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Kopecký in the lead Lukyanuk right behind him after the third stage

27. 8. 2016 - Petr Říha

Jan Kopecký on Škoda Fabia R5, the defending Czech champion and a four-time winner of Barum Rally, confirms that he is the biggest favourite of the 46th Barum Czech Rally Zlín. Alexey Lukyanuk (Ford Fiesta R5) from Russia is losing 3.5 seconds on the Škoda Motorsport factory driver. The third one is currently the leader of ERC Poland's Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Ford Fiesta R5). Five Czech drivers are among the top eight!

Kopecký firmly went ahead to the fifth victory on Barum Czech Rally Zlín which would ensure him the Challenge cup for good. After winning Super Special Stage on Friday night in the streets of Zlín, the driver born in Opočno added another two partial victories on Saturday morning. On the second stage Březová (11.74 km) he gained 1.4 seconds on Lukyanuk and later he increased the margin between them of another 1.3 seconds on the third stage Košíky (22.22 km). Poland's Kajetanowicz is a little less than 10 seconds behind Lukyanuk.

The second stage was stopped for more than half an hour because of an accident of the duo Lukáš Matěna – Lukáš Hlaváč (Mitsubishi Lance EVO IX). The crew is uninjured and the stage continued after their car was towed away.

Home drivers are doing quite well so far. Aside from Kopecký, at the top is also the fourth Tomáš Kostka (Škoda Fabia R5) who is losing 0.4 seconds on Kajetanowicz. Pavel Valoušek (Škoda Fabia R5) is sixth, followed by Jaromír Tarabus (Škoda Fabia R5), who is dealing with technical issues, and the last Czech driver in the top ten is eighth Jan Černý (Škoda Fabia R5).

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.

On Saturday there are another six stages, which will test drivers' skills and preparedness for Barum Czech Rally Zlín. Sunday's programme comprises of six stages too. The winner arrives on a finishing ramp on náměstí Míru square on Sunday 28th August at 4:25 p.m.

Standings after 3rd SS:
1. Jan Kopecký – Pavel Dresler (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5) 25:38.4 min
2. Alexey Lukyanuk – Alexey Arnautov (RUS, FORD Fiesta R5) + 3.5 s
3. Kajetan Kajetanowicz – Jaroslaw Baran (POL, Ford Fiesta R5) + 13.2 s
4. Tomáš Kostka – Ladislav Kučera (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5) + 13.6 s
5. Bryan Bouffier – Gilbert Dini (FRA, Citroën DS3 R5) + 19.2 s
6. Pavel Valoušek – Veronika Havelková (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5) + 23.0 s
7. Jaromír Tarabus – Daniel Trunkát (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5) + 24.3 s
8. Jan Černý – Petr Černohorský (CZE, Škoda Fabia R5) + 25.6 s
9. Ralfs Sirmacis – Artūrs Šimins (LVA, Škoda Fabia R5) + 27.2 s
10. Fabian Kreim – Frank Christian (DEU, Škoda Fabia R5) + 40.6 s

25. Chris Ingram – Edmondson (GBR, Opel Adam R2), 1st place ERC3 + 2:03.5 min
26. Scattolon – Zanini (ITA, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX), 1st place ERC2 + 2:08.4 min