Kopecký leads after dramatic start

Jan Kopecký has won the opening stage of Rally d’Italia-Sardegna as several expected frontrunners hit trouble, most notably Guy Wilks, who crashed heavily in his Škoda Fabia Super 2000 seven kilometres into the high-speed stage.

Kopecký, also at the wheel of a Fabia, was 4.1 seconds faster than defending Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Kris Meeke, who reported extremely slippery conditions in his Peugeot 207 S2000 due to the loose surface gravel.

Top Italian Paolo Andreucci is third having been faster than Kopecký at the first timing split, only for a front-left puncture to slow him down.

Championship leader Juho Hänninen is fourth in his Fabia, despite whacking a bank with the rear of his car. The Finn had to effectively clear the road after Sébastien Ogier – who started the stage first – stopped early to change a damaged wheel and then stopped again with a mechanical fault.

Teemu Arminen is a surprise fifth overall in his Subaru Impreza, one place ahead of Peugeot driver Franz Wittmann. Bruno Magalhães was seventh despite reporting an overheating problem. Thierry Neuville completes the top eight.

P-G Andersson and Burcu Çetinkaya were also slowed by punctures, while Andreas Mikkelsen rolled his Ford Fiesta six kilometres into the stage.

Shown live on Eurosport, the Monte Grighine stage is the rally’s longest at 28.66 kilometres. It uses a fast and flowing man-made road and works its way through a succession of wind turbines.

Overall positions after SS2:

1 Jan Kopecký 19m05.8s
2 Kris Meeke +4.1s
3 Paolo Andreucci +9.6s
4 Juho Hänninen +15.6s
5 Teemu Arminen +46.9s
6 Franz Wittmann +55.9s
7 Bruno Magalhães +56.5s
8 Thierry Neuville +1m04.8s