SS17: Charging Kopecký closes on Austria ERC lead

Jan Kopecký has underlined his determination to begin the 2013 FIA European Rally Championship with victory by setting a stunning time through the penultimate stage of the International Jännerrallye.

In heavy rain, Kopecký was a sensational 14.4s quicker than rival Bryan Bouffier to cut the Frenchman’s overall advantage to 10.6s with one 25-kilometre stage left to run.

“The time could have been better but it started to rain a bit heavily and we had more water on the road,” said ŠKODA Motorsport ace Kopecký, who had depleted his spare tyre supply with his puncture on stage 15 where he lost top spot to Bouffier.

Peugeot driver Bouffier said: “It was raining like hell on this one and we were aquaplaning. I had to push because Jan is not so far behind. Jan knows how to disconnect and go crazy. He was so quick, too quick.”

In the ERC Production Car Cup, local hero Beppo Harrach now tops the category from Kajetan Kajetanowicz in fifth overall. In the battle for ERC 2WD Championship glory, Hannes Danzinger was delayed completing the stage when he had to stop to change a punctured right-rear tyre on his Renault Clio. But with a comfortable margin in the category his loss of four minutes is not expected to have hit his chances of class victory.

Crews now have a 20-minute service halt in Freistadt before the final stage, the rerun of Bad Zell-Tragwein-Aisttal goes live at 16:07hrs local time.