Kopecký happy with event favourite billing

Jan Kopecký insists he is not fazed at being labelled the pre-event favourite for victory on Barum Czech Rally Zlín this week.

Local hero Kopecký won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier for the first time last season and could give his IRC title bid a huge lift with victory on this year’s event, which gets underway with a superspecial stage through the streets of host city Zlín on Friday evening.

“For me it’s not a pressure to be the favourite but the opposite,” said the 28-year-old Czech star. “A big challenge like this really motivates me so I will use it as a positive. Seeing all the flags being waved by the Czech fans is amazing and I want to show them what I can do.”

Kopecký, who will line up alongside regular co-driver Petr Starý in his Škoda Motorsport Fabia S2000 Facelift, completed his pre-event test in his homeland last week.

“We worked on improving the suspension and have found a good set-up,” said Kopecký. “Of course I hope to win and I know it would be very good for my championship chances if I did. But it’s a very difficult rally with fast sections very close to the trees.”