Pavel Valoušek has been selected to compete for the 'BFGoodrich Drivers Team' in a Kronos-run Peugeot 207 S2000 on the Barum Rally Zlin next month, round six of the 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Valoušek was one of 24 applicants to apply for the drive and then made the shortlist initially drawn up by BFGoodrich and Kronos.
In the end he got nine votes - cast by a panel comprising 14 representatives of the Czech media, plus representatives from BFGoodrich and Kronos Racing - while the other drivers to make it into the final five were Tomáš Kostka, with one vote, Jaroslav Orsák, with two votes, Jan Šlehofer, with three votes and Karel Trojan.
Valoušek will now take part in a test near Namur, Belgium, on August 7, before linking up with resident Kronos drivers Freddy Loix and Nicolas Vouilloz for the event itself, which runs from August 22-24.
"I am very happy and I would like to thank everyone for giving me this opportunity," said the 29-year-old, who is a regular in the Czech Rally Championship and who has competed in 18 WRC events. "It must have been a tough call to make, and that's why I would like to thank everyone for the confidence they have placed in me."
BFGoodrich competition director Frédéric Henry-Biabaud meanwhile remains happy with the way the 'BFG Drivers Team' programme continues to be supported.
"Today was the third time there has been voting for the BFGoodrich Drivers Team and I am particularly pleased with the success of this operation this time round. The agency Mediasport received 24 applications in total, and that's a terrific score for the Czech Republic," he continued.
"The Czech journalists were very enthusiastic and we would like to thank them for their active involvement in this project by choosing the winning driver and co-driver. I am sure they will benefit from extensive media coverage.
