SS5: Ace Kopecký opens slight lead
“It’s a nice stage this one and the car is really perfect”
Jan Kopecký has gained a small advantage in the battle for Intercontinental Rally Challenge glory following the fifth stage of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés. The Škoda Motorsport driver is now 3.4s ahead of Thierry Neuville following the 24.57-kilometre Santa Lucia run.
“It’s a nice stage this one and the car is really perfect,” said the Czech driver. “There are few places where I can push some more but I have to think about the tyres.”
Freddy Loix was second fastest at the wheel of his BFO Škoda Rally Team Fabia. The Belgian, who has won more Intercontinental Rally Challenge events than any other driver, said a few adjustments to his pacenotes had improved his pace and enabled him to climb ahead of Juho Hänninen into third overall.
Neuville said he was pleased with his performance but added: "I don’t have so much experience for this kind of fight but I am happy and the car is working well."
Bryan Bouffier set a time 14 seconds faster than he managed on the first run and said he was happier with the handling of his Peugeot France 207 after demoting Andreas Mikkelsen for sixth spot: “It’s much better now,” he said. “I am more confident with the car.”
PG Andersson’s hopes of a top 10 finish suffered a huge setback when he stopped to change a punctured front-right tyre on his PROTON Satria Neo, losing almost three minutes in the process.
Overall positions after SS5