A record-breaking 28 Super 2000 cars are set to start Barum Czech Rally Zlin, round nine of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which runs from 27-29 August.
The tally beats the existing benchmark of 24, held jointly by this year’s Geko Ypres Rally and last season’s Rallye Sanremo.
Among those expected to run at the front of the all-asphalt event, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this season, are 2009 winner Jan Kopecky, his Skoda Motorsport team-mate and IRC title leader Juho Hanninen, Peugeot UK’s defending IRC champion Kris Meeke and Rali Vinho Madeira winner Freddy Loix.
Other notable names on the 130-car entry are Guy Wilks, who returns to the IRC following his injury-enforced lay-off, Czech championship leader Pavel Valousek, and Thierry Neuville, who finished third on his last IRC appearance in Ypres in late June.
Barum Czech Rally Zlin begins with a ceremonial start on Friday 27 August at 17:00hrs local time. The opening stage is a 9.36-kilometre run through the streets of host city Zlin. Crews will tackle the course in reverse number order with the first car due to start at 21:15hrs.