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Kopecký claims IRC glory

He has won Rally Islas Canarias

By Franck Drui

1 May 2010 - 16:28

Jan Kopecký has won Rally Islas Canarias, round four of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, after safely completing the final stage of the asphalt event. Kopecký beat Škoda Motorsport team-mate Juho Hänninen by 9.1 seconds with Guy Wilks making it a Škoda Fabia one-two-three in third.

Kris Meeke won the stage, the 9.11-kilometre Aguimes test, and moved ahead of Bruno Magalhães into fourth place as a result. Spaniard Alberto Hevia completed the top six in his Fabia.

Kopecký’s victory makes him the fourth different winner of the season and puts him equal second in the championship with Wilks. Hänninen’s second place gives him a seven-point lead at the top of the standings.

Meeke’s stage win was his ninth of the rally. Despite having to change a punctured tyre the Northern Irishman finished 1m05.5s adrift of first place.

Final standings after SS15:

Pos.	Team	Car	Time
01.	Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr	Škoda Fabia S2000	2h12m27.4s
02.	Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko	Škoda Fabia S2000	+9.1s
03.	Wilks Guy / Pugh Philip	Škoda Fabia S2000	+36.4s
04.	Meeke Kris / Nagle Paul	Peugeot 207 S2000	+1m05.5s
05.	Magalhăes Bruno / Magalhăes Carlos	Peugeot 207 S2000	+1m17.8s
06.	Viera Alfonso / Perez Victor	Ford Focus WRC	+1m26.7s
07.	Fuster Miguel / Avińo Ignacio	Porche 911 Gt3	+1m36.1s
08.	Hevia Alberto / Iglesias Alberto	Škoda Fabia S2000	+2m25.0s
09.	Ponce Jose M. / Larrode Carlos	BMW M3	+7m30.3s
10.	Cima Francisco / Noriega Alejandro	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X	+7m47.8s
11.	Vinyes Joan / Mercader Jordi	Suzuki Swift S1600	+8m05.0s
12.	Gracia Ruben / Sanjuan Diego	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X	+10m06.5s
13.	Vallejo Sergio / Vallejo Diego	Ford Fiesta S2000	+12m50.0s
14.	Barrios Jose L. / Rivero Eloy	Subaru Impreza STI	+13m12.6s
15.	Lemes Yeray / Peńate Rogelio	Ford Fiesta R2	+14m12.4s