Freddy Loix has moved ahead of Bryan Bouffier into third place and equal on time with Juho Hänninen in the battle for second position on Barum Czech Rally Zlín after he won the ninth stage of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.
Loix, in a BFO-ŠKODA Rally Team Fabia, was 1.6s faster than Hänninen through the 11.49-kilometre stage. Along with the ŠKODA Motorsport driver he trails leader Jan Kopecký by 19.7s at the completion of day one.
Kopecký was third fastest through the stage, 0.7s quicker than the time recorded by Bryan Bouffier in a Peugeot France 207.
Guy Wilks, who is recovering from the puncture he suffered on the previous stage, was fifth fastest, with Kronos Racing team-mate Thierry Neuville sixth quickest.
Crews are now returning to service in Otrokovice ahead of the overnight halt in Zlín.
| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr | Škoda Fabia S2000 | 1h14m28.0s |
| 2 | Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +19.7s |
| 3 | Loix Freddy / Miclotte F. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +19.7s |
| 4 | Bouffier Bryan / Panseri Xavier | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +23.4s |
| 5 | Neuville T. / Gilsoul Nicolas | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +1m51.3s |
| 6 | Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +2m09.5s |
| 7 | Gardemeister T. / Suominen Tapio | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +2m25.5s |
| 8 | Breen Craig / Roberts Gareth | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +2m32.1s |
| 9 | Kresta Roman / Gross Petr | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +2m46.0s |
| 10 | Andersson P. / Axelsson Emil | Proton Satria Neo S2000 | +2m50.2s |
| 11 | Sołowow Michal / Baran Maciej | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +3m08.7s |
| 12 | Wilks Guy / Pugh Phil | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +3m12.5s |
| 13 | Kruuda Karl / Järveoja M. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +3m13.4s |
| 14 | Sandell Patrik / Parmander S. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +3m24.1s |
| 15 | Odložilík R. / Tureček Martin | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +3m38.9s |