Rally Český Krumlov: Hattrick win for Jan Kopecký and ŠKODA

› Jan Kopecký and co-driver Pavel Dresler (ŠKODA FABIA R5) remain undefeated in the Czech Rally Championship (MČR)
› Czech champions score third consecutive victory in Czech Rally Championship 2017 (MČR), winning Rally Český Krumlov for the third time in a row
› ŠKODA factory team fastest on 15 out of 16 stages

Český Krumlov, 20 May 2017 – Double hattrick for Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler (ŠKODA FABIA R5). The defending Czech champions won Rally Český Krumlov after 2015 and 2016 for the third consecutive time, also racking up the third win in a row in the Czech Rally Championship 2017 (MČR). ŠKODA privateers Jan Černy/Petr Černohorský finished fourth, trailing Ford pairings Vacláv Pech jun./Petr Uhel (CZE/CZE) and Miroslav Jakeš/Marcela Ehlová (CZE/CZE).

Rally Český Krumlov is one of the most traditional rallies in Czech Republic. In the region of Southern Bohemia, the drivers are competing on challenging special stages in a beautiful landscape. The only surprise came on sunny Friday, when it was not ŠKODA factory driver Jan Kopecký but Ford driver Dohnal who won the first short special stage. But after that, the world of Czech rallying returned to business as usual with a dominating Jan Kopecký.

Jan Kopecký and co-driver Pavel Dresler were fastest on all remaining 15 stages with their ŠKODA FABIA R5 and won Rally Český Krumlov for a third time in a row. After three victories on the first three rounds of Czech Rally Championship (MČR), the ŠKODA works pairing so far seems unstoppable on home ground. “I really enjoy driving here, it is a really pleasure to have a perfect rally car like the ŠKODA FABIA R5”, Jan Kopecký commented at the finish line in České Budějovice. “There are two main factors ŠKODA can really count on in the world of rallying – the speed and reliability of Jan Kopecký, Pavel Dresler and the ŠKODA FABIA R5”, a delighted ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek added.

Jan Černy/Petr Černohorský in a private ŠKODA FABIA R5, just recovered from a huge accident in the recent round of FIA European Rally Championship (ECR) on Gran Canaria, finished fourth behind the Ford pairings Pech jun./Uhel (CZE/CZE) and Jakeš/Ehlová (CZE/CZE).

Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler now have a comfortable lead in the Czech Rally Championship (MČR) ahead of Vacláv Pech jun./Petr Uhel and Jan Černy/Petr Černohorský.

Rally Český Krumlov (MČR), final result

1. Kopecký/Dresler (CZE/CZE), ŠKODA FABIA R5, 1:33:09.3 h.
2. Pech jun./Uhel (CZE/CZE), Ford Fiesta R5, +1:42.2 min.
3. Jakeš/Ehlová (CZE/CZE), Ford Fiesta R5, +2:21.4 min.
4. Černy/Černohorský jun. (CZE/CZE), ŠKODA FABIA R5, +2:42.6 min.
5. Štajf/Rajnoha(CZE/CZE), ŠKODA FABIA R5, +3:14.4 min.

Number of the day: 3
Kopecký/Dresler (CZE/CZE) won Rally Český Krumlov for the third time in a row and all of three rallies of the Czech Rally Championship 2017 (MČR).

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

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