Autosportfoto

Botka and Tlusťák join forces for ERC Teams’ championship assault

ERC regulars Dávid Botka and Antonín Tlusťák have joined forces to chase success in the revamped FIA European Rally Championship for Teams this season.

Botka, ERC2 champion in 2015 and Tlusťák, overall championship runner-up in 2010, have recruited ERC Junior Under 27 contender Karel Kupec to complete their three-car squad with Botka and Kupec in action on this week's Azores Airlines Rallye, before Tlusťák enters the fray on Rally Islas Canarias in May.

"Last year we have stepped into R5 category and gained lot of new experience with our Citroën DS3 R5," said Hungarian Botka. "We have made some good stage times and finished the season with fourth place in Cyprus. This year we will continue with our car and will try to fight not only for overall results, but also the Teams' championship."

Tlusťák, who formed part of the GPD Mit Metal Racing Team, which won the ERC entrants' prize in 2013, said: "As there is a revamped Teams' championship, we have started thinking about making a team which should fight for the podium again. Our partnership with Dávid Botka was first in my mind as we are regular competitors in the ERC for few years and we know each other very well."

A clash with the Kopna Rallysprint in Czech Republic, Tlusťák's home event, has forced the ERC stalwart to miss the Azores season opener. However, he plans to be ever-present for the remainder of the 2017 ERC season from Rally Islas Canarias.

Eighteen squads have registered for the European Rally Championship for Teams, which rewards the eventual winner with a coveted FIA title.

Zdroj: fiaerc.com