Kopecký fears Hänninen in Gran Canaria

Jan Kopecký believes Škoda Motorsport team-mate Juho Hänninen is the driver most likely to stand in his way of winning Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés for a second year running later this week.

Kopecký narrowly edged Hänninen on the all-asphalt event in 2010 and the Czech reckons that the Finn is more than capable of going one better this year.

Hänninen, the reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion, is only likely to tackle a limited programme of IRC events this term and Kopecký fears this could hand his team-mate the edge.

“Juho is very quick,” said Kopecký. “Because his main target is not the title this year he can just drive flat out and not think about the points.”

Kopecký has not won in the IRC since triumphing on the Las Palmas-based contest 12 months ago. He’s eighth in the drivers’ standings following the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo back in January.