JAN KOPECKY AND PAVEL DRESLER (SKODA FABIA) WIN CROATIA RALLY The final podium is completed by Andreas Aigner (Subaru, new leader of t...
The final
podium is completed by Andreas Aigner (Subaru, new leader of the Production
Cup) and Hermann Gassner jr. (Mitsubishi) who finished in this order after a
great battle – Molly Taylor (Citroen) seals the Ladies' Trophy –
Zoltan Bessenyey (Honda) only a step away from the 2WD Cup title – Daniel
Saskin first of the local drivers – The FIA President Jean Todt attends
the event – The Colin McRae Flat Out Trophy awarded to Andreas Aigner for
this event.
Jan Kopecky
and Pavel Dresler, the new 2013 European Rally Champions with their Skoda Fabia
S2000, have won the 40th Croatia Rally after taking the lead in the final
stages of the first leg. They were followed home respectively by Andreas
Aigner-Barbara Watzl (Subaru Impreza R4) and Hermann Gassner jr-Ursula
Mayrhofer (Mitsubishi Lancer R4) who in the second leg staged a close fight for
the runner-up spot and the victory in the Production car class.
The Austrian
Subaru driver, who had jumped in the lead under Friday's rain after passing
local driver Juraj Sebalj (winner of Thursday night's superspecial stage and
forced to retire today when he was fifth overall and first of the locals),
first resisted the assault of the German who had closed within less than a
second, then conquered a small but decisive advantage. Fourth place for the
Belgian crew of Peter Tsjoen-Bernd Casier (Skoda Fabia S2000), who took turns
in driving. Tsjoen also set the fastest time in the closing stage. The stage
wins score is of 8 for Kopecky, 2 each for Tsjoen and Aigner, 1 for Sebalj and
one notional time awarded to 4 drivers (Kopecky, Tsjoen, Aigner and Gassner).
Fifth place for the South African crew of Henk Lategan-Barry White (Skoda Fabia
S2000).
Molly Taylor,
together with Sebastian Marshall on the Citroen DS3 R3T in the United Business
livery, secured an advanced win in the ERC Ladies' Trophy with her second place
in class after having risked retirement twice: first when she passed out at a
stage end due to fuel vapours in the cockpit and then for a small crash.
Victory in the 2WD for this rally went to slowenian Aleks Humar-Florjan Rus
(Renault Clio R3), seventh overall, who led Hungary's Zoltan Bessenyey-Yulianna
Nyirfas (Honda Civic R3) who thanks to this result get closer to success in the
European 2WD Cup where they have a comfortable lead.
Daniel
Saskin-Damir Brunen (Ford Fiesta Rrc) in eighth place are the best local crew
in a rally which boasts the season record of foreign drivers (from 3 continents).
Today the Rally welcomed a special guest, FIA President Jean Todt, who
accompanied by Zrinko Gregurek, general secretary of the CCKF and member of the
FIA World Motorsport Council, congratulated himself with the event organisation
staff and its promoter Pierfelice Liberali. Jean Pierre Nicholas presented
Andreas Aigner with the Colin McRae Flat Out Trophy for this event.
FINAL STANDINGS:
1. Kopecky-Dressler (Skoda Fabia S2000) in 2h23'11“0;2
2. Aigner-Watzl (Subaru Impreza R4) a 1'55“6
3. Gassner jr-Mayrhofer (Mitsubishi Lancer R4) a
2'09“8
4. Tsjoen-Casier (Skoda Fabia S2000) a 2'54“3
5. Lategan-White (Skoda Fabia S2000) a 4'04“6
6. Hadik-Kertesz (Subaru Impreza R4) a 6'49“0
7. Humar-Rus (Renault Clio R3) a 6'59“5
8. Saskin-Bruner (Ford Fiesta Rrc) a 7'58“8
9. Trcek-Oslaj (Mitsubishi Lancer N4) a 9'52“3
10. Bessenyey-Nyirfas (Honda Civic R3) a 10'06“5
EUROPEAN
CHAMPIONSHIP UNOFFICIAL STANDINGS (after round 10 of 12)
OVERALL: 1.
Kopecky 287 points (2013 European Champion); 2. Bouffier 129; 3. Breen 121; 4.
Delecour 75; 5. Aigner 56; 6. Kajetanowicz 50; 7. Pech 49; 8. Ketomaa 39; 9.
Loix 37.
PRODUCTION
CUP: 1. Aigner 138 points; 2. Orsak 117; 3. Bonnefis 95.
2WD CUP: 1.
Bessenyey 147 points; 2. Lukacs 75; 3. Chentre 67.
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