After dominating all three past rounds of the 2018 Czech Rally Championship (MČR), Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler (CZE/CZE) are returning to FIA World Rally Championship. After victories at Rally Monte-Carlo and Rally France-Tour de Corse the Czech crew is currently occupying second place in the WRC 2 category standings. “Although a lot of people think, I am a pure tarmac specialist, I succeeded in winning in Sardinia last year. I am looking forward to a return to that island,” underlines Jan Kopecký. One of his toughest opponents is young O.C. Veiby, who finished second in WRC 2 on Sardinia last year. “I feel well prepared for the sandy, but rough tracks. My participation at Rally Argentina, where I finished second in RC 2 class, will help me a lot and we are now aiming for another good result,” he commented.
ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek is more than happy with the performance of ŠKODA Motorsport in the 2018 season. “Reaching halftime of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship we were able to achieve five out of six possible wins in the WRC 2 category so far. On top of that, we delivered more than 200 ŠKODA FABIA R5 to customers. Among the twelve entries in the WRC 2 category at Rally Italia Sardegna, the ŠKODA FABIA R5 again seems to be the most popular car,” emphasizes Hrabánek.
Rally Italia Sardegna offers 20 special stages totalling more than 313 kilometres on rugged and sun-baked gravel roads. Not only the tough gravel roads, but as well the temperatures are a challenge for the crews. While it has 28 Centigrade outside, the temperatures inside the rally cars can easily raise up to 68 degrees. After the Super Special Stage on Thursday at the rally cross circuit of Ittiri, Friday features four stages in the north of the island, each run twice. Saturday is again the longest day of the rally with seven special stages covering over 146 kilometres. Sunday will bring the final decision with four stages close to the coast north of the host town of Alghero.
Did you know…
… the event today known as Rally Italia first took place in 1928 under the name “Rally of the Flowers” and was a part of the FIA World Rally Championship ever since its inauguration in 1973?
…that the Italian round of the FIA World Rally Championship until 2003 was hold on the mainland of Italy and was based in Sanremo before it moved to the island of Sardinia?
…Michèle Mouton became the first – and until today only – woman to win a WRC round when she came first at the Sanremo Rally in 1981?
…that the iconic stage “Monte Lerno” of Rally Italia Sardegna features a famous jump, comparable to the Fafe jump in Portugal, which is called “Micky’s jump”?
The calendar of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2)
Event /Date
Rallye Monte-Carlo 24/01/–28/01/2018
Rally Sweden 15/02/–18/02/2018
Rally Mexico 08/03/–11/03/2018
Rally France 05/04/–08/04/2018
Rally Argentina 26/04/–29/04/2018
Rally Portugal 17/05/–20/05/2018
Rally Italia Sardegna 07/06/–10/06/2018
Rally Finland 26/07/–29/07/2018
Rally Germany 16/08/–19/08/2018
Rally Turkey 13/09/–16/09/2018
Rally Great Britain 04/10/–07/10/2018
Rally Spain 25/10/–28/10/2018
Rally Australia 15/11/–18/11/2018
