Roman Kresta drives his final Rally @ Barum Rally, Zlin | ERC - 2013

As Roman Kresta had announced at the beginning of the rally, about his retirement from driving which came after claiming four stage wins and a fifth place at the last day on Barum Czech Rally Zlín, last weekend.

The three-time winner of the FIA European Rally Championship, Kresta had achieved considerable success in the motorsport career spanning two decades. He pulled the plug-off the driving career, to better manage his rally team and car preparation business, Kresta Racing.


"The plan before the season started was to stop after Barum,"said the 37-year-old. "I do it a long time as a rally driver and now there is so much effort needed. At the moment I am not really a rally driver, I am a manager around everything with my team. It’s life, I’ve had a good career, driving for Ford in the WRC, winning this rally three times, things like that. There is a lot of emotion and I might come back one day for some rallies in the future but now is the right time to stop."

Roman Kresta, who enjoyed a season as a factory Ford driver in the world championship in 2005, and had finished 8th on the championship with a best finishes at 5th twice. Here in Barum Rally, he was on course for third place in Zlín if not for a puncture on Sunday’s second stage to drop him to fifth overall. However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Czech when his driver Jaromír Tarabus took the final spot on the podium in a similar ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000. He was definitely not happy after loosing his podium spot, when he slipped to fifth but was aware what rallying is all about!

At RalliHeart, wishing Roman Kresta a bright and successful future!

[source: fiaerc.com]