Kopecky hopes to gain IRC advantage in Italy

Jan Kopecky will be hoping his entry on this week’s Rally 1000 Miglia will give him an important psychological boost for the fourth round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on Gran Canaria next week.

The Skoda Motorsport driver is using the combined European and Italian championship rally to gain more mileage behind the wheel of his factory-prepared Fabia Super 2000 and ultimately improve his chances of winning this year’s IRC crown after finishing runner-up last season.

"It’s going to be very difficult because there are some very fast local drivers who know every corner and every stone of every stage so will have a big advantage," said Kopecky, who hails from Czech Republic. "But for sure I will learn a lot and this can only be good for my IRC programme."

Former IRC event winners Giandomenico Basso and Luca Rossetti will also be in action on the Brescia rally, which is due to finish on Saturday 24 April.