn Rally Liepāja.
