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Jan Kopecký comes fifth at the Rally Monte Carlo
All of the three crews of the Škoda Motorsport team managed to get among the first five in the ranking – Juho Hänninen came second, Nicolas Vouilloz third and Jan Kopecký fifth.
The Škoda vehicles managed to struggle their way to the podium for the first time over 78 years of the history of this famous rally event. Hänninen, the most successful of Škoda's three factory drivers in Monte Carlo, was fighting for a medal position from the first day – in the end, he came less than two minutes behind the winner. Kopecký, the other standing member of the Mladá Boleslav team, saw his chance to fight for the podium vanish in the haze right at the beginning, after losing over five minutes altogether due to defects in the first and second speed trials. Joining the Škoda factory team for this particular event, Frenchman Vouilloz made good use of knowing the ropes in Monte Carlo and finished third.
The Monte Carlo Rally, one of the most difficult events of the series, showed once again why it is often referred to as “legendary” - not only because this weekend's race was longest in its entire history, but also because the ever-changing conditions on the road made the tyre-selection alchemy enormously challenging. Moreover, the drivers had to do altogether 405 kilometres of speed trials and more than 1,200 kilometres between the respective stages over four days.
“This is a historic achievement for Škoda, the first time we have taken two podium positions in this most famous of rally races. At the same time, we see it as a challenge for the future and a motivation to fight for the highest positions. I am also very pleased with the success of the private Fabia Super 2000 cars that only show that the vehicle is good, powerful and reliable," said Head of the Škoda Motorsport team Michal Hrabánek.
"I am really satisfied with the outcome. I tried to drive tactically, without risking too much. I wished there had been more snow on the track, but the race was very long and challenging even as it was,” said Hänninen.
Commenting on his participation in the team, France's Nicolas Vouilloz said: “I was playing it safe not to disappoint the people at Škoda Motorsport who trusted me. I appreciate this opportunity to drive the Škoda Fabia S2000 at the Monte Carlo Rally, and I am indeed very happy about the result.”
"With the defects that we had in the first and second stages and the overall difficulty of this race, we are satisfied with the result,” said Jan Kopecký, who had managed to get among the best three in several speed trials after severe problems at the beginning of the race.
“As part of our agenda for this season, both Škoda Motorsport crews, i.e., Kopecký and Hänninen, are going to appear in the second and third races of the IRC series in South America,“ said Michal Hrabánek.
