Second Czech rally win for IRC ace Kopecký

Intercontinental Rally Challenge ace Jan Kopecký has made it two wins from two starts in the Czech Republic championship following victory on the Agrotec Rally Hustopece last weekend.

Driving a Škoda Fabia Super 2000, Kopecký and co-driver Petr Starý recovered from a hesitant start to stamp their authority on the event from stage three onwards, reaching the overnight halt with a lead of 1.6s over fellow Czech driver Václav Pech, which they extended to 37.4s by the finish on Saturday.

“We are really pleased about this victory, because nobody gave us anything for free here,” said the 29-year-old Kopecký, currently second in the IRC drivers’ standings. “It was a great battle.”

Škoda Motorsport team manager Pavel Hortek added: “Being one of the hottest favourites for victory is always tricky and obliging at the same time. We are therefore pleased that our second appearance in the Czech championship this season has been a success and that our crew have won really comfortably.”

Kopecký and Starý return to IRC duty on the Geko Ypres Rally in Belgium from 23-25 June.