The expected battle between Jan Kopecký / Jan Hlousek (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) and Andreas Mikkelsen / Jonas Andresson (Skoda Fabia Rally2) started from the first speed stage.
However, Vaclav Pech / Petr Uhel (Ford Focus WRC) came as a surprise, coming out on top after the second speed stage. Kopecky managed to gain an 8-second lead over Mikkelsen before the first service park of the day. A small mistake by Vaclav Pech in the fifth stage sent them to 3rd place, and the differences remained extremely small.
Before the second service park on Saturday, the crew of Erik Cais / J. Zakova (Czech Republic) (Ford Fiesta R5 MKII) managed to reach the second place only 0.8 seconds after Jan Kopecký / Jan Hlousek.
Andreas Mikkelsen / Jonas Andresson finished third in 6.9 seconds. The Austrian Simon Wagner / Geralnd Winter (Skoda Fabia Rally 2) are fourth but already with a serious difference of 39.9 seconds.
At the end of the day, however, Erik Cais / J. Zakova (Czech Republic) (Ford Fiesta R5 MKII) took the lead with a time of 1: 13: 41.0. Jan Kopecký / Jan Hlousek (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) are second in just 2.1 seconds. Third are Andreas Mikkelsen / Jonas Andresson (Skoda Fabia Rally2) in 16.6 seconds.
In some places along the routes there is mud thrown away and it is wet on some bends. The notes for today's sections are extremely important. As Kopecky requests you have to take risks for the best time.
Extremely happy was the driver after today Erik Cais, who thanked his father for his support.
Fortunately, today the weather was better than expected with mostly dry routes.
On Sunday Barum Czech Rally Zlin 2021 continues with 6 new sections.

The summer in the center of Europe is over and racers and fans will watch the rally in cold and rain.
The expectations are for more rain, cold and cloudy weather.
Electric cars part of the German championship ADAC OPEL e-RALLY CUP will take part in Rally Barum Zlin.
In Shakedown today, the expected best time was achieved by Jan Kopecy / B. Rendlova (Ford Fiesta R5) with a time of 2:49.90. 1.5 seconds behind them are V. Cvrcek / Ondrej Salek (Skoda Fabia R5).
The main competitors of the Czech crew Andreas Mikkelsen andAlexey Lukyanuk did not take part.
After a while the super special stage begins.
In the classification stage, however, Andreas Mikkelsen / Jonas Andresson (Skoda Fabia) scored for the first time with a time of 2:34.711. Jan Kopecy is third in 0.53 sec.

The Czech Barum Zlin Rally will take place on August 27th and 28th. The race is the 4th round of the European Rally Championship out of a total of 8.

Recent winners:

2020: No Rally
2019: Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (Skoda Fabia R5 Evo)
2018: Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (Skoda Fabia R5)
2017: Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (Skoda Fabia R5)
2016: Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (Skoda Fabia R5)
2015: Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (Skoda Fabia R5)

The statistics above show that the Czech Rally has no other leader but the Czech company driver of Skoda. Over the past year, Jan Kopecký has won convincingly with no real competition. Will it be the same this year?
However, this year the competition in the European Rally Championship is much stronger.
Two serious competitors will compete with Jan Kopecký, and these are Andresa Mikkelsen / Jonas Andersson also with Skoda Fabia R5 Evo.
The other competition is from the leaders in the general classification Alexey Lukyanuk / Alexey Arnautov with Citroën C3 Rally2.
Although according to some Citroen is not at the level of Skoda, Lukyanuk risks to the last to keep his lead, which is only 1 point ahead of Mikkelsen.
While Jan Kopecký does not participate in the full program of the championship, the others would not risk with a big difference at the beginning, while tactically the game is between Alexey Lukyanuk and Andresa Mikkelsen.
A total of 146 applications have been submitted for Barum Czech Rally Zlin. A total of 15 stages, 211 km of racing distance and 574 km of hiking are planned.
The center of the competition is South Moravia, about 300 km south of Prague.