Round 8, Czech Republic

Barum Czech Rally Zlín belongs to the most important motorsport events in the Czech Republic and in 2012 it's going to celebrate the 42^nd edition. The tradition of this event is closely connected to very high popularity of rallysport in this country and it has been year by year proved by the number of spectators; only in 2011 there were count more than 265.000 visitors alongside the BCRZ special stages! The importance of this event was also readable from the media interest; in 2009, 322 journalist teams from 25 countries came to Zlín, 87 from TV or radio stations, 110 writing editors and 125 photographers.

The long-term partner of the event is the company Barum. Connecting the biggest and the most successful tyre producer in the Czech Republic with the most important motorsport event in the country makes very solid relationship and helps to provide good name both the Barum company and the Barum Czech Rally Zlín. Like in the past, the tyre producer will be the main partner of the rally also during the next edition of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín.

This rally, which has the base in Moravian city of Zlín, has been developed during the years up to the top of the motorsport scene in the Czech Republic and every year it's been the pioneer with introducing new features and innovations to the rallysport. Since 1983 the rally has been a part of European Rally Championship and by 2007 it also became a part of Intercontinental Rally Challenge, series promoted by satellite broadcast TV Eurosport. With this step the quality of the rally again rose up. In 2011 the competition could offer the best entry list in its history. This edition was won for the second time by Jan Kopecký and Petr Starý driving the works Škoda Fabia S2000.

The rally-headquarter as well as the start and finish ramp are located in the centre of Zlín city. The media center found a new place in the main Tomas Bata University building, which will welcome the journalist again in 2012. The whole rally action will be launched with scrutineering held in Zlín sports hall on Thursday, August 26. Next morning, crews can prove their cars on shakedown track close to the service base and in the evening, the rally will start with very popular Super Special Stage in the streets of Zlín city. Upcoming Saturday and Sunday will be fulfilled with 250 kilometres of tarmac special stages.