His victory at this year´s Barum Rally, however, was far from straightforward. Kopecký faced relentless pressure throughout, with Mabellini, Wagner, and Armstrong all exchanging places in the runner-up battle. It was ultimately Irishman Jon Armstrong who emerged as Kopecký’s fiercest challenger on Sunday, with the Czech driver sealing victory by a margin of just 10.7 seconds.
“I was pushing flat out, only easing off slightly at the end when I knew I had a safe gap. We love Barum, and I felt fantastic in the car and with the whole team. This year I enjoyed the rally much more than in the past,” Kopecký said at the finish. For the 43-year-old Agrotec Škoda Rally Team driver, it marked his 12th win at Zlín from 20 starts, confirming his exceptional record—all of them achieved with Škoda cars. “
The 2013 European champion not only collected crucial ERC points but also moved into the lead of the Czech national championship standings. With just one competition remaining—the September Rally Pačejov—he holds a 29-point advantage.
The Barum Czech Rally Zlín 2025 results also added some fresh drama to the ERC title fight. Both main contenders are driving Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars: Mabellini reduced the gap to leader Miko Marczyk to just 11 points, after the Pole finished only seventh. With two ERC rounds still to run, the battle remains wide open.
Škoda drivers also filled the lower half of the Zlín top ten: Adam Březík finished eighth, Jakub Matulka ninth, and Mille Johansson tenth, meaning six Fabia RS Rally2s were represented in the final top ten.
Škoda Rally Park
Alongside the competitive action, Škoda delivered an engaging program for fans at its home rally. The Škoda Rally Park in Zlín featured racing simulators, displays of iconic models including the Fabia Rally2, Fabia RS Rally2, the legendary 130 RS, and the road-going Octavia RS. Meanwhile, in the Otrokovice fan zone, visitors could discover the striking Škoda Enyaq RS Race concept as well as the Enyaq Coupé RS.
