Jan Kopecký insists he’s not giving up on winning the International Jännerrallye following his puncture on stage 15.
Kopecký has moved ahead of Raimund Baumschlager into second place but trails Bryan Bouffier by 25s with two 25-kilometre stages of the FIA European Rally Championship qualifier left to run.
“I have to say everything is possible,” said the ŠKODA Motorsport driver. “I took quite a big risk but I have no spare wheel left. I will go to the team to decide if we try. Of course everybody wants to win but I need to think a bit about the championship. The next stage is very long and if you are enough crazy you can make a lot of time.”
Despite his determination to catch Bouffier, Kopecký actually failed to win the stage with Polish ERC Production Car Cup contender Kajetan Kajetanowicz grabbing the accolade in his Subaru Impreza.
Peugeot 207 driver Bouffier, meanwhile, has vowed to maintain his focus at the head of the leaderboard. “I keep my concentration and I hope to stay in the same position,” said Bouffier. “It’s very easy to get a puncture with a lot of cuts and stones. It can happen to all the drivers. Maybe Jan can push like hell and do a very good time.”
The penultimate stage, the first of two runs through the 25 kilometres of Bad Zell-Tragwein-Aisttal, starts at 13:49hrs.