SS12: Campana loses second to Kopecky

Jan Kopecký will start Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse’s final loop of two stages with an advantage of 4.2s in the fight for second place on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.

Driving a ŠKODA Motorsport Fabia S2000, Kopecký completed the 28.96-kilometre Marinca-Cagnano 2 test – shown live on Eurosport Player and Via Stella – in a time of 19m01.7s, 3.8s quicker than rally leader Dani Sordo, in a MINI John Cooper Works S2000.

Kopecký’s effort moves him back ahead of Pierre Campana into the runner-up spot, albeit 28.4s adrift of Sordo. “I said in the first pass we didn’t catch the rhythm but now we have fixed everything and it seems it was working well,” said the Czech driver.

Peugeot drivers Bryan Bouffier and Campana underlined the hugely competitive nature of the IRC by setting the joint third-fastest stage time, 4.6s slower than Kopecký’s benchmark. Bouffier said: “I just try to go as fast as possible without destroying the tyres.”

Craig Breen reported going off the road momentarily and reached the finish line with a damaged rear wheel rim. “I was off again, stupid me,” said Breen, who was sixth fastest behind Saintéloc team-mate Mathieu Arzeno. “It was really dusty and it just caught me out. I’m glad to be here.”

Following a regroup in Sta Severa, crews head to the port town of Macinaggio for a 33-minute service halt. Stage 13, Macinaggio-Centuri 3, gets underway at 16:37hrs local time.