There has always been something special about Zlin. The city is in the south part of Czech Republic, close to the border with Slovakia in the ancient areas of South East Moravia, and was originally a Gothic fortress town. Then Zlin became a centre of industry developed by a far sighted entrepreneur Tomas Bata, known for his world wide shoe empire and his innovative educational and social housing systems. Bata recognised abnormally high levels of latent skill among the local workers which he used to develop his businesses. After WW2 and in the Communist era the name of the town became Gottwaldov. In these times the inhabitants devised alternative economic systems which defied the intentions of the ruling regime. In the same era and out of sight of the rest of the world, some of the German motor industry’’s most secret development work was carried out in the area, in complete secrecy. After the communist occupation the name Zlin was revived and one of the major developments in the region was in aircraft building (the famous Zlin aerobatic planes are built nearby) and also in motorsport. Another of Bata’’s achievements was setting up the Barum tyre company, and it was a natural step for the sport to work together, which led to the Barum Rally.

This is the 39th Barum Rally and is sure to be memorable for several reasons. It is the first time since the days of Roman Kresta and his Skoda Octavia World Rally Cars that a Czech car has a good chance of outright victory. Now also being a round of the IRC and the European series, World Rally Cars are forbidden. After running as a course opening car in 2008, this is the first Barum Rally in which the Fabia S2000 will be competing, and there is every expectation of a fierce three-way battle between the Peugeot Czech drivers Roman Kresta, the new FIA World Junior champion Martin Prokop and the Skoda works driver Jan Kopecky. Prokop won the drive in the Celebrity BF Goodrich Kronos car after a convincing vote by national journalists. Fans are bolstered by the promise of 25 Super 2000s on the entry list, mostly Peugeots (headed by the four Kronos team drivers Vouilloz, Loix, Meeke and Prokop) but also strong presence of works Skodas (Hanninen and Kopecky), Fiats (Rossetti and Basso), Proton (for the first time they have two cars on an event, Wilks and Bouffier).and Opel (Mikkelsen).

Four drivers represent historical stars of the event who have won this event three times in the past, the legendary Czech Renault Alpine driver Vladimir Hubacek, the Norwegian John Haugland, the cosmopolitan Enrico Bertone and the Czech Roman Kresta, who lives close to Zlin. When the rally series began it was mixed and several times went into regions around Puchov which are now in Slovakia. Also tight road sections formed an important competitive element as well. In the late seventies the rear engined Skoda 130RS cars were unbeatable, winning the event five times in a row, their light weight and nimbleness completely suited to the roads despite their small 1300cc engines. These days the route is all-asphalt. In the eighties the event became hugely popular among privateers from Western Europe. Czech drivers are highly fancied, to the extent that regular IRC and especially ERC drivers are sure to start at a disadvantage, as they did recently in Madeira. Several other top Czech drivers come from Zlin itself, including Pavel Valousek. Top favourite non-Super 2000 driver has to be former Czech champion Vaclav Pech (Evo IX).

The roads on the Barum Rally are widely enjoyed. Haugland has had a lifetime of experience of international rallying and said "the roads are quite quick, and the character of the event is the frequently changing grip levels. Sometimes the roads are in perfect condition, sometimes in need of repair and can be really bumpy and be quite narrow as well. The weather can also play its part. Being held in central Europe in late summer it will normally be hot but often in the late afternoons it will suddenly become thundery, rain heavily but immediately clear up again".

Current championship standings in the IRC show Kris Meeke still leading in his Peugeot, five points ahead of Jan Kopecky (Skoda) and jointly third two point s behind are Giandomenico Basso and Freddy Loix, while in the two wheel drive category second placed Denis Millet in the turbo 1.6 litre Peugeot 207 hopes to overhaul Manuel Villa who does not start this event. In the ERC the top three competitors are in the line-up. These are Basso who is eight points clear at the top of the list ahead of Michal Solowow and Corrado Fontana who is two points behind. In the ERC two-wheel category the two top challenges are both present: Czech Citroen C2 S1600 driver Antonin Tlustak who currently is 17 points in front of Renault Clio R3 driver Todor Slavov from Bulgaria. This is the eighth out of 11 rounds of the IRC, and seventh out of 11 in the ERC.

A recent popular additional development to the route has occured, the three-lap nine kilometre nighttime superspecial stage close to Zlin centre around the former Bata industrial zone in the centre of town which serves to bring the excitement to town. Crowds come from all over the country, and many from neighbouring countries including Poland, and start to gather in the city six hours before the rally is due to start. The route crosses a railway line and train services are suspended during the course of the event, passengers being bussed for their onward travel. There is a special feeling among fans for the Barum Rally which they call ‘‘Barumka’’.

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