SS18: Drama as Kopecký wins by half a second

Czech Republic’s Jan Kopecký has won the International Jännerrallye by half a second following a dramatic finish to the FIA European Rally Championship round in Austria.

Kopecký, in a factory ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000, started the closing 25-kilometre stage 10.6s adrift of rival Bryan Bouffier but moved ahead when he outpaced the Peugeot driver by 11.1s as heavy rain and fog made for difficult driving conditions.

Peugeot driver Bouffier settled for second with 10-time Austrian champion Raimund Baumschlager taking third.

For Czech champion Kopecký his victory was his second on the Freistadt event in as many years. It was also a fitting reward after a puncture dropped him out of the lead earlier in the day.

“I never stopped believing I could win because if you stop believing you cannot achieve anything,” said Kopecký who initially thought he hadn’t done enough to beat Bouffier. “I was still believing and still hoping.”

Bouffier added: “I tried to drive very well but it was very complicated because the stage was so dirty and so quick. There was a lot of mud and you needed a big heart.”

Václav Pech took fourth overall with Austrian Beppo Harrach winning the ERC Production Car Cup in fifth position following a close battle with Kajetan Kajetanowicz. Harrach feared he’d picked up a right-rear puncture after nudging a concrete block but emerged unscathed to head the Polish champion.

There was disappointment for Czech rising star Jan Černý who dropped out of ninth place when he crashed into a ditch and was unable to regain the road. Meanwhile, Hannes Danzinger took the ERC 2WD Championship honours in his Renault Clio R3.

Final standings: