Season
Jan Kopecký dropped out from Friday’s leg
Jan Kopecký-Filip Schovánek crew will not continue this year in the great results from the past two starts. The third special stage has become fatal for the Czech Rally Team Kopecký crew, when on the tenth kilometer their Škoda Fabia WRC has left the track.
In the first two special stages Jan Kopecký has tackled the slippery track well, because he finished in both special stages in the top ten. Ninth and eighth place at the start of the rally meant a running ninth position, just four tenths of a second behind the scored positions.
"As a result of the climactic conditions, today's leg was very demanding. Understandably, the selection of tires was very difficult and it was impossible to select such tires, which would ensure good traction throughout the entire special stages.
In the two initial special stages I was happy with the times we ran, although our Škoda Fabia WRC was not exactly tight in long turns. This is why we changed the car's setup in the service zone, but those were no fundamental changes.
On the third stage, I unfortunately hit a rock in one of the turns and our car lost contact with the road surface. The ensuing situation was impossible to correct and as a result we went off the track. Our Škoda Fabia WRC ended up on the roof under the road level, but according to initial inspection it should not be badly damaged. Me and Filip we both escaped unharmed," said Jan Kopecký.
The Škoda Fabia WRC car will be transported from the third stage into the service area of Czech Rally Team Kopecký and following a thorough check up of the car the team will then decide whether he will take advantage of the Superally system for the second leg or will prefer to prepare for Rally Corsica.
