The FIA European Rally Championship stops off in Czech Republic this week (15 - 17 August) with an asphalt challenge like no other.

Featuring high-speed forest sections, narrow stretches through villages, bumpy and sometimes broken roads, plus unpredictable weather, Barum Czech Rally Zlín has tested the ERC stars and their cars since 1984.

Forty-seven crews have entered round six of the 2025 ERC season including 11-time Barum Czech Rally Zlín winner Jan Kopecký, the 2013 ERC champion, overall ERC podium finishers Erik Cais and Filip Mareš, plus Domink Stříteský, who claimed his breakthrough Barum Czech Rally Zlín victory 12 months ago.

"I grew up around Zlín, it's my home and it was a fantastic atmosphere," said Stříteský. "There can be different weather, you have the [corner] cuts and a lot of types of surface. You have to adapt at the moment so it's the most difficult and also best. It's not easy to find your confidence and not crash."

Also in contention are ERC title contenders Miko Marczyk – the Michelin-equipped championship leader after five rounds – and Pirelli-shod Andrea Mabellini. Jon Armstrong, Hankook driver and 2024 Junior ERC champion Mille Johansson, and MRF-supplied Simone Tempestini will also be in action. Other expected frontrunners include Simon Wagner, who has finished on the Zlín podium at his last three attempts, 2019 ERC champion Chris Ingram, Hungarian hero Miklós Csomós, Czech rising talent Adam Březík and 2024 ERC3 title winner Filip Kohn.

ERC titles up for grabs
Tymek Abramowski and Calle Carlberg can win big on Barum Czech Rally Zlín. Abramowski is all but assured the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy title – and the accompanying Fiesta Rally2 prize drive on next month's JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion. Carlberg, meanwhile, needs a top-10 finish to secure the Hankook-backed FIA Junior ERC Championship, which comes with a Junior WRC prize drive in 2026.

Barum Czech Rally Zlín route in short
Thirteen all-asphalt stages over a timed distance of 207.49 kilometres provide the challenge on round six of the 2025 ERC season. The ultra-challenging route is 65 per cent new compared to 2024 and is some 120 kilometres shorter in terms of the liaison distance.

How to watch?
Fans across the globe can experience the excitement and drama of the ERC with every stage of every rally broadcast on Rally.TV. In addition, the ERC is broadcast in a number of countries around the world and fans are advised to check local listings for details.

Barum Czech Rally Zlín: the key numbers
Stages: 13
Stage distance: 207.49 kilometres
Total distance: 754.15 kilometres