SS8: Kopecky quickest as car fire halts stage

Jan Kopecký has strengthened his grip on second place on Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse with the fastest time through Friday’s final test, the repeat of the 24.67-kilometre Erbajolo-Pont d’Altiani stage.

However, with Jean-Dominique Mattei’s ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 becoming engulfed in flames after the crew had abandoned the burning machine nearing the stage finish, which led to the run being halted, it remains unclear whether Kopecký’s stage win will count or if the results will be annulled.

Prior to the stage cancellation, Dani Sordo was second fastest in his MINI, 4.0s down on Kopecký, with Bryan Bouffier third quickest after complaining that the low-lying sun had affected his vision. Sordo’s overall lead stands at 25.2s heading to the overnight halt in Bastia via a final service stop in Corte.

There was more misery for Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion and former leader Andreas Mikkelsen when he picked up a right-rear puncture on his ŠKODA UK entry and dropped more than one minute.

Mathieu Arzeno also hit trouble on the stage when he stopped with a suspected differential problem on his Peugeot. He eventually completed the stage albeit with a delay of nearly five minutes.

Saturday’s action is due to begin at 09:53hrs local time with the first of three runs through the Macinaggio-Centuri stage. In total two stages will be shown live on Eurosport on day three with Via Stella in Corsica covering one stage as it happens.