Hanninen and Kopecky set for Tarmac run

Skoda Motorsport has officially confirmed its participation on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Ingles next week with factory driver Juho Hanninen convinced that he could be an even bigger threat on asphalt this season than he was in 2010.

Finn Hanninen shadowed team-mate Jan Kopecky on the sealed-surface island event last season, settling for second place to the Czech, an established ace on asphalt, following a close battle.

“My second place last year was fantastic,” said Hanninen, who shone on January’s Rallye Monte-Carlo before being delayed by a freak snowfall. “I have definitely made some progress on asphalt ever since and I feel increasingly comfortable on this surface. I see this event as an excellent opportunity to continue improving.”

Kopecky, meanwhile, is braced for a tough battle on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier: “Our goal is ambitious but the competition is going to be even tougher than last year. There will be some excellent drivers but that is exactly what makes rallying and the IRC so exciting.”