SS11: Battle rages for IRC glory in Zlin

The battle for victory on Barum Czech Rally Zlín continues to intensify with factory ŠKODA drivers Juho Hänninen and Jan Kopecký embroiled in a close fight on the rain-hit Intercontinental Rally Challenge round.

Hänninen still leads after going fastest by 0.2s on the 11.42-kilometre Kudlovice run, despite a trip into a field, which left his Fabia Super 2000 with a cracked windscreen for the upcoming first Maják stage, which will be shown live on Eurosport and free-to-view Czech TV from 10:10hrs local time.

“I am on the hardest [compound] tyre from the stock so it’s quite interesting,” said the Finn. Kopecký, who trails Hänninen in the overall standings by 5.4s, said: “It’s really crazy weather. The forecast is not for rain but it’s raining like hell on this stage and 15 kilometres away it’s full sunshine.”

With driving conditions becoming increasingly difficult due to the slippery nature of the stage surface, some crews are reporting not being able to push as hard as they would like, particularly as the majority have chosen tyres in the belief it would be drier.

In the battle for what is now fifth place, Robert Barrable is staving off the threat posed by Jaromír Tarabus after going 0.7s quicker than the Czech. The Irishman’s advantage stands at 4.6s heading to stage 12. Having slipped behind him on the previous stage Tomáš Kostka is back ahead of Roman Kresta for what is now third place following Andreas Mikkelsen’s puncture on the stage 10. However, the Czech ŠKODA drivers are separated by a scant 0.2s.

The recovering Mikkelsen, who was third fastest and moves ahead of Peugeot driver Michał Sołowow into ninth overall, said: “I’m just trying to get a certain rhythm. If we can catch some places that would be nice but not with stupid driving.”