Season
Jan Kopecký has met with Carlos Sainz
Czech Rally Team Kopecký continued on Thursday in careful preparations for Rally Catalunya, the race where the crew Jan Kopecký-Filip Schovánek with their Škoda Fabia WRC car always faired exceptionally well. In 2005 on Spanish tarmac Jan Kopecký has gained his premiere championship point in the driver standings. Last season there was great joy in the service quarters of the private team from Kostelec nad Orlicí, because Jan Kopecký being navigated by Filip Schovánek was able to finish in a fantastic fifth place.
The official schedule before Catalunya Rally was officially started with Thursday's shakedown and Škoda Fabia WRC running under the colors of Czech Rally Team Kopecký started as the first car on the track. Track of the shakedown for about the first half was wet and in the later part dry, on top of all visibility was worsened by fog. Because Jan Kopecký had the opportunity to run one hundred and ten kilometers of testing on Monday, where he tested out especially the setup of the chassis, he headed out on the track of the shakedown only three times.
In the afternoon the service quarters were visited by a forty five year old international legend of auto racing Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver was able to win the world title and twenty six times in his career he stood atop the winner stands following a World Rally Championship race. Carlos Sainz not only came to wish Jan lots of luck in Catalunya Rally, but also congratulated the team for their fifth place in the German Rally.
"Traditionally at the shakedown we've used the last opportunity to verify the flawless functioning of the Škoda Fabia WRC car. On Monday we ran an extensive test in Spain, where we tried a few options for chassis setup. A great unknown for the race itself remain the climatic conditions, because on Wednesday and also on Thursday the sunny weather kept changing into a relatively strong rain and vice versa.
Last year we achieved a great fifth place, but I will personally be happy this year with any positions in the points. Understandably we'll do all in our power to achieve the best possible result.
In the afternoon in our service area we welcomed with great happiness Carlos Sainz, who is among the legends of rally. At the time when Carlos was among the world top, I only dreamt of the world rally.
Carlos Sainz spent with us lots of time and I tried to take in at least part of his inexhaustible experiences. Of course, I was pleased that he not only wished us luck going into the Catalunya Rally, but especially that he congratulated the team on the achievement in Germany and he praised the working of the entire Czech Rally Team Kopecký. This of course is a result of the good image our team built, great presentation for the Škoda brand in the world, but of course a great motivation for the future," said Jan Kopecký before the start of Catalunya Rally.
Catalunya Rally will be started with the initial special stage on Friday at 8:21 AM. The crews can look forward to six Special Stages in the leg on Friday.
