SKODA DRIVERS BREZIK AND SUNINEN TAKE FIRST TWO PLACES AT BARUM CZECH RALLY ZLIN
HOME HERO ADAM BREZIK CLAIMS HIS MAIDEN FIA ERC WIN AHEAD OF CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER TEEMU SUNINEN
Skoda drivers Adam Březík and co-driver Zdeněk Bělák jun. secured their maiden FIA European Rally Championship victory at Barum Rally Czech Rally Zlín, giving Škoda the top two positions in the fifth round of the 2026 ERC season.
Driving a Samohýl Škoda Team Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, the Czech crew took the lead after the fourth stage and held it through to the finish. They completed the rally 8.3 seconds ahead of Finnish Škoda crew Teemu Suninen and Antti Haapala.
BŘEZÍK WINS ON HOME SOIL
Březík used his knowledge of the Czech stages to deliver the first FIA ERC victory of his career.
The local pairing maintained control of the rally after moving into the lead on stage four, securing a landmark result on their home event.
“Local heroes Adam Březík and co-driver Zdeněk Bělák jun. used their knowledge of the stages to celebrate their first ever victory in the FIA European Rally Championship.”
SUNINEN EXTENDS ERC CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD
Second place for Teemu Suninen and Antti Haapala strengthened their position at the top of the FIA ERC standings.
After five of seven events, Suninen extended his championship lead to 25 points with two rounds remaining.
The result also continued a strong event for Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crews, with five cars finishing inside the overall ERC top 10.
MARCZYK FINISHES FOURTH
Defending FIA European Rally Champions Mikołaj Marczyk and Szymon Gospodarczyk finished fourth with the ORLEN Team Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Jakub Matulka and Damian Syty placed fifth, while Simone Tempestini and Francesca Maria Maior completed the Škoda crews in the top six.
The results underlined the competitiveness of the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 across the demanding Barum Czech Rally Zlín stages.
KEY POINTS
• Adam Březík and Zdeněk Bělák jun. won Barum Czech Rally Zlín.
• Březík claimed his maiden FIA ERC victory on home soil.
• Teemu Suninen and Antti Haapala finished second, 8.3 seconds behind.
• Suninen extended his FIA ERC championship lead to 25 points.
• Mikołaj Marczyk and Szymon Gospodarczyk finished fourth.
• Five Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crews finished inside the ERC top 10.
• Jakub Matulka and Damian Syty finished fifth.
• Simone Tempestini and Francesca Maria Maior finished sixth.
• Barum Czech Rally Zlín was the fifth of seven FIA ERC events.
• Two ERC rounds remain in the 2026 season.
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