Zlin ERC: Jan Kopecky leads by 18s after unbeaten run of stage wins
European Rally Championship leader Jan Kopecky is dominating his home round in the Czech Republic after the first full loop of stages
An unbeaten run of stage wins so far gives Kopecky a lead of 18.8 seconds over countryman Vaclav Pech's Mini.
Skoda has entered a 'super-team' on its home event, with Kopecky joined by its WRC2 drivers Esapekka Lappi and Sepp Wiegand.
Both initially struggled to match the locals on the fast, narrow and bumpy roads, but two top-three stage times for Lappi have brought the Finn up to fifth and into Roman Kresta and Jaromir Tarabus's battle for third.
Wiegand has found it harder to get up to speed and is currently seventh.
Leading positions after SS4: Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap 1. Jan Kopecky Skoda 30m50.3s 2. Vaclav Pech Invelt Mini +18.8s 3. Roman Kresta Adell Mogul Skoda +22.8s 4. Jaromir Tarabus AK Skoda +24.3s 5. Esapekka Lappi Skoda +27.6s 6. Tomas Kostka Rufa Ford +41.1s 7. Sepp Wiegand Skoda +46.9s 8. Pavel Valousek Delimax Ford +59.3s 9. Antonin Tlustak GPD Skoda +1m42.4s 10. Germain Bonnefis Renault +2m28.5s
Zlin ERC: Jan Kopecky in charge after Friday evening superspecial
Zlin ERC: Jan Kopecky dominates with clean sweep of stage wins
Drivers are in accordance: Ireland should be in the World Rally Championship. DAVID EVANS followed the Circuit of Ireland and was left with no doubt that the drivers are right
Robert Kubica's rally speed is obviously there - in abundance - but he's got to stop crashing. Charles Bradley went to the Azores to get the lowdown on the ex-F1 star's comeback trail
Why Kubica can win on ERC debut
Former GP winner Robert Kubica makes his international comeback this week in the Canaries Rally. And David Evans reckons he'll win aboard a Citroen DS3 RRC
Rallying's new era keeps the best of the old
As the IRC to ERC transformation takes effect in Austria, David Evans is excited that the IRC's promotional strengths will carry over - but still wishes the WRC could get some of that magic
As the Intercontinental Rally Challenge prepares for its swansong in Cyprus, David Evans recalls the shortlived series' heyday - and looks ahead to its European successor
The fifth Intercontinental Rally Challenge was the best yet, and it was Skoda UK driver Andreas Mikkelsen who emerged as champion from a tense five-way shootout at the season finale. Matt Beer reviews the season
Who to watch in the Monte Carlo Rally
This year is the Monte Carlo Rally's centenary and, just as in recent years, there's no shortage of World Rally Championship stars turning up to give the IRC regulars a run for their money
The top 10 IRC drivers of 2010
The competition didn't run as deep as it might have, but there was plenty of fight at the front with six of our top 10 winning rallies during the season. Matt Beer puts them in order