Former ERC champion Kopecký is a class act

Co-driven by fellow Czech Pavel Dresler, Kopecký was ŠKODA Motorsport’s sole official representative on the world championship counter but thrived under the pressure to deliver a standout victory in his Fabia R5.

Taking the class lead on the second day of the iconic Tarmac rally, Kopecký adopted a measured approach to win by almost eight and half minutes having claimed a number of fastest times in his category along the way.

Esapekka Lappi, who succeeded Kopecký as ERC champion in 2014, was on course for a fine fourth place on only his third Rallye Monte-Carlo start only to slide wide and off the road on the final stage and drop to seventh. The Finn finished ahead of ERC event winners Bryan Bouffier and Craig Breen, who were eighth and ninth respectively. Ott Tänak, Jari-Matti Latvala, Kris Meeke and Thierry Neuville – all drivers with ERC event experience – placed second, third, fourth and fifth.

The 2018 ERC season begins on the Azores Airlines Rallye from 22-24 March.

Photo:ŠKODA Motorsport