SS8: Kopecky doubles up with second stage win

Jan Kopecký is refusing to let Giandomenico Basso grab all of the limelight after he outpaced the Rallye Sanremo leader through the repeat of the 19.93-kilometre Colle Langan test.

Kopecký’s performance, in a ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000, earned the Czech his second stage win of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event and trims Italian Basso’s overall advantage to 47.3s.

Craig Breen hit back from his puncture on stage seven by taking 19.1s out of Paolo Andreucci – who is one position ahead of him in the overall classification – by going third fastest in his Peugeot 207 S2000. However, he is almost 1m50s behind the Italian champion elect with two stages remaining.

Stefano Albertini is still running despite reporting a “strange noise” from his Peugeot on stage seven and problems restarting his engine at the regroup in Sanremo earlier today. Elsewhere, Harry Hunt impressed by going sixth fastest in his Kronos Racing Peugeot 207 behind Pierre Campana and Alessandro Perico.