Spectators Decide the Winner!
The organisers of the Barum Czech Rally Zlin have a novel idea. Spectators will decide the prize winners on their auxiliary event, the Star Rally. This event will be held over stages used on the international event, between the runs of the championship rally drivers, but these competitors will be using classic or replica cars. Cars made after 1986 must be authentic rally cars, replica cars can be used if they were built earlier. Times on the stages will be not taken. A promoter explained: "The results will be compiled on the basis of SMS (text messages) votes from the spectators during the rally. This is organised in conjunction with Radio Zlin, and votes will be according to the pleasure each participant gives the public, maybe by quality of preparation, style of driving - or whatever! “

Latest Barum News
... Fiat have had to make hurried rearrangements after Luca Rossetti’s car was badly damaged in Madeira, not helped by this happening at he time of the annual holiday closure of the Fiat factory in Italy.
... With one very important exception there are few changes this year. The exception is that the name of the event has changed! It is now Barum Czech Rally Zlin, to recognise extra support for the Czech tourist authorities, as well as a wish to promote the event as the most important rally in the country.
... It is not yet known whether Josef Petak will be able to start after a serious crash in a Peugeot 207 nine days ago on the Krkonose Rally.
... Andreas Mikkelsen first tested the Opel last Tuesday. This will be his first rally in a S2000 although he has already tested a Proton.
... For the first time four Fabia S2000s will be on the same event. Sources at Skoda say that over twenty Fabia S2000s have now been built, including four experimental cars used only for testing, and four cars which have been scrapped.

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