This year, MOTOR JIKOV ranked among the top thirty vehicles with alternative propulsion at one of the most famous Czech automotive races. Two teams competed with Škoda Citigo GreenTec and VW Passat Ecofuel. In the third edition of the New Energies Rallye, participants included vehicles such as Seat Leon TGI, Fiat 500L, Opel Zafira Tourer powered by CNG, fully electric VW e-Up, BMW i3, Porsche 911, and hybrid Opel Ampera, among others.
The competition commenced with a star route from Tábor, Třeboň, and Freistadt in Austria, continued through Český Krumlov, and the first stage concluded at the exhibition grounds in České Budějovice. On the second day, the route took participants from České Budějovice through Svatý Jan n. Malší, Kaplice, Dolní Dvořiště, Lipno, and Rožmberk to Český Krumlov, where a grand awards ceremony and prize presentation were held.
From left: Jan Kocourek, Lukáš Vosecký, Andrea Homolová and Lenka Mikulenková
The biggest attraction of the rally has always been the fast racing cars, but public and participant interest in the New Energies Rallye continues to grow. While only eight vehicles participated in the first year, last year saw sixteen, and this year, the number doubled to twenty-eight. The core principle of the competition involves precision tests focused on covering a predetermined distance within a set time, with teams penalized for deviations from the ideal time.
“Over two days, we completed 12 precision tests. Our nimble Citigo achieved the best results in technical segments and tests with longer acceleration. Conversely, the dynamic Passat handled an approximately one-hundred-meter speed test best, missing the ideal time by only fractions of a second,” evaluates Jan Kocourek from the MOTOR JIKOV team, which has participated in the New Energies Rallye three times. He adds, “On Saturday, rainy weather and slippery roads made speed tests more challenging, especially in turns.”
Lukáš Vosecký, driver of the second MOTOR JIKOV team now participating for the first time, shares his experience: “We won one of the speed tests with Passat, but generally performed better on longer sections. Ultimately, we tested our capabilities and those of our vehicles to the fullest. Even though we finished in the lower half overall, we truly enjoyed the competition.”
The Škoda Citigo with team members Jan Kocourek and Andrea Homolová averaged a consumption of 3.6 kg CNG/100 km during this year's rally. The Passat, with Lukáš Vosecký and Lenka Mikulenková on board, recorded an average of 5.2 CNG/100 km.
“We are very pleased to participate and experience driving according to the itinerary, in full traffic, and while obeying traffic regulations,” say Lenka Mikulenková and Andrea Homolová, who joined as navigators alongside their colleagues.
The New Energies Rallye Český Krumlov is organized by ČK Motosport in cooperation with the ÚAMK Automotoklub Český Krumlov and SPŠ Tábor. It is open to owners of electric cars, hybrids, and vehicles powered by alternative fuels such as CNG, LPG, or ethanol. “We expect this race to further promote the use of CNG propulsion,” states Miroslav Dvořák, Chairman of the Board and CEO of MOTOR JIKOV Group a.s. Since 2009, this South Bohemian company has been investing in CNG, developing its first compressed natural gas refueling station, and now offers a wide range of fueling stations. Its fleet includes over 30 passenger and commercial vehicles and a dozen forklifts powered by CNG.
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MOTOR JIKOV Group a.s. company utilizes the opportunity to draw funds from European program grant resources.
