Moravian Le Mans Series, the RC Model racing championship, continued last weekend in Otrokovice near Zlín, which is in real motorsport known for traditional Barum Rallye. This was actually fifth round of the series following two summer races in Frýdek-Místek on two different tracks. Both Frýdek-Místek races had between 20 and 25 entries but due to a danger of rains many of the entrants stayed at home so the numbers were more than twice smaller compared to previously seen in Blansko. Both Frýdek-Místek races were won by Tomáš Rajdus in LMP2 Porsche 911 GT1-98 Mulsanne ahead of Luděk Maléř with a group C Jaguar XJR-14, also categorised as LMP2 per Moravian Le Mans Series rules. There were very few LMP1 cars, which dominated the first two races of the season, in those two southern Moravian races. In a very sparse LMP1 field Roman Krejčí won on both occasions pretty easily and appeared in a unchallenged lead in the championship LMP1 classification, despite finishing only fourth and ninth overall, deeply behind the GT winner. GT class was dominated by two Corvettes driven by Pavel Melicher and Jakub Šimurda. Both scored wins and occupied third and sixth position in the overall championship standings.
Much more was expected from the next round in Zlín located in the middle of Morava. However tentatively promised entries from Slovakia and eastern Czech did not materialise, and none of mid-Moravian top drivers appeared with a car at the meeting as well. Local drivers Dolanský and Peška, both entered in LMP1, made the trip without car, just as spectators in the morning, and the main favourite Jaroslav Kopecký, second overall in Blansko and Xray Challenge regular stayed out of competition as well. There was another driver negotiated to take on Kopecký but he also did not appear. So in the end with non-appearance of another three northern Moravian drivers (north Moravia as the centre of the MLMS) we were down to only 13 cars on the grid. While GT was well supported both LMP classes had just three cars starting. Another LMP2 car (a Jaguar XJR-14, ex-M. Krejčí) appeared on the track during unofficial practice in hands of a quite new driver Lucie Krejčí, a girl which might appear next year in the GT category. The only other girl taking part in the MLMS series this year, Petra Vykydalová stayed at home this time, so her Toyota TS010 was driven by M. Krejčí who was rather satisfied with it and reached podium in class for the first time ever. His eighth place overall after a heavy battle with several GT cars was a success as well; It is not a secret now that he is planning to enter a new Xray X10 Link at the end of the season, first with the old Jaguar XJR-14 body, later to be replaced with a Porsche 962C in Rothmans colours.
The other two LMP2 cars were driven by Tomáš Rajdus, currently second in overall and LMP2 standings, and Petr Goluch, a third man in the LMP2 standing. The championship leader Luděk Maléř decided to skip this race, so we can already reveal that Tomáš Rajdus is now a new championship leader. Luděk Maléř is second now. There is probably no other candidate for the overall 2010 title because the third position is being kept by Pavel Melicher who drives his car extremely well but since he is in the GT category, his chances are very limited. All other drivers are either slower or do not participate on regular basis. Last year champion, Luděk Szostek has yet to enter a race in 2010. He is not going to be in the penultimate round at Brno but he promised a participation in the final race of the season, which is scheduled in Rychvald.
There was really no contest in LMP2 because Rajdus was way quicker than Goluch, who was notably quicker than the third M. Krejčí, who was able to keep in touch only after the first 15 minutes because of Goluch's battery issue. So they had to rely on interclass battles. While M. Krejčí kept three GT cars behind within a three lap margin, Rajdus had a great battle for the overall win. His main opponent now came from the LMP1 waters. It was Roman Štalmach, who entered or visited every race of the season but actually participated only in Blansko. Here in Zlín he was slightly slower than Rajdus but it was him who won the race after Tomáš Rajdus had to stop in the pits in the third 15-minute heat due to battery mountings. Of the four heats Rajdus won the first and the last one, Štalmach took the honours in the second heat after a great battle when both cars were running lap by lap very closely, both set the same fastest lap time (14.181 s). In the final heat Rajdus was able to cover three more laps than Štalmach but in total standing he had one lap less (238 compared to Štalmach's 239).
The third overall position belonged to a quite unchallenged GT contender Pavel Melicher who was never beaten by any of the other LMP drivers. Only Rostislav Zapletal, fourth overall and second in LMP1 usually kept third before slower but more reliable Melicher took him over. Roman Krejčí had also his great moments, even leading in one of the heats but due to some minor issues he managed to take only fifth overall and third in class. Now he is leading LMP1 with 62 points ahead of Zapletal, 42.4 pts.), Petr Jaremejko with 27.5, who skipped last two races, and Roman Štalmach with 26 points after only two starts.
The LMP2 class is now led by Tomáš Rajdus, for the first time after having started the season with a Vemac RD350R in the GT class, 80 pts., ahead of Luděk Maléř, 65 pts., who dominated the standings until now, Petr Goluch with 57 points and M. Krejčí who accumulated 44 points.
In the smallest GT class it is all about Pavel Melicher who now leads with 87 points ahead of Jakub Šimurda, 64 pts., both Corvettes and Tomáš Jírů with a Ford GT, 36pts., and Jan Koniarik, Saleen S7-R, 30 pts. who took part only in the last two races but always finished right behind Melicher in class and 4th and 7th overall respectively. He was a surprise late minute entry in Zlín, after the weather had been bad the day before in the race he had planned to enter instead.
The next weekend there is a penultimate race in Brno. We have already 16 drivers entered but much more is expected. Hopefully some entries from Slovakia will happen now, racers from eastern Czech should finally re-appear again and there is also several interesting drivers in the local RC MCC Brno, so we will see.
