Baja Poland 2018: Prokop following great champions’ footsteps

Although ice hockey is considered as Czech national sport, rallying is another discipline, which grabs a lot of attention among people in the country. During WRC events fans from Prague, Brno, Pilsen, Ostrava or many other Czech cities can keep their fingers crossed for Jan Kopecky, while in off-road rallying it is Martin Prokop, who gives them thrills. Martin is another top driver who is expected to compete in Columna Medica Baja Poland (30 August – 2 September).

Prokop, born in city of Jihlava, is well known to rallying fans thanks to his many outings in WRC. His debut in top rallying series of the world took place in 2005 when he entered Rallye Monte Carlo – the first event of the season. Until the end of 2011 season Prokop competed in WRC support series – Junior WRC, PCWRC (Production Cars World Rally Championship) and SWRC (World Rally Championship for crews in S2000 and R4 cars). His biggest achievement came in 2009 when he won Junior WRC. On his way to this success Prokop beat Polish driver Michal Kosciuszko, who eventually finished as a championship runner-up.

In Wales Rally GB – the last round of 2011 season – Martin jumped behind the wheel of Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Season finale was the very first time, when Czech driver competed in WRC round in top category car. It evolved into a pretty long “stint” in WRC machinery. Until the end of 2015 season Prokop, just like Robert Kubica, was one of few privateers, who competed in WRC rounds on regular basis. Before 2016 got underway, the driver from Jihlava decided to switch to off-road rallying. This way Prokop followed the footsteps of drivers like Carlos Sainz (two-time World Rally Champion and two-time Dakar Rally winner), Sebastien Loeb (nine-time World Rally Champion) or Mikko Hirvonen (four-time World Rally Championship runner-up). Since 2016 Prokop entered Dakar Rally three times scoring his best result in 2018, when he finished in seventh position.

In rounds of FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies Prokop competes in Ford F150 Evo rally car. The right seat of this pickup is taken by Jan Tomanek – Martin’s compatriot. During eight rounds of current season Czech duo managed to earn as many as 184 points, which gives them third position in cup standings. Their best result was first place in Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, while three other events Prokop and Tomanek finished in top three.

2018 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies classification (after Hungarian Baja)
1. Jakub Przygoński        POL       258 pts
2. Władimir Wasiliew        RUS    201 pts
3. Martin Prokop            CZE    184 pts
4. Yazeed Al-Rajhi            SAU    60 pts
5. Yasir Hamad Seaidan    SAU    58 pts
6. José Luis Pena Campo    ESP    53 pts
7. Ahmed Alshegawi        SAU    49 pts
8. Aron Domżała            POL    36 pts
9. Claude Fournier            FRA    31 pts
10. Nasser Al Attiyah        QAT    30 pts
Joan Roma            ESP    30 pts

The route: 736,38 kms including 7 special stages of total length of 505,08 kms

Source and Image: Rally-Raid Network