Raimund Baumschlager has hit back from his stage one disappointment by going 27.5s faster than International Jännerrallye leader Jan Kopecký on stage two of the FIA European Rally Championship round.
While Baumschlager’s choice of narrow studded tyres for the mainly ice-free opening test proved disastrous when he dropped almost one minute to Kopecký, it proved ideal for the 10.22-kilometre Libenau run, which featured significant icy sections and some snow on the road. The BRR ŠKODA pilot is now 29.7s adrift of Kopecký in the overall standings.
Like Baumschlager, Beppo Harrach was also running on the narrow studded tyre and was a mere 1.7s off the pace in his ERC Production Car Cup-chasing Mitsubishi Lancer following an impressive performance.
Kopecký, meanwhile, was running on the wide studded tyre and also suggested running first on the road had contributed to his time loss after he reported having to cut through a coating of snow in his ŠKODA Fabia. He said: “I think we will lose some time but it doesn’t matter, there is still a long way to go.”
Bryan Bouffier, who was 4.7s behind Kopecký after stage one, dropped 30s to his Czech rival. “It was very bad,” said the French Peugeot driver, who loses his second place to Václav Pech and drops down to fifth overall. “I tried to drive well but it was tricky.”
François Delecour reported a couple of off-road moments but was only 7.7s down on Kopecký, such was his determination behind the wheel of his Kronos Racing Peugeot. “It was very difficult and easy to make a mistake,” said Delecour.
Stage three, St Oswald, gets underway at 10:10hrs local time.