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SS11: Mikkelsen sets the pace in Zlin

As Loix closes in on Kopecky

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28 August 2011 - 10:06

Andreas Mikkelsen continues to impress on Barum Czech Rally Zlín as he recovers from the puncture that denied him a shot at victory on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event.

Mikkelsen, in a ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000, was fastest through Sunday’s first test and has repeated the feat on the 10.48-kilometre Kudlovice stage, despite reporting that he braked too late for a junction.

Out front, Freddy Loix has narrowed Jan Kopecký’s overall lead to 3.7s with the second fastest time through the Kudlovice stage in his BFO-ŠKODA Fabia.

Kopecký has been able to carry out running repairs to his car’s powersteering after the system faltered on the previous stage. However, he was unable to prevent his Belgian rival from taking more time out of him in the thrilling battle for victory.

Juho Hänninen, the Intercontinental Rally Challenge leader, was 1.2s slower than Loix through the test. He is 5.5s off top spot.

Pos.	Driver	Car	Time
1	Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr	Škoda Fabia S2000	1h32m40.9s
2	Loix Freddy / Miclotte F.	Škoda Fabia S2000	+3.7s
3	Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko	Škoda Fabia S2000	+5.5s
4	Neuville T. / Gilsoul Nicolas	Peugeot 207 S2000	+1m39.3s
5	Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola	Škoda Fabia S2000	+1m51.6s
6	Gardemeister T. / Suominen Tapio	Škoda Fabia S2000	+2m32.5s
7	Breen Craig / Roberts Gareth	Ford Fiesta S2000	+2m51.8s
8	Kresta Roman / Gross Petr	Škoda Fabia S2000	+3m01.5s
9	Andersson P. / Axelsson Emil	Proton Satria Neo S2000	+3m09.9s
10	Wilks Guy / Pugh Phil	Peugeot 207 S2000	+3m14.5s
11	Sołowow Michal / Baran Maciej	Ford Fiesta S2000	+3m31.9s
12	Kruuda Karl / Järveoja M.	Škoda Fabia S2000	+3m34.6s
13	Sandell Patrik / Parmander S.	Škoda Fabia S2000	+4m01.1s
14	Barrable Robert / Connolly Damien	Škoda Fabia S2000	+4m12.3s
15	Basso G. / Dotta Mitia	Proton Satria Neo S2000	+4m20.5s