SS4: Mikkelsen makes more progress in Zlin

Andreas Mikkelsen has snatched the lead of Barum Czech Rally Zlín by winning the second run through Slušovice shown live on Eurosport and free-to-air Czech TV.

The Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion was 2.8s quicker than Jan Kopecký through the 15.94-kilometre test to move ahead of Juho Hänninen in the overall standings. Irish privateer Robert Barrable continues to impress by going third fastest despite fearing a front-left puncture following a knock. Behind overnight leader Tomáš Kostka, Estonian teenager Karl Kruuda impressed with the fifth fastest time, 2.2s up on Hänninen.

Crews faced a difficult decision in midday service in Ostrokovice over which tyres to select for the afternoon loop of four stages with the threat of further rain remaining, in addition to reports that the Pindula test has a heavy coating of mud in sections.

“It’s more wet than in the morning,” said ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 driver Hänninen, who selected a soft to medium slick. “There was a lot of mud from the corners and I’m afraid the differences can be quite big.”

Despite going fastest, Mikkelsen, on cut soft slicks at the rear and soft slicks at the front with no cuts, reached the stage finish with a damaged left-rear wheel rim. “I was careful after in case there was a puncture but I was lucky,” said the ŠKODA UK driver. “We have better tyres now but still we have three stages to go so who knows what they will be like.”

Kopecký, who has moved into third overall ahead of Kostka, said: “I really don’t know it’s raining and now we have slick tyres, it’s so specific this rally.”

Patrik Flodin suffered a half spin in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000, which was captured live on Eurosport and free-to-air Czech TV. He lost more time when his car’s engine dropped onto three cylinders. “It was misfiring on three cylinders,” said the Swede. “Sometimes it was on four but most of the time it was three. I don’t know what to do.”

Sepp Wiegand picked up a right-rear puncture four kilometres from the stage finish. The young German was more than 25.6s off the pace.