Champion Hänninen expects tough Zlín fight

"I can win but it will be difficult"

By Franck Drui

9 August 2011 - 20:58
Champion Hänninen expects tough (...)

Defending Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Juho Hänninen admits claiming his ninth victory in the series on Barum Czech Rally Zlín at the end of August won’t be a foregone conclusion.

Hänninen, who drives a Fabia Super 2000 for the factory ŠKODA Motorsport team, heads the IRC standings by 13 points following his third victory of the season on Sata Rallye Açores last month. He has also scored more IRC victories than any other driver with eight wins to his name.

Asked whether he could extend his sequence of wins in the Czech Republic, the 30-year-old from Finland said: “I can win but it will be difficult. My team-mate [Jan Kopecký] is very strong there and also we saw the speed of Andreas [Mikkelsen] in Ukraine and [in the Azores]. I try to win but it won’t be easy.”

Hänninen will start the all-asphalt Barum Czech Rally Zlín, which takes place from 26-28 August, on the back of a resounding victory in the Super 2000 category on his home round of the world championship, Rally Finland, at the end of July. A number of other IRC regulars were in action on the gravel event including PG Andersson, Harry Hunt and Andreas Mikkelsen.

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