Season
Jan Kopecký after the first leg of the Swedish Rally
The crews were in for seven stages during Friday's leg of the Swedish Rally. Jan Kopecký and Filip Schovánek, driving a Škoda Fabia WRC in the colours of the Czech Rally Team Kopecký, started Friday's leg in sixteenth place and over eight stages worked their way up to thirteenth.
The Škoda Fabia WRC suffered no problems during Friday, but Jan Kopecký complained that the car was losing traction on the icy sections of the stages. The second phases of the stages were particularly challenging because of the snow furrows caused by the driving, which were turning into ice. Naturally, a key factor determining how good vehicle traction will be is the right choice of tyres. For tomorrow's leg, the Czech Rally Team Kopecký will opt for different vehicle settings and try to improve traction during Saturday's stages.
'Our goal in this year's Swedish Rally is to improve the performance by Jan Kopecký and Filip Schovánek in this demanding event. Our yardsticks are not just the times recorded last year, but also the results of other young drivers who, unlike Jan, often have state-of-the-art WRC factory cars at their disposal.
Jan and Filip are fulfilling their targets and therefore I am obviously pleased. Although Jan would love to pick up the pace on the routes of the stages, the clear priority remains to complete the whole of the Swedish Rally and gain as much experience as possible in this very difficult winter event. The crew of the Czech Rally Team Kopecký will be keeping to this strategy on Saturday.
The Škoda Fabia WRC was again flawless, but Jan had to deal with a lack of traction on the icy surface. The stages significantly changed character after the first phases and the snow began to change into an ice rink. It was very complicated for the drivers to select special tyres, as they have several versions available to them which, although they have the same tread and mix, have different types of studs. Unfortunately, selecting the ideal tyres is not something you learn in theoretical training; the probability of making the right choice is directly proportional to your experience of this type of event and tyres. In the past, it has only been possible for us to gain such experience in the Swedish Rally, but for the first time this year the drivers will take part in two similar events with only a short interval between them.
Although we believe the loss of traction can be attributed in part to the choice of tyre, for tomorrow we have changed the settings as we try to improve the traction of the vehicle on the ice,' said Josef Kopecký at the end of Friday's leg.
Current standings in the Swedish Rally after the eighth stage:
1. GRÖNHOLM M. / RAUTIAINEN T. Ford Focus RS WRC 06 01:05:21.3
2. LOEB S. / ELENA D. Citroën C4 WRC +0:11.1
3. SOLBERG P. / MILLS P. Subaru Impreza WRC 2006 +0:22.6
4. SOLBERG H. / MENKERUD C. Ford Focus RS WRC 06 +0:27.9
5. HIRVONEN M. / LEHTINEN J. Ford Focus RS WRC 06 +0:31.0
6. GARDEMEISTER T. / HONKANEN J. Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 05 +0:34.9
7. CARLSSON D. / GIRAUDET D. Citroën Xsara WRC +0:44.1
8. STOHL M. / MINOR I. Citroën Xsara WRC +1:05.0
13. KOPECKÝ JAN / SCHOVÁNEK FILIP ŠKODA Fabia WRC +2:55.0
