European Historic Rally Championship Round 2 – Historic Vltava Rallye

Rallye Šumava Klatovy has run 59 times, and the cars of the Historic Vltava Rallye have participated in 33 of those editions, most recently on 25-27 April as part of the Czech and FIA European Historic Rally Championships.  Based in Klatovy in the southwest of the Czech Republic, the popular two-day event offered twelve special stages and over 140km of competitive action in the rolling countryside close to the city.

Rally legend Jari-Matti Latvala makes it two out of two in Czech Republic  Photos Petr Šedivec

Rally legend Jari-Matti Latvala makes it two out of two in Czech Republic

Since Jari-Matti Latvala, whose tally includes 18 victories in WRC rallies, announced that he would be competing in this year’s EHRC, all eyes have been on the Toyota Celica ST185 bearing the number 2.  The Finn, one of the most successful drivers not to have won a WRC championship, has so far delivered wins in two out of two Historic Championship events so far this season.  With co-driver Tuuka Shemeikka, standing in for Latvala’s regular co-driver Janni Hussi this weekend, the pair dominated 11 of the 12 special stages to finish nearly four minutes ahead of reigning champions Tibor Erdi Jr and Istvan Kerek.  But for a small turbo issue at the end of the first day, they probably would have made it 12 from 12.

Donagh Kelly’s BMW M3 took third place on the FIA podium and was the first 2WD car home

Read the full report in our June2025 issue, available in hard copy of online..