Event
Founded in 1971 and part of the European Rally Championship since 1984, Barum Czech Rally Zlín has earned its place among the continent's most respected asphalt rallies. The 2026 edition marks the 55th running of an event that consistently delivers what rally fans crave: technical stages, committed driving, and an atmosphere that few other rounds can match.
The rally takes its name from the tyre manufacturer headquartered in Zlín – the company founded by Tomáš Baťa, whose shoe empire transformed this Moravian town into an industrial powerhouse. Today, the surrounding forests and valleys provide over 200 kilometres of competitive stages that wind through the picturesque Zlín region towards the Slovak border. The roads are fast but unforgiving: narrow, often lined with trees, demanding absolute precision from crews pushing modern Rally2 machinery to its limits.
What sets Barum apart is its relationship with the town itself. The Friday evening superspecial transforms Zlín's streets into a stage, with spectators packing every available vantage point to watch cars blast through the urban landscape. The energy is unmistakable – this is a community that genuinely lives for its rally, and the enthusiasm carries through the entire weekend as tens of thousands of fans disperse to stages throughout the region.
Jan Kopecký has made this event his own, claiming twelve victories on home soil including his 2025 triumph, but the ERC field always brings serious international competition. The parallel Star Rally Historic adds vintage machinery to the mix, giving classic car enthusiasts their own championship battle on the same roads.
Zlín lies in eastern Czechia, roughly 300 kilometres from Prague and easily accessible from Vienna or Bratislava. Accommodation books quickly – the town fills completely during rally weekend, so plan ahead.
