The Jan Kopecký – Jan Hloušek crew started their second season in the colors of the Agrotec Škoda Rally Team with the Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo at the Kowax Valašské Rally ValMez.
The crew started the competition and settled in the lead right from the first special stage. However, the opponents did not want to give anything for free, so there were beautiful fights at the top of the results list, which the fans definitely had to enjoy. The complexity of the competition was then crowned by the changing April weather.
After Saturday’s stage, however, she could be satisfied with the team, because she held a lead of more than ten seconds.
The first Sunday section was still good for Jan Kopecký and he maintained his lead. Even before the final special stage, he had a lead of more than 9 seconds over both opponents. The decision was to be made on the demanding, almost 20-kilometer-long Velká Lhota special stage. But both opponents were faster there and Jan Kopecký and Jan Hloušek fell to 3rd place. Less than 9 seconds were missing for the victorious Václav Pech, followed by Filip Mareš for less than 5 seconds.
What happened at the end of the competition? Jan Kopecký suspects the cause. “Since this year, we have been riding Pirelli tires. I don’t have much experience with them yet, especially in such demanding changing conditions and at low temperatures. If the weather was stable, they worked very well. Dry on dry, wet on wet, there I was satisfied. The problem arose when conditions changed, which is exactly what happened at the last test. We started in the dry, after a while it started to snow and it was raining down at Bystřička again. I put everything into it, I rode to the fullest, but we simply lacked sufficient grip in these conditions. We have to analyze the data with Pirelli technicians and try to find a suitable solution, because it is possible that similar conditions will be in the Šumava. But I must also appreciate Václav Pech and Filip Mareš, who went into it to the fullest and they have no choice but to congratulate them. Third place in such a demanding competition is not bad and the whole team will work hard to make us more successful in the next competition. “
The next start awaits the Agrotec Škoda Rally Team on the second weekend of May at the Šumava Rally in Klatovy. Exciting fights in Valaška are the best invitation.
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