SS14: Kresta edges clear of Kostka in Zlin

Roman Kresta has edged clear of Tomáš Kostka in the battle for second place on Barum Czech Rally Zlín, round nine of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Kresta, a three-time winner of the all-asphalt event, was 6.9s faster than his fellow Czech through the second 11.42-kilometre Kudlovice test to open up a slender advantage of 8.7s with one stage remaining. “We had a big moment on stage 13, we were off and we were very lucky,” said Kresta. “It’s bad luck for Jan for sure but I am happy the conditions have dried up.”

With a new windscreen fitted to his ŠKODA Motorsport Fabia Super 2000 after the original was damaged on stage 11, Juho Hänninen is driving conservatively in order to preserve his comfortable overall advantage. “I’m trying to take it more safely now, driving in the middle of the road and nothing special. It’s not so easy to keep the rhythm but with one stage to go for sure we are not pushing.”

Toshi Arai completed the stage with a rear-left puncture on his Subaru Impreza R4 STI.