Skoda drivers feared Madeira exit

Factory Škoda drivers Juho Hänninen and Jan Kopecký have revealed how they feared they would be eliminated from Rali Vinho Madeira after encountering oil dropped on the road by Kris Meeke’s stricken Peugeot 207.

Meeke stopped 2.8-kilometres into stage 17 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier with a loss of oil pressure. Kopecký and Hänninen, running third and fourth on the road respectively, both had moments on the long left-hander where Meeke’s car had come to a rest.

Although Kopecký survived unscathed in second overall, Hänninen was unable to avoid swiping a retaining wall with the right-rear of his Fabia S2000, which ultimately triggered a right-rear puncture eight kilometres from the finish of the 22.01-kilometre stage. The delay meant he dropped by Miguel Nunes.

“On that moment I thought I was out because we went straight into the wall,” said the IRC title-leader. “It was okay at first but then the damage caused a puncture on the right rear about eight kilometres from the end of the stage and I had to drive to the finish. I lost a lot of time and now I will see if I can be third because I cannot risk not finishing.”

Kopecký added: “It was a long, third gear corner and I had a big moment when I touched the oil. I was very close to going out of the rally.”