Skoda to enter Czech event as test

Factory drivers Juho Hanninen and Jan Kopecky will take part in the Czech championship event in a brace of Fabia Super 2000s, just over a month before they are due to contest the IRC's Sata Rally Azores on May 7-9.

Skoda made a promising start to its IRC campaign in Monte Carlo, with Hanninen leading until crashing out and Kopecky taking fourth. The team then skipped last week's Curitiba event to focus on testing.

Team boss Michal Hrabanek reckons Skoda will gain a lot from entering the Valasska Rally.

"We appreciate having another opportunity to test the vehicle in a real competition after the Monte Carlo Rally," he said.

"Like on the previous occasion, we want to move a few steps forward with our vehicle development efforts, and although the main purpose of our appearance at the Valasska Rally is to test the new vehicle, our ambitions also include achieving the best possible result."

Skoda is likely to enter five more rounds of the IRC this season, including Rally Russia in July and Barum Rally Zlin in Czech Republic in August.