The Barum Czech Rally Zlín, nestled in the picturesque and industrious region of South Moravia, returns for its 54th edition on 15–17 August 2025. As one of the cornerstones of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) and the Czech national championship, Rally Zlín blends old-world charm with Tarmac tests notorious for their technical demands and unpredictability. This preview explores the rally’s defining features, the teams and drivers to watch, and the strategic complexities awaiting competitors on the broken Czech asphalt.
The Rally Landscape: South Moravian Challenge
Rally Zlín is more than a motorsport fixture — it is a Czech institution. Based in the university city of Zlín, 300km southeast of Prague, the event is celebrated for its bumpy, often broken asphalt roads. Forest blasts, rapid changes in grip, and ever-possible showers require not just fast driving but unflappable concentration. Every year, thousands gather for the electrifying night-time superspecial stage that turns Zlín’s city centre into a theatre of speed
Surface: Almost exclusively asphalt, known for inconsistent grip and sudden weather shifts.
Stages: This year’s edition features 13 stages covering 207.49km — a slight increase in distance over 2024.
Atmosphere: Crowds line the roads, especially for the Friday night Zlín super special, creating an atmosphere akin to a football final, with the rally’s long history now stretching over 50 years.
Key Stages: The Backbone of the Rally
Each stage of Rally Zlín tells its own story. In 2025, the itinerary remains faithful to tradition, with some tweaks to distance and scheduling:
Friday, August 15
Shakedown and Qualifying: Komárov — Relatively short but technical, used to set the running order.
SS1 Zlín Super Special: 9.57km through Zlín’s downtown. The spectacle for fans, circuit-style and highly tactical in its urban confines.
Saturday, August 16
Březová (12.73km): Features sweeping turns and mixed surfaces, including spectator-friendly urban sections.
Halenkovice (17.67km): Faster and more demanding, with changing rhythm and undulating forest sections.
Bunč (18.11km): The longest Saturday stage, notorious for its bumpy asphalt and technical narrow stretches.
Sunday, August 17
Pindula (17.22km): Classic Czech challenge, technical and quick, with tree-lined roads that punish overconfidence.
Podhoran (20.61km): The rally’s longest test, demanding both raw pace and precise car placement.
Kateřinice (12.62km): Serves as the Power Stage, and is often decisive for the final order. Features a spectator section and a high-speed dash to the finish.
Atmosphere during the FIA European Rally Championship in Zlin,Czech Republic on 14, August 2025 // @World / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202508150278 // Usage for editorial use only //
Teams and Drivers: The 2025 Contenders
Czech Talent vs. International ERC Stars
Czech drivers traditionally dominate Zlín, but this year, a wide array of ERC stars aim to break the local stronghold:
Jan Kopecký (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2): Zlín’s maestro, with multiple victories and the unbeaten familiarity of every stone and rut lining the stages
Dominik Stríteský (Škoda Fabia RS): The defending winner from 2024, now a national favourite and expected to attack from the outset.
Miko Marczyk (Škoda Fabia RS): The ERC points leader, with international pace and home rally preparation in Poland setting him up well
Andrea Mabellini (Škoda Fabia RS): Fast Italian, recent winner of the Zlín street stage, pushing to disrupt the Czech lock on the podium.
Mads Østberg (Citroën C3): Norwegian former WRC winner, always dangerous if he can find the rhythm on local Tarmac.
Chris Ingram (Škoda Fabia RS): British 2019 ERC champion, back with Team MRF Tyres to challenge the best after a difficult 2024
Simone Tempestini and Stéphane Lefebvre (Team MRF Tyres): International ERC regulars, searching for consistency.
Other notable entries include Václav Pech (Citroën), Jon Armstrong (Ford Fiesta Mk II), Erik Cais (Hyundai i20 N), Mille Johansson, and the emerging junior and Rally4 crews, such as Max McRae and Filip Mareš.
The Battle Lines: What Decides Rally Zlín?
Surface Complexity & Car Setup
Barum Rally Zlín’s asphalt is famous for its hazards. The grip level can drop sharply at any moment, with torn surfaces catching amps off-guard and forest shadows narrowing visibility. Teams must gamble on tyre compounds and suspension setup — hard enough for the quick sections, soft enough to handle the rough and broken patches.
Weather Roulette
Intermittent summer showers are Zlín’s wild card. Sudden rain can transform the stages into slick, treacherous paths, favouring drivers who excel in difficult conditions and whose teams get the timing right on tyre swaps.
The Pressure of the Home Crowd
Czech drivers have won nearly every recent running, inspired by the throngs along the stages. Kopecký and Stríteský, in particular, thrive on this pressure, pushing the limits but susceptible to over-reach.
The ERC Championship Context
With Marczyk leading the standings and Mabellini close behind, Rally Zlín takes on championship significance. Expect tactical battles for points, with contenders weighing risk against reward on a weekend that could define the 2025 ERC title.
Strategy and Spectacle: The Anatomy of Victory
Night-Time SS1: The rally’s initial superspecial through Zlín isn’t always decisive for overall victory, but errors here can set a problematic tone for the weekend.
Saturday’s Marathon: The long Bunč stage regularly sorts the field, exposing any setup or concentration weaknesses.
Sunday’s Showdown: Podhoran and Kateřinice often upend the running order. The final Power Stage rewards both outright pace and tire management — roles for both seasoned aces and young chargers.
The Local and International Narrative
Rally Zlín is where tradition meets renewal. The championship chase, the enduring Czech dominance, the international push — all play out against a backdrop of forest and city, history and modernity. For locals, victory here cements legend; for ERC contenders, a win in Zlín is a career highlight.
Final Thoughts: Rally Zlín’s Uniqueness
Barum Czech Rally Zlín 2025 promises an absorbing contest. Whether the Czech home heroes retain their grip or an ERC star wrestles the laurels away, the rally will be defined by precision, adaptability, and sheer nerve. For fans and participants alike, it remains an authentic celebration of what rallying should be: fiercely competitive, firmly rooted in the landscape, and always unpredictable
