Busy weekend for factory SKODA IRC aces

ŠKODA Motorsport is set for a busy weekend with factory drivers Juho Hänninen and Jan Kopecký both in action, albeit on two different rallies in two different countries.

Hänninen, Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion in 2010, will contest the combined European and Italian championship-counting Rally 1000 Miglia in Italy, while Kopecký, runner-up in the IRC for the past three seasons, will take part on the Šumava Rally, the latest round of the Czech championship.

“My last appearance at the Šumava Rally was seven years ago, but the Czech Republic in general is obviously not unknown for us,” said Kopecký, who has won the opening two events of the Czech championship season. “We are getting great support from the factory team, and we are looking to continue the good performances from the first two events.”

Hänninen (pictured right with Kopecký) heads to Italy fresh from his standout victory on the IRC-counting Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally aboard his Fabia S2000.

“We made a good start to this [European championship] season by finishing second at the Jänner Rally in January, and we want to win as many points as possible also in Italy, although the Mille Miglia will be a new experience for us. The home drivers will certainly be pretty fast, but we want to keep up with them.”

ŠKODA has yet to announce its plans for round four of the IRC, May’s Tour de Corse. However, at least one factory Fabia is due to be entered on the legendary asphalt rally from 9-12 May.