Record chaser Jan Kopecký scored a celebrated victory in his spectacular black Fabia R5 in ŠKODA’s home event. Together with co-driver Pavel Dresler, the 34-year-old driver won Rally Bohemia, which took place in the vicinity of the ŠKODA headquarters in Mladá Boleslav, for the fourth consecutive time. The confident works duo therefore remained unbeaten again in the fourth event of the current Czech Rally Championship (MČR) season and are well on course to defend their championship title.
Approximately an hour earlier, the Fabia R5 drivers Teemu Suninen / Mikko Markkula triumphed in Rally Poland taking place around 600 kilometres away, thereby giving ŠKODA its fifth consecutive win in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC2).
The black rally vehicle was indeed a real eye-catcher on the tracks and at the Rally Bohemia service park. The livery of the turbocharged four-wheel drive vehicle was a nod to the legendary ŠKODA 110 Super Sport (Ferat), which achieved cult status in what was then Czechoslovakia thanks to the movie Ferat Vampire. ŠKODA marked the 35th anniversary of the release of the horror science fiction movie with the black Fabia R5, with a screening of the film, with a major exhibition at the museum and, of course, with Jan Kopecký’s spectacular rally show on the asphalt roads lined by thousands of fans.
The experienced ŠKODA driver took the lead after the second special stage and continuously extended his lead with excellent fastest times on the asphalt roads, which were slippery following rain. At the end of a good 150 special stage kilometres, Kopecký had a lead of 1:00.4 minutes over his arch-rival Václav Pech. It was the sixth Rally Bohemia win for Kopecký after wins in 2004, 2005, 2013, 2014 and 2015, so now he shares the record number of wins at the Rally Bohemia with Roman Kresta. Kopecký has won all nine races in which he has appeared in the new Fabia R5 in the Czech championship in 2015 and 2016. ŠKODA also remains unbeaten at Rally Bohemia since 2009.
German youngster Fabian Kreim, who made his Czech Rally Championship debut with the support of ŠKODA Motorsport, likewise put in a strong performance. He was on course for a podium position on the first day, but was then set back by a flat tyre and ultimately came seventh.
The ŠKODA Park was once again a big success, in spite of the poor weather. The special activities marking the anniversary of the cult film Ferat Vampire proved to be especially popular.
Rally Bohemia 2016 Final Results:
- Kopecký/Dresler (CZ/CZ); ŠKODA Fabia R5: 1:32:35.3 hrs
- Pech/Uhel (CZ/CZ); Porsche 997 GT3: + 1:00.4 min
- Vlček/Žáková (CZ/CZ); Ford Fiesta R5: + 2:06.7 min
- Štajf/Rajnoha (CZ/CZ); ŠKODA Fabia R5: + 2:27.9 min
- Jakeš/Ehlová (CZ/CZ); Citroën DS3 R5: + 3:06.8 min
The number for Rally Bohemia: 8
In its 43rd year, the winner of the traditional Rally Bohemia was decided over the minimum number of special stages, eight – a format criticised by Jan Kopecký among others. The experienced driver nonetheless won five of the eight special stages in his black ŠKODA Fabia R5. Václav Pech (Porsche) only held the lead after the first special stage, after which Jan Kopecký dominated his home event.
