What Is 2014 Barum Czech Rally Zlín

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2014 Barum Czech Rally Zlín was held from August 29 to 31, 2014, in Zlín, Czech Republic. It served as Round 7 of the 2014 European Rally Championship (ERC) and was won by Czech driver Jan Kopecký in a Škoda Fabia S2000.

Key Facts

The rally took place from August 29–31, 2014, in Zlín, Czech Republic.
It was the seventh round of the 2014 European Rally Championship (ERC).
Jan Kopecký won the event driving a Škoda Fabia S2000.
Kopecký finished with a time of 2 hours, 38 minutes, and 33.5 seconds.
The rally featured 17 special stages covering a total of 278.7 kilometers.

Overview

The 2014 Barum Czech Rally Zlín was a key event in the European Rally Championship (ERC) calendar, held from August 29 to 31, 2014. Based in Zlín, Czech Republic, it attracted top-tier rally drivers and teams competing on mixed-surface roads including gravel and asphalt.

As the seventh round of the 2014 ERC season, the rally combined speed, endurance, and technical precision. The event was organized by the Autoklub Zlín and promoted by Barum, a Czech tire manufacturer, lending its name to the competition.

17 special stages were contested over the course of the rally, totaling 278.7 kilometers of competitive distance, testing both driver skill and mechanical reliability.
The rally headquarters and service park were located in Zlín’s Letná district, a central hub for team logistics and fan engagement throughout the weekend.
Jan Kopecký, a Czech national rally champion, claimed victory with a final time of 2:38:33.5, showcasing home advantage and familiarity with local terrain.
Kopecký drove a Škoda Fabia S2000, a rear-wheel-drive Super 2000 rally car powered by a 1.6L turbocharged engine producing approximately 280 horsepower.
The event drew over 50,000 spectators across the weekend, highlighting its popularity and status as one of the most attended rallies in Central Europe.

How It Works

The Barum Czech Rally Zlín follows the standard format of international rally competitions, combining timed special stages with road sections governed by traffic laws. Competitors accumulate time across stages, with the lowest total time winning.

Special Stages: These are closed-road timed sections where drivers race against the clock. In 2014, 17 stages were run over three days, including repeats of key routes like Luhačovice and Hustopeče.
Regularity: Between stages, drivers must follow public roads at legal speeds. Failure to comply results in time penalties enforced by the FIA.
Service Parks: Teams have 15-minute service windows between stages to repair, refuel, or adjust vehicles, crucial for maintaining performance over rough terrain.
Co-Driver Role: The co-driver reads pace notes that describe upcoming corners and hazards, allowing the driver to maintain high speeds safely through unfamiliar terrain.
Classification: Results are ranked by cumulative time, with separate categories for ERC, national entries, and support series like ERC-3 for production cars.
Scoring System: As an ERC round, the rally awarded championship points, with 25 points going to the winner, scaling down to 1 for 10th place.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2014 Barum Czech Rally Zlín with other ERC rounds from the same season:

Rally Event	Date	Winner	Car Model	Winning Time
Barum Czech Rally Zlín	Aug 29–31, 2014	Jan Kopecký	Škoda Fabia S2000	2:38:33.5
Rallye Açores	Mar 27–29, 2014	Armindo Araújo	Peugeot 207 S2000	3:12:18.4
Rally Poland	Jun 19–21, 2014	Krzysztof Hołowczyc	Subaru Impreza STI	2:55:41.3
Internationale Rallye Wohlen	Sep 12–14, 2014	Yuriy Protasov	Ford Fiesta S2000	2:20:17.8
Rallye du Valais	Oct 24–25, 2014	Sepp Wiegand	Škoda Fabia S2000	2:10:08.4

The 2014 Barum Czech Rally Zlín stood out for its high attendance and competitive field. While slightly shorter than some ERC events, its mix of fast gravel roads and technical challenges made it a favorite among drivers. The victory by Jan Kopecký on home soil added national significance, boosting media coverage and fan turnout.

Why It Matters

The 2014 Barum Czech Rally Zlín was more than just a motorsport event—it highlighted the growing prominence of Central European rallies on the international stage. It also served as a showcase for Škoda’s rally engineering and marketing strategy.

The rally reinforced Škoda’s dominance in the ERC, with Kopecký’s win contributing to the brand’s strong 2014 season performance.
It provided valuable exposure for Barum tires, demonstrating their performance under extreme conditions to a pan-European audience.
The event boosted regional tourism, with Zlín and surrounding areas seeing a significant influx of international visitors and media.
It offered emerging drivers a platform to compete against seasoned professionals in a high-pressure, FIA-sanctioned environment.
The rally’s success helped secure future ERC rounds in the Czech Republic, ensuring long-term investment in motorsport infrastructure.
It demonstrated the viability of mixed-surface rallies in Central Europe, influencing future route designs across the championship.

Ultimately, the 2014 Barum Czech Rally Zlín combined sporting excellence with economic and cultural impact, cementing its legacy in European rallying history.