Only the last tens of hours are left until the start of the 51st Rallye Český Krumlov, which will be the second event of the domestic championship in rallying of contemporary and historic cars, but is also part of the cross-border Regional Rallye Cup and the pan-European series FIA European Rally Trophy.
On Friday, 17 May, at exactly 3.30 p.m., the first competing crew will start on the track of the opening stage, which will again take place in the attractive surroundings of the České Budějovice Exhibition Centre. Afterwards, the drivers will head to the town that gave the competition its name, where the competitors will cross the ceremonial starting ramp in Jelení zahrada to show off their cars to the spectators in a cautious drive through the historic centre of Český Krumlov before five o’clock in the afternoon. From there, they will head to the classic special stages on closed roads. There, the pilots will step on the accelerator pedal thoroughly, and numerous crowds of die-hard fans of this sport will surely be waiting for their amazing sporting performances. On Friday evening, the fastest times will be measured twice at the Rožmitál, Citajl and Ján SSs, with the drivers returning to their service facilities in České Budějovice at the exhibition grounds between the two passes of these tests. In its premises, they will be waiting for a return passage through the CB Auto Rallye Arena after 19:00.
From the centre of the South Bohemian Region, the crews will leave for the difficult Malšín, Malonty and Kohout stages at 7.30 am on Saturday. Each of them will be completed twice again with a short lunch break inserted, combined with a move to the service station in České Budějovice (this will also be preceded by a passage through the exhibition grounds). And only after the crews have completed the entire portion of fifteen special stages with a total length of almost 170 kilometres will they be able to celebrate a successful weekend on the finish ramp. It will again be prepared for them in the charming environment of the Deer Garden under the Český Krumlov castle.
A total of 87 crews of contemporary and 30 crews of historic cars have entered the 51st Rallye Český Krumlov, led by the best from the national championship. Last year, Jan Kopecký and Jan Hloušek were somewhat relieved by their rivals of their many withdrawals, but this year the competition is even stronger and it can be expected that the battles will be really even. So let’s be surprised whether the pilot of the fastest car will be the aforementioned Jan Kopecký again, or perhaps his great rival Václav Pech. Or one of the representatives of the younger generation? Will it be Erik Cais? Dominik Stříteský? Adam Březík? Filip Mareš? Or someone completely different? Let’s be surprised or even have a long discussion about it, but it is clear that the truth will be revealed only in the competition that starts on Friday, May 17th in South Bohemia! Information about it is gradually being published on the official website www.rallyekrumlov.cz.
Karel Špaček, media team
Press release 2