Jan Kopecký began the defence of his Barum Czech Rally Zlín title in style by going fastest on the opening stage, the 9.01-kilometre SSS Zlin stage.
Held in drying conditions following earlier rain, Kopecký set a time of 7m15.0s in his factory Škoda Fabia Super 2000 Facelift.
Second fastest through the stage was Kopecký’s team-mate and Intercontinental Rally Challenge title leader Juho Hänninen, who was the last driver to tackle the stage, which attracted tens of thousands of spectators despite the unseasonal conditions.
Kris Meeke, the defending IRC champion, was the first non-Škoda driver in fourth overall.
Several drivers hit trouble in the stage including Burcu Çetinkaya, who picked up a front-right puncture in her Peugeot 207 and Corrado Fontana, who hit a rock and broke his 207’s front-right wheel.
Matteo Gamba heads the IRC 2WD Cup standings in his Clio R3.
Overall positions after SS1:
| Pos. | Team | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr | Škoda Fabia S2000 | 7m15.0s |
| 02 | Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +2.2s |
| 03 | Loix Freddy / Miclotte Fréderic | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +3.0s |
| 04 | Meeke Kris / Nagle Paul | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +3.2s |
| 05 | Bouffier Bryan / Panseri Xavier | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +4.0s |
| 06 | Pech Václav / Uhel Petr | Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX | +6.5s |
| 07 | Wilks Guy / Pugh Phil | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +7.4s |
| 08 | Valoušek Pavel / Hrůza Zdeněk | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +7.5s |
| 09 | Neuville Thierry / Klinger Nicolas | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +7.5s |
| 10 | Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +8.8s |
| 11 | Kresta Roman / Gross Petr | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +12.7s |
| 12 | Kostka Tomáš / Houšť Vít | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +15.3s |
| 13 | Fontana Corrado / Arena Nicola | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +17.8s |
| 14 | Wittmann Franz / Wicha Klaus | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +17.8s |
| 15 | Orsák Jaroslav / Vajík Karel | Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX | +21.7s |