Orsák shines with IRC Production Cup victory

Jaroslav Orsák secured a comfortable victory in the IRC Production Cup section of Barum Czech Rally Zlín earlier today but it was Václav Pech who created the strongest impression with a plethora of stage victories in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.

Pech, who finished sixth overall in Zlín last season, was fastest on 11 of the 14 stages that ran in anger but wasn’t classified in the final results after he retired when both of his car’s rear suspension arms broke completing stage six of the demanding asphalt event, round seven of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

He restarted on Sunday under SupeRally regulations and set the pace on all six stages that ran, albeit to no avail.

“It has been a bad rally for me,” said Pech. “There were some good points but many problems. I am not happy.”

It was a different story for Orsák, who finished more than two minutes ahead of Subaru Impreza driver Daniel Behalek. “There were no problems for me because I drive very safely on this rally. We had a good lead and the car was okay.”

Martin Bujáček finished third in a Lancer with Václav Arazim next up in another Lancer.

Fumio Nutahara, in his Yokohama-supported Impreza R4, had been expected to challenge but the Japanese crashed into retirement on stage five, inflicting considerable damage to his Stohl Racing-run machine in the process.

Italian Marco Cavigioli’s five-event IRC Production Cup campaign began with 15th place in his Lancer.