Kopecký moves closer to Zlín win

Jan Kopecký moved a step closer to winning Barum Czech Rally Zlín for a second time by winning stage 12 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier. The Škoda Motorsport driver is now 26.7s clear of Peugeot pilot Bryan Bouffier with five stages remaining.

Intercontinental Rally Challenge title-leader Juho Hänninen is fourth, one place behind Škoda team-mate Freddy Loix. Defending champion is a distant fifth in his Peugeot UK 207.

The stage was run in dry conditions although rain is forecast for the next test, the daunting 19.76 Pindula run.

Overall positions after SS12:

1 Jan Kopecký (Škoda Fabia S2000) 1h45m30.3s
2 Bryan Bouffier (Peugeot 207 S2000) +26.7s
3 Freddy Loix (Škoda Fabia S2000) +27.6s
4 Juho Hänninen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +34.9s
5 Kris Meeke (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m11.1s
6 Václav Pech (Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX) +1m50.8s
7 Pavel Valoušek (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1m51.0s
8 Andreas Mikkelsen (M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000) +2m27.9s