“So far, our ERC guest appearance has been a lot of fun. Thousands of excited fans are lined up on the roads and we enjoy the beautiful yet demanding special stages. The car is working perfect once again. We hope for a good finish of the rally on Sunday,” said Kopecký.
After his WRC 2 victory at Rally Germany, the 33-year-old quickly switched to driving on the narrow and bumpy roads in Moravia. With a win on the opening stage on Saturday the Czech rally hero took the overall lead and then left his opponents in the rearview mirror. At the end of the day he claimed wins on all eight special stages in his fabulous ŠKODA Fabia R5.
In his ŠKODA powerhouse, Kopecký kept his European opponents like current ERC leader Kajetan Kajetanowicz (PL) or runner-up Craig Breen (IRL) under control. Again, second-placed Václav Pech (CZ) was the main rival for the 2013 European champion and 2014 Asia Pacific Champion, who leads by 35.4 seconds ahead of Sunday’s six special stages. So far the ŠKODA veteran has won all four rounds in the Czech national championship in the new Fabia R5.
Crowd favourite Kopecký has claimed Barum Czech Rally Zlín victories in 2009, 2011 and 2013. Chances are good to continue this biennial rhythm.
The number for the Barum Czech Rally Zlín: 5
With five cars in the overall top 10, ŠKODA is the dominating brand after Barum Czech Rally Zlín’s first leg. In his ŠKODA Fabia R5 works driver Jan Kopecký is leading the rally followed by the Czech duo Pavel Valoušek and Jan Černý in P5 and P7 in the successful ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000. Dutchman Hermen Kobus is ninth in the ŠKODA Fabia R5. Antonin Tlusťák (CZ) is tenth.
Barum Czech Rally Zlín – Intermediate Result
1. Kopecký/Dresler (CZ/CZ), ŠKODA Fabia R5; 1:21:30.2 hrs.
2. Pech/Uhel (CZ/CZ), Mini John Cooper Works S2000; + 0:35.4 min.
3. Kajetanowicz/Baran (PL/PL), Ford Fiesta R5; + 0:58.2 min.
4. Lukyanuk/Arnautov (BY/RUS), Ford Fiesta R5; + 1:30.4 min.
5. Valoušek/Havelková (CZ/CZ), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000; + 2:06.3 min.
Czech Rally Championship (MČR)
Event / Date
Rally Šumava Klatovy: 24.04.–25.04.2015
Rally Český Krumlov: 22.05.–23.05.2015
Rally Hustopeče: 19.06.–20.06.2015
Rally Bohemia: 10.07.–12.07.2015
Barum Czech Rally Zlín: 28.08.–30.08.2015
Rally Příbram: 02.10.–04.10.2015
150829 Kopecky dominates Europe’s best in the SKODA Fabia R5
