Kopecký hopes to profit from road position

Jan Kopecký has emerged as a dark horse for victory on Rally d’Italia-Sardegna, even though the Czech driver admits that gravel is his least favoured surface.

The works Škoda driver, currently equal second in the championship, is set to start the opening leg of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier in sixth position on the road after organisers tweaked the starting order for Saturday’s six stages.

With running order crucial on the rally due to the fact the leading three or four crews will have to plough their way through the loose surface gravel, Kopecký could benefit from the cleaner road surface and make the early running.

“It’s definitely better to be sixth on the road than first,” said Kopecký. “But I know it won’t be easy so we will have to see.”

Kris Meeke’s co-driver Paul Nagle said the running order would definitely favour Kopecký on day one. “It will be worse on Sunday because the stages are rough and sandy but on day one being outside the top four will definitely be an advantage.”

The road order for day two will be based on the top 10 overall positions, albeit reversed. Kopecký has never won a rally on gravel before.