Jan Tomanek greatest achievements:
2009 Junior World Rally Championship winner
2009 Production Car World Rally Championship runner-up
2005 Co-driver in manufacturer BP-Ford World Rally Team
Beginnings
Jan Tomanek started his co-driver career in 1993 in Slovak Rally Championship. One year later his long and successful cooperation with rally driver Roman Kresta began. The cooperation, including contracts with two manufacturer teams of Skoda and Ford, lasted until 2005 season.
Became the champion
Big success came in 2000 season, when Jan Tomanek with Roman Kresta and Skoda Octavia WRC won three Czech Rally Championship rounds, and in another two they achieved podium results. Kresta and Tomanek won Czech Rally Championship for the first time in their career. In the following 2001 season Roman Kresta and Jan Tomanek with Skoda Octavia WRC defeated their Czech Rally Championship title.
Participation in World Rally Championship
In 2001 season, Kresta and Tomanek made their step up to World Rally Championship (WRC) during Rally Acropolis (Ford Focus WRC). Then they participated in another three rounds (Skoda Octavia WRC). In the following season Kresta and Tomanek concentrated their efforts to World Rally Championship taking part in selected rounds of WRC with Skoda Octavia WRC under the guise of Skoda Motorsport manufacturer team. The best season’s result came in Safari Rally (7th). In 2003 season, Tomanek and Kresta participated in WRC again. This year they drove Peugeot 206 WRC, prepared by Bozian Racing. The best result in 2003 WRC was 8th place in Wales Rally GB. In 2004 WRC Roman Kresta and Jan Tomanek changed three cars: Hyundai Accent WRC, Ford Focus WRC and Skoda Fabia WRC.
In manufacturer BP-Ford World Rally Team
In 2005 season, Roman Kresta became manufacturer driver of BP Ford World Rally Team. Jan Tomanek cooperated with him in eight world rallies, achieving their best results in Tour de Corse-Rallye de France and Rally Catalunya (5th places).
Cooperation with Martin Prokop
In 2006 season Jan Tomanek initiated cooperation with rally driver Martin Prokop and became the member of Jipocar Racing Team. With Citroen C2 S1600 they participated in Junior World Rally Championship. In Rally Catalunya 2006 they achieved the biggest success of the season when they won the JWRC round for the first time in their career. In JWRC overall rankings they finished 10th.
In 2007 season Jan Tomanek continued in JWRC with Martin Prokop. They achieved four podium results including two victories in Rally Deutschland and Tour de Corse-Rallye de France. They added 3rd place in Rally Sardinia and 2nd place in Rally Catalunya. In JWRC overall rankings they achieved third place. To their JWRC program Prokop and Tomanek participated in three WRC rounds with Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX car.
In 2008 season, Martin Prokop and Jan Tomanek took part in JWRC and also PWRC (Production Car World Rally Championship) events with Citroen C2 S1600 car respectively Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX car. In JWRC season they achieved three victories (Rally Finland, Rally Catalunya and Tour de Corse-Rallye de France) and in the JWRC overall rankings they occupied third place. The best PWRC result came in Rally New Zealand and in the overall rankings they finished fifth.
2009 season has been so far the most successful one for the crew of Martin Prokop and Jan Tomanek. They took part in JWRC and PWRC again and belonged to the top drivers in both championships. They entered the 2009 season with purpose to fight for JWRC win and achieve the best possible result in PWRC. In all five JWRC rounds they either won (Rally Cyprus, Rally Sardinia and Rally Finland) or finished in runner-up position (Rally Ireland, Rally Poland). Those results guaranteed Martin Prokop – Jan Tomanek winning JWRC. They achieved good results also in PWRC gaining four podium results (victories in Rally Australia and Wales Rally GB, 2nd place in Rally Portugal and 3rd place in Rally Norway). They finished the PWRC season in runner-up position.
Career highlights
2009
JWRC (Junior World Rally Championship) with rally driver Martin Prokop and Citroën C2 S1600 car – winning JWRC – 1st in JWRC in Rally Cyprus, Rally Sardinia and Rally Finland
PWRC (Production Car World Rally Championship) with rally driver Martin Prokop and Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX car – 2nd in PWRC – 1st in PWRC in Rally Australia and Wales Rally GB
Barum Rally (IRC) in BFGoodrich Drivers Team with rally driver Martin Prokop and Peugeot 207 S2000 car – 5th overall
2008
JWRC (Junior World Rally Championship) with rally driver Martin Prokop and Citroën C2 S1600 car – 3rd in JWRC – 1st in JWRC in Rally Finland, Rally Catalunya and Tour de Corse-Rallye de France
PWRC (Production Car World Rally Championship) with rally driver Martin Prokop and Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX car – 5th in PWRC – 1st in PWRC in Rally New Zealand
2007
JWRC (Junior World Rally Championship) with rally driver Martin Prokop and Citroën C2 S1600 car – 3rd in JWRC – 1st in JWRC in Rally Deutschland, Tour de Corse-Rallye de France
WRC – 3 rounds with rally driver Martin Prokop and Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX car
Rally Bohemia with rally driver Martin Prokop and Citroën C2 S1600 car – 3rd overall
2006
JWRC (Junior World Rally Championship) with rally driver Martin Prokop and Citroën C2 S1600 car – 10th in JWRC – 1st in JWRC in Rally Catalunya
2005
WRC (World Rally Championship) with rally driver Roman Kresta – contracted by manufacturer BP Ford World Rally Team (Ford Focus WRC) – 8 starts – two 5th in Tour de Corse-Rallye de France and Rally Catalunya
2004
WRC (World Rally Championship) with rally driver Roman Kresta – 3 starts
Czech Rally Championship with rally driver Roman Kresta and Subaru Impreza WRC/Ford Focus WRC – Roman Kresta 3rd in Czech Rally Championship
2003
WRC (World Rally Championship) with rally driver Roman Kresta and Peugeot 206 WRC – 4 starts – 8th in Wales Rally GB
Czech Rally Championship with rally driver Roman Kresta (Peugeot 206 WRC) – win in Rally Bohemia – and Jaroslav Vancik (Škoda Felicia Kit Car)
2002
WRC (World Rally Championship) with rally driver Roman Kresta – contracted by manufacturer Skoda Motorsport (Skoda Octavia WRC) – 5 starts – 7th in Safari Rally
2001
WRC (World Rally Championship) with rally driver Roman Kresta – contracted by manufacturer Skoda Motorsport (Skoda Octavia WRC) – 4 starts
Czech Rally Championship with rally driver Roman Kresta and Skoda Octavia WRC – winning Czech Rally Championship, 1st in Rally Sumava, Valasska Rally, Rally Bohemia and Barum rally
2000
Czech Rally Championship with rally driver Roman Kresta and Skoda Octavia WRC – winning Czech Rally Championship – 1st in Rally Cesky Krumlov, Rally Bohemia, Barum Rally
1999 – 1996
Czech Rally Championship