ERC
Kopecký holding on as Armstrong attacks in ERC
Jan Kopecký remains on course for Barum Czech Rally Zlín victory number 12, but Jon Armstrong continues to threaten the national hero in his bid for a first FIA European Rally Championship triumph.
The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver, at the wheel of a Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally2, started Sunday’s deciding leg 6.5sec behind King of Zlín Kopecký and narrowed that gap to 6.3sec when he outpaced his rival through the day-opening Pindula test with a sensational run.
But Kopecký, driving a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 on Michelin tyres, responded in sublime fashion on the 20.61-kilometre Podhoran test, the rally’s longest stage, with the fastest time to widen his lead to 7.9sec.
And it got even better for the 2013 ERC champion when he took the honours on the 12.62-kilometre Kateřinice test – the rehearsal for the rally-deciding Power Stage – to reach the midday service halt in Otrokovice leading by 11.6sec.
Jan Kopecký holds top spot with three stages left
© ERC
“I was on the maximum basically,” Kopecký said. “For sure there are some corners where you can go a bit faster. One of those I was a bit too fast and I went sideways into a ditch but luckily nothing was there. It is okay. It is rallying what we love. I have a nice feeling from the car and everyone.”
Hyundai i20 N Rally2 driver Simon Wagner closed to within 4.5sec of third-placed Andrea Mabellini on SS8 as he pushes for four consecutive Barum Czech Rally Zlín podiums. However, with a maiden ERC title his goal, Pirelli-equipped Mabellini responded on Podhoran by going 0.9sec faster than his Austrian rival. The Italian then went second fastest of all – 0.8sec adrift of Kopecký – on SS10 to move 9.9sec ahead of Wagner and close to within 9.8sec of Armstrong.
Andrea Mabellini is edging the battle for the final podium spot
© ERC
Having dropped out of the victory fight after picking up tyre damage on Saturday’s closing test, Erik Cais was a man on a mission this morning aboard his Michelin-supplied Hyundai i20 N Rally2. He completed the 17.22 kilometres of Pindula in a stage-winning time of 9min 03.8sec to demote Filip Mareš for fifth place.
But with Cais nearly spinning early on Podhoran and Mareš going quicker at the wheel of his Hankook-shod Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, the duelling Czechs were just 0.4sec apart heading to SS10 with Cais just ahead. Despite clipping a bank, Mareš moved 9.6sec ahead of Cais when the Zlín resident picked up left-rear tyre damage. Both drivers have been handed 10-second penalties for chicane strikes.
ERC points leader Miko Marczyk moved back ahead of Adam Březík in the battle for seventh by 0.4sec after
Simon Wagner isn't giving up on a fourh consecutive Barum podium
© ERC
Březík broke a wheel on SS9 and drove with caution through SS10 having used his only spare tyre. Jakub Matulka is ninth and Václav Pech 10th.
Delayed by tyre damage on SS7, Mille Johansson spun early in Pindula, but completes the morning loop in 11th followed by Master ERC pacesetter Martin Vlček, ERC3 leader Hubert Kowalczyk, Dariusz Biedrzyński and Casey Jay Coleman, currently first in the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy order.
Overnight leader Craig Rahill continues to top the Hankook-supplied FIA Junior ERC Championship category in his Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF but damage led to two deflations and resulted in Ioan Lloyd, second after SS7, retiring his Peugeot 208 Rally4. Rookies Karl Peder Nordstrand and Maximilan Lichtenegger were second and third respectively starting SS10.
Ján Kundlák was 10th overnight but rolled into retirement 6.2 kilometres from the start of the 20.61-kilometre Podhoran test.
Following a 30-minute service halt in Otrokovice, Barum Czech Rally Zlín resumes with the repeat of the legendary Pindula stage from 13:29 local time. The Power Stage is due to get under way at 16:05.
