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Yates links up with local legend Kresta for Zlín ERC debut

Rhys Yates will join forces with local legend Roman Kresta when he makes his Barum Czech Rally Zlín debut, as he bids to continue his chase of FIA ERC Junior Under 28 Championship honours.

Yates normally drives a ŠKODA Fabia R5 for top British team CA1 Sport. But with Yates using that car for the Ulster Rally in Northern Ireland this weekend, the 26-year-old has come up with the ultimate alternative: a drive in a Fabia R5 run by Kresta's eponymous team.

Kresta, a former factory Ford driver in the world championship, has 20 starts in Zlín to his name and is a three-time winner of his country's ERC counter. His team from nearby Luhačovice is highly respected, giving Yates the perfect platform for his first appearance on the challenging sealed-surface event.

"It's certainly the right package for the rally and it will be interesting to see how we go out there," said Brettex-backed Yates. "It's another rally I haven't competed on, so it will be difficult to be on the pace from the word go. But I'll certainly be dialling into the experience of the team to make up for that so it should offer us a good chance to have a go at the ERC Junior Under 28 honours."

He continued: "I've been looking at this clash for a little while now and once I knew we still have a mathematical chance in both championships I had to find a way of doing both events. It was going to be pretty impossible to get the car from Antrim [in Northern Ireland] to Zlin in time for a decent shakedown and we have been lucky enough to work out a great deal with Roman and his team."

James Morgan will co-drive Yates on the British championship-counting Ulster Rally with regular partner Elliott Edmondson returning for Zlín, an event he's tackled twice in the past with Chris Ingram.

Zdroj: fiaerc.com