Kopecký claims IRC glory
He has won Rally Islas Canarias
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: