Kopecký not concerned by co-driver change

Jan Kopecký insists his late change of co-driver won’t affect his chances of becoming Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion for the first time on the Cyprus Rally this week.

The ŠKODA Motorsport ace, runner-up in the IRC standings for the past two seasons, has recruited Pavel Dresler to replace regular navigator Petr Starý who is ill at home in his native Czech Republic and unable to take part on the mixed surface event.

“Petr has some illness, he will be okay but unfortunately not for one month,” said Kopecký. “I have done many kilometres in testing with Pavel, he’s a young co-driver and he’s very talented.”

Dresler co-drove Miroslav Janota to the European Historic rally title this season and is highly-rated in his homeland.

“He has few experiences in other rallies other than in Czech,” said Kopecký. “Until this moment everything is working very well.”