The 12th Liptov Rally provided a thrilling conclusion to the Slovak Rally Championship, with Jaroslav and Erik Melichárek securing not only the event win but also their third championship title, reported motorsportmedia.sk. The crew from Topolče, driving a powerful Ford Fiesta RS WRC, overcame early setbacks and fierce competition to take their fourth win of the season and confirm their dominance in the national series.
A challenging start with a close call
Although the Melicháreks were heavy favourites heading into the rally, the opening stages proved that nothing in motorsport is guaranteed. During a tricky corner in the first section, the brothers spun off and clipped a fence, costing them around 20 seconds. This brief setback handed the lead to the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew of Róbert Kolčák and Július Lapdavský.
“We hit a fence when the car spun in a dirty corner. It just got away from us,” recounted Jaro Melichárek. Although they lost time, their rivals soon suffered their own misfortune: Kolčák and Lapdavský were hit with a 10-second penalty for missing a retarder, dropping them back into second place, just four seconds behind the leaders.
Cold mornings and tyre strategies
The crews faced cold and slippery conditions during the morning stages, making tyre choice critical. Those who picked the wrong compound had to manage tyre wear and temperatures carefully. As the day progressed, the weather stabilized, allowing the drivers to pick up the pace.
“We switched to a harder tyre compound for the second section to stay competitive,” said Kolčák, who was determined to regain the lead. The battle quickly developed into a two-horse race between the Melichárek brothers and Kolčák-Lapdavský, leaving the rest of the field trailing behind.
Securing the lead and controlling the pace
The second section saw both top crews push their limits, trading fastest times and thrilling fans along the route. However, the Melicháreks remained calm and focused, gaining valuable time on the technical third section in Bežan, which proved decisive. Heading into the final stages, the brothers held a 20-second lead, giving them room to control the pace.
“We knew we had to consolidate our position, and we executed our plan perfectly,” said Jaro Melichárek. With the longest stage, Huty (19 km), cut from the event, the final sprint was too short for Kolčák and Lapdavský to mount a comeback.
“The gap was too big to close in the last section, so we had to settle for second place,” admitted Kolčák. “Sometimes the opportunity doesn’t come, but we fought hard until the end.”
A well-deserved victory and a third championship title
With a flawless final stage, the Melichárek brothers crossed the finish line to claim both the Liptov Rally victory and their third national championship title. Their victory was greeted by cheering fans at the historic Rákóczi Castle in Szerencs, where the award ceremony took place.
“This victory is the result of hard work and dedication from everyone involved,” Jaro said emotionally at the finish line. “We couldn’t have achieved this without our incredible team and supporters. We will need a few days for it all to sink in, but we are immensely proud of this achievement.”
Tough competition and podium finishers
Kolčák and Lapdavský took second place, delivering a strong and balanced performance throughout the rally. The Moravian crew of Martin Lehký and Dušan Vít claimed third overall in their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, treating the event as preparation for their final sprint season in Vsetín.
“We’re thrilled to finish on the podium with such strong competition,” Lehký remarked. “This was our first time with this setup, and it gives us confidence heading into Vsetín.”
The home crew of Peter Jurečka and Martin Devoša placed fourth in their Hyundai i20 R5, delivering a strong performance in front of their local fans. “It was a fantastic experience to compete in front of a home crowd. Fourth place might be tough, but we’re proud of what we achieved,” said Jurečka.
Class winners and other standout performances
The top five positions were dominated by Class 2 vehicles, with Ivan Mutňanský and František Gregorík rounding out the top five in their Škoda Fabia R5. In the other classes, several crews delivered notable performances:
- Class 11 Winner: Jaroslav and Erik Melichárek (Ford Fiesta RS WRC)
- Class 2 Winner: Kolčák and Lapdavský (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2)
- Class 3 Winner: Dominik Benček and Tomáš Klíma (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) – Sixth overall
- Class 6 and 2WD Winner: Patrik Magyar and Adriana Marinecová (Ford Fiesta Rally4)
- Magyar also claimed the Junior Championship, finishing ahead of Jakub Jačišin and Emil Horniaček, who placed eighth overall.
- Class 5 Winner: Tomáš Polovka and Daniel Turcsányi (Citroen DS3 R3T) – Ninth overall
- Class 4 Winner: Peter Klik and Erik Mižák (BMW E36 M3)
Among the historic vehicles, the Škoda 130 LR crew of Dezider Krajčovič and Vladimír Lieskovec emerged victorious in the HK2 category, while the HK1 win went to Jaroslav Petran and Iveta Halčinová in a VAZ 21011 MTX Rally. The HK4 class saw Roman Burget and Kristína Smrčková take the win in their Škoda 120S Rallye. In the regularity competition (STRHP), Peter Kočiš and Marián Karniš triumphed in their Renault Dauphine.
An unforgettable conclusion to the season
The Liptov Rally provided a fitting finale to the Slovak International Championships, showcasing the very best of the country’s rally talent. With their victory, the Melichárek brothers cemented their legacy with a third championship title, while the event also highlighted rising stars like Patrik Magyar, who claimed the Junior Championship.
The combination of unpredictable moments, fierce battles, and emotional finishes made the 12th Liptov Rally one to remember. As the dust settles, the focus now turns to what the future holds for these talented drivers. For the Melichárek brothers and the other champions, this season’s success will serve as the foundation for even greater achievements ahead.
Rally LiptovFinal Results
01: J. Melichárek/E. Melichárek (Ford Focus RS WRC) – 40m 08.0s
02: R. Kolčák/J. Lapdavský (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 16.2s
03: M. Lehký/D. Vít (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 1m 48.8s
04: P. Jurečka/M. Devoša (Hyundai i20 R5) + 2m 29.5s
05: I. Mutňanský/F. Gregorík (Škoda Fabia R5) + 3m 16.8s
06: D. Benček/T. Klíma (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) + 3m 45.2s
07: P. Magyar/A. Marinecová (Ford Fiesta Rally4) + 3m 46.4s
08: J. Jačišin/E. Horniaček (Ford Fiesta Rally4) + 4m 34.4s
09: T. Polovka/D. Turcsányi (Citroën DS3 R3T Max) + 4m 35.7s
10: K. Švec/E. Švec (Peugeot 208 Rally4) + 4m 47.9s
