No team orders for factory Škoda drivers

Škoda Motorsport boss Michal Hrabanek insists neither of its factory drivers, Juho Hänninen and Jan Kopecký, will be subjected to team orders on the final day of Sata Rallye Açores, round seven of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Hänninen, from Finland, holds second place in the overall standings, 2.2s adrift of leader Bruno Magalhães. Kopecký (pictured right with Hänninen) is third, six seconds behind Hänninen and 8.2s off top spot. In the IRC drivers’ standings, Hänninen is three points in front of Kopecký.

Although Magalhães displayed tremendous speed throughout Friday’s stages, the Škoda drivers are expected to step up their bid for overall honours over the remaining seven tests.

Hrabanek said: “It’s too early to talk about the rally [result] but for now we are quite satisfied. We have no team order and both driver knows it’s important to finish the rally. We start the second half of the season here and it’s too early to make any mistake in a close fight.”

Both Škoda drivers have experience from last year’s event, which Hrabanek said had boosted their chances on the challenging gravel rally: “It’s important they have some experience from last year to fight with Magalhães. We will see today because we cannot underestimate the performance of Andreas Mikkelsen and Kris Meeke either. But our drivers and the team have done a good performance and there is no reason to be nervous. On the other hand we have to be concentrated.”

Škoda is expected to announce details of its next IRC appearance following the finish of Sata Rallye Açores tonight.