Quality and quantity can be found in the list of registered crews at the AGROTEC PETRONAS rally in Hustopeče, which will take place on June 17-18, 2022, as the fourth race of the Czech and Slovak championships.
In Hustopeče, the crews will also compete for points within the FIA Central Europe Championship (CEZ) and the historic vehicle championships.
The front of the starting list is dominated by the most successful riders in the history of the 16-year history of the Hustopeče competition. Jan Kopecký, a seven-time winner (AGROTEC Škoda Rally Team – Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo), was awarded first place, as was Václav Pech, who dominated the “vineyard rally” four times. However, he will come to Hustopeče with the Ford Focus WRC as the defender of last year’s championship. Filip Mareš will be the third “to the party” with another Škoda, he succeeded at the Agrotec Petronas rally in 2019.
In the busy Top 10, however, you can also highlight other front row adepts, youngsters Dominika Stříteský and Adam Březík, as well as Slovak multi-champion Polák Grzegorz Grzyb (all Škoda Fabia Rally2). The leader of the Slovak Championship Jaroslav Melichárek (Ford Fiesra RS WRC) will present the second WRC specification car in Hustopeče. For statistics, we will add a list of specials in this category to Tomáš Kurka’s Mini WRC.
However, with twenty cars, the R5 / Rally 2 category predominates on the front floors of the starting list. Fans can also be very curious about Miroslav Jakeš’s first start this year. The saddle Ford Fiesta R5 MkII of the Orsák Rallysport stable, Jaroslav Novák will read the schedule to him. They finished second together in 2014, three years later Mirek Jakeš took bronze in the south of Moravia.
Among the highest-ranking Slovak drivers, we can mention Tomáš Kukučka (Mitsubishi Evo VI), Vladimír Hanuš (Hyundai i20 R5) and Vlastimil Majerčák, who drives a “quad bike” Ford Fiesta Rally3. In addition to Slovak participants, fans can look forward to other Polish, Hungarian and one Bulgarian crew.
Spectators will certainly be attractive on the “gétéčka” tracks. Martin Jirovec (Alpine A110 RGT) will challenge Martin Radu with a Fiat 124 Abarth RGT with a car of the same RGT specification, and an confrontation with Petr Nešetřil (Porsche GT3 in national class RN9) will be an interesting comparison.
“Two-wheelers” will also be represented. The main favorite will be Jaromír Tarabus (Peugeot 208 Rally4), who will be tried to be followed by Robert Hordossy, Lukáš Frána or Kryštof Zpěvák.
Among the total number of 105 pairs, twenty-seven will compete in the historical championships of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. And the names of Vlastimil Neumann, Jindřich Štolfa, Jan Freie or Miroslav Janota probably don’t need to be introduced anymore.
“I am very glad that the starting list was filled again in such a number and quality composition. The fact that our rally is popular and the crews like to return to Hustopeče is just showing some names in the starting list that you will not find in other races. It is a proof for me and at the same time a reward for the whole team of organizers that we are doing well and the rally among the vineyards is popular with both riders and spectators. I’m looking forward to quality fights on our atypical tracks and I believe we will meet at the finish ramp, “ Martin Rada, the head of the organizing team, evaluates the numerous starting points.
The AGROTEC PETRONAS rally will take place on June 17-18. The Hustopeče “rally between vineyards” will start on Friday at 6 pm, with the night ending at the day (UP 22:57) and will continue with the Saturday stage (start at 10 am). The service facility will be located in the large premises of MOSS logistics, on Bratislavská Street in Hustopeče.
More information about the competition will be gradually published on the official website www.agrotecrally.cz, a number of news will also be available on the Facebook profile Agrotec rally Hustopeče.
