Kopecký heads to Ypres boosted by Italy win

Jan Kopecký will start this week’s Geko Ypres Rally on a high after winning the Italian championship Rally del Salento in the far south of the country last weekend.

The 28-year-old is contesting the Italian series alongside his Intercontinental Rally Challenge bid with the factory Škoda Motorsport team.

Driving for a Fabia S2000 for Škoda Italia, Kopecký took the lead on the sixth stage of the 12-stage all-asphalt rally and held on to win after fending off a late attack from Giandomenico Basso, who narrowed Kopecký’s lead to 2.8s with two stags to go.

“It was not easy because the Italian drivers are very strong,” said Kopecký, who eventually won by 3.2 seconds after going fastest on the final stage. “These kinds of stages with many junctions and changes of pace I really like and suits my driving style.”

Kopecký and co-driver Petr Starý are now in Belgium preparing for the sixth round of the IRC. They are second in the title race, 11 points behind Škoda team-mates Juho Hänninen and Mikko Markkula.