Jan Kopecký’s bid to make it two International Jännerrallye wins in succession has got off to the perfect start.
Driving a ŠKODA Motorsport Fabia Super 2000, Kopecký was fastest on the 1.99-kilometre Freistadt Trölsberg shakedown stage.
In damp conditions, the reigning Czech champion set a benchmark time of 1m11.3s with French rallying legend François Delecour second quickest, 1.2s adrift of Kopecký’s best effort.
Beppo Harrach was the top Austrian driver with the third fastest time in his ERC Production Car Cup-chasing Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX R4. Last year’s Austrian title-winner, Raimund Baumschlager, was eighth quickest for his self-run BRR Team.
Top 10 shakedown times
1 Jan Kopecký (CZE)/Pavel Dresler (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 1m11.3s
2 François Delecour (FRA)/Dominique Savignoni (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000 +1.2s
3 Beppo Harrach (AUT)/Leopold Welserscheimb (AUT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX R4 +1.7s
4 Pavel Valoušek (CZE)/Lukáš Kostka (CZE) Peugeot 207 S2000 +2.2s
5 Michal Sołowow (POL/Maciej Baran (POL) Peugeot 207 S2000 +2.8s
6 Václav Pech (CZE)/Petr Uhel (CZE) MINI John Cooper Works S2000 +3.1s
7 Bryan Bouffier (FRA)/Olivier Fournier (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000 +3.4s
8 Raimund Baumschlager (AUT)/Klaus Wicha (GER) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 +3.9s
9 Jan Černý (CZE)/Pavel Kohout (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 +3.9s
10 Martin Fischerlehner (AUT)/Tobias Unterweger (AUT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX +4.6s