In a dramatic turn of events Jan Kopecký has failed to complete stage 14 of Barum Czech Rally Zlín after reportedly going off the road in his Škoda Fabia S2000.
The Czech was leading by 26 seconds with four stages remaining and is understood to be out of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event.
Kopecký’s woe has handed the initiative to Peugeot driver Bryan Bouffier with Freddy Loix second, 3.2s adrift. Loix topped the times through the Halenkovice stage, which started in wet conditions but ended in the dry.
Overall positions after SS14:
1 Bryan Bouffier (Peugeot 207 S2000) 2h10m18.9s
2 Freddy Loix (Škoda Fabia S2000) +3.2s
3 Juho Hänninen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +23.4s
4 Kris Meeke (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m13.1s
5 Pavel Valoušek (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1m26.2s
6 Andreas Mikkelsen (M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000) +2m28.0s
7 Václav Pech (Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX) +2m37.3s
8 Guy Wilks (Škoda Fabia S2000) +3m29.3s