SS6: Kopecký retakes lead in Austria

Jan Kopecký is back in front on the International Jännerrallye. The Czech champion leads Raimund Baumschlager by 4.1s with six stages of the FIA European Rally Championship qualifier complete.

Baumschlager, in a ŠKODA Fabia, had topped the classification by 3.4s after five stages but was unable to stave off Kopecký on the second run through the 8.68-kilometre St Oswald test, which was won by French Peugeot driver Bryan Bouffier.

“We have no idea why we lost time, maybe we were not pushing so much,” said Baumschlager’s co-driver Klaus Wicha. “The stage before there was one place where it was quite tricky off the line so maybe he did not take so many risks. But I am confident we can make back the time.”

Elsewhere, Polish champion Kajetan Kajetanowicz excelled by steering his ERC Production Car Cup Subaru Impreza to the second fastest time. Kopecký was third quickest with Beppo Harrach the leading Austrian driver in fourth at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer.

Hannes Danzinger continues to top the ERC 2WD category in a Renault Clio R3 although it was Raffael Sulzinger who set the pace in the division on stage six in a Ford Fiesta R2.

Following service in Freistadt, crews will tackle the 8.76-kilometre Pregarten stage from 15:52hrs local time.

Brush with telegraph pole ends the day for flying baker

Ernst Haneder’s hopes on the International Jännerrallye came crashing down in more ways than one earlier today.

Haneder, who works as a baker close to the event base in Freistadt when he’s not competing, was 11th overall after two stages in the Mitsubishi Lancer he shares with female co-driver Daniela Ertl.

Unfortunately, his challenge ended when he crashed and felled a telegraph pole on stage three, the 8.68-kilometre St Oswald run, and was unable to continue.