Kopecký’s successful first step towards history

Articles

27. 8. 2016 - Roman Ordelt

Jan Kopecký, the defending Czech champion and the four-time winner of Barum Rally, made the best entrance to the 46th Barum Czech Rally Zlín. The 34-year-old Škoda Motorsport factory driver was the fastest one on Super Special Stage in the streets of Zlín. Behind him by 0.8 s was Alexey Lukyanuk from Russia (Ford Fiesta R5) and third was the ERC leader Poland's Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Ford Fiesta R5) by a margin 1.3 s. There are five Czech drivers in the top ten.

Almost forty thousand spectators witness a thrilling show on the city circuit, which passed through the former Svit area. The biggest favourites were waiting at the end of SSS Start list. First great time was achieved by the Czech driver Tomáš Kostka (Škoda Fabia R5), later he was outrun by Germany's Fabian Kreim and Pavel Valoušek (both Škoda Fabia R5). Lukyanuk, the fourth one from the end, got himself to the top. However, he was beaten by less than a second by Kopecký and not even Kajetanowicz could remove Kopecký from the first place. The Opočno native would get the Challenge cup forever, if he wins Barum Rally for the fifth time.

The category ERC2 is led by Italy's Giacomo Scattolon (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX), in the category ERC3 and junior British Christopher Ingram (Opel Adam R2) is in the lead and he is also the fastest in the two-wheel drive category. Only 121 crews hit the start out of signed up 122 crews.

Standings after Super Special Stage (Super SS 1, Zlín, 9.30 km):
1. Jan Kopecký – Pavel Dresler (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5) 6:31.6 min
2. Alexey Lukyanuk – Alexey Arnautov (RUS, FORD Fiesta R5) + 0.8 s
3. Kajetan Kajetanowicz – Jaroslaw Baran (POL, Ford Fiesta R5) + 1.3 s
4. Pavel Valoušek – Veronika Havelková (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5) + 1.3 s
5. Fabian Kreim – Frank Christian (DEU, Škoda Fabia R5) + 1.7 s
6. Tomáš Kostka – Ladislav Kučera (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5) + 3.2 s
7. Hermen Kobus – Davy Thierie (NLD, Škoda Fabia R5) + 4.1 s
8. Jaromír Tarabus – Daniel Trunkát (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5) + 5.8 s
9. Bryan Bouffier – Gilbert Dini (FRA, Citroën DS3 R5) + 6.0 s
10. Jan Černý – Petr Černohorský (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5) + 6.3 s

31. Ingram, Edmondson (GBR, Opel Adam R2), 1st place 2WD + 31.0 s

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