Rally Hustopeče: Kopecký/Dresler face WRC 2 leaders Tidemand/Andersson
› Jan Kopecký and co-driver Pavel Dresler are favourites to win the fourth round of the Czech Rally Championship (MČR)
› ŠKODA factory team Kopecký/Dresler back on home soil after winning WRC 2 at Rally Italia Sardegna
› WRC 2 world championship leaders Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson are competing in South Moravia as well
› ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek: "We want to continue our winning streak in the Czech Rally Championship."
Mladá Boleslav, 15 June 2017 – At Rally Hustopeče ŠKODA Motorsport is aiming for the next victory. Factory team Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZE/CZE) is going with a strong tail wind into the fourth round of this year’s Czech Rally Championship (MČR). Both scored a convincing WRC 2 win at last weekend’s world championship Rally Italia Sardegna. Upcoming Friday and Saturday twelve stages totalling 150 kilometres await the competitors. WRC 2 championship leaders Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson (SWE/SWE), another ŠKODA factory team, are competing on the roads of South Moravia’s wine region as well.
"At Rally Hustopeče we want to continue where we left at Rally Český Krumlov," says ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek and adds: "Pontus and Jonas so far have done only events on snow or gravel, except of the season opening Rally Monte Carlo. They will compete at Rally Hustopeče to get more experience on tarmac ahead of the upcoming German round of the World Rally Championship."
Pontus Tidemand is well aware of the tough competition inside the ŠKODA Motorsport team. "Last year I have been at the rallies Šumava Klatovy and Český Krumlov where I finished both times second behind Jan. I know, it is very difficult to beat him on his home ground, but I will give it a try," Tidemand looks ahead.
"My focus is crystal clear on winning the Czech Rally Championship," says last year’s winner Jan Kopecký. Also among the frontrunners are Ford drivers Václav Pech and Pavel Valoušek as well as Martin Koči in a privately run ŠKODA FABIA R5.
The rally fans can expect a thrilling weekend. The first leg of the fourth round of Czech Rally Championship (MČR) will start on Friday at 19h00, half of the six stages of the first day are run in darkness. On Saturday the teams are facing six more stages, before at 16h34 after 150 kilometres on a total of twelve stages the winner is expected at the finish line in Hustopeče.
The 2017 calendar of the Czech Rally Championship (MČR)
Event Date
Valašská Rally 25/03/–26/03/2017
Rally Šumava Klatovy 21/04/–22/04/2017
Rally Český Krumlov 19/05/–20/05/2017
Rally Hustopeče 16/06/–17/06/2017
Rally Bohemia 01/07/–02/07/2017
Barum Czech Rally Zlín 25/08/–27/08/2017
Rally Příbram 06/10/–08/10/2017
