Qatar GP || December 1 || 20h00 (Local time)

Kopecký holds overnight lead

After SS9 is cancelled

By

30 April 2010 - 20:47

Jan Kopecký will take a lead of 14.4 seconds into the overnight halt in Las Palmas after organisers cancelled the opening day’s ninth stage due to concerns over spectator safety.

Spectators have turned out in their thousands throughout the day but the build-up of fans at one particular corner of the 7.8-kilometre La Atalaya de Santa Brigida stage was deemed to be too dangerous.

He heads Intercontinental Rally Challenge title leader and Škoda Motorsport team-mate Juho Hänninen with Guy Wilks completing a Škoda one-two-three a further 17 seconds back.

Saturday’s leg features six stages with the first car due to leave service in Las Palmas at 08:10hrs.

Overall standings after the first day:

Pos.	Team	Car	Time
01.	Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr	Škoda Fabia S2000	1h20m25.0s
02.	Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko	Škoda Fabia S2000	+13.4s
03.	Fuster Miguel / Avińo Ignacio	Porche 911 Gt3	+28.5s
04.	Wilks Guy / Pugh Philip	Škoda Fabia S2000	+31.4s
05.	Viera Alfonso / Perez Victor	Ford Focus WRC	+37.9s
06.	Magalhăes Bruno / Magalhăes Carlos	Peugeot 207 S2000	+49.3s
07.	Hevia Alberto / Iglesias Alberto	Škoda Fabia S2000	+1m17.4s
08.	Meeke Kris / Nagle Paul	Peugeot 207 S2000	+1m28.0s
09.	Vallejo Sergio / Vallejo Diego	Ford Fiesta S2000	+3m35.6s
10.	Neuville Thierry / Klinger Nicolas	Peugeot 207 S2000	+3m40.9s
11.	Vinyes Joan / Mercader Jordi	Suzuki Swift S1600	+4m00.1s
12.	Cima Francisco / Noriega Alejandro	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X	+4m18.9s
13.	Ponce Jose M. / Larrode Carlos	BMW M3	+4m52.9s
14.	Gracia Ruben / Sanjuan Diego	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X	+5m51.5s
15.	Suarez Jose A. / Cabrera Candido	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X	+5m55.8s