Jan Kopecky beats Gaurav Gill as MRF takes another 1-2 finish

New Caledonia, 18 May 2014: Team MRF Skoda driver and European Rally Champion Jan Kopecky beat team-mate Gaurav Gill to win Round 2 of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) in New Caledonia. Both MRF Skoda drivers were under investigation for postponing the start of Stage 13 as what they thought were unsafe conditions but both escaped with light penalties. Gill was comfortably leading yesterday before an accident caused him suspension damage. After two rounds, Kopecky and Gill are joint leaders with almost nothing to choose from them.

Driving the Team MRF Skoda Fabia S2000, Kopecky was in the driver’s seat with a 5 min lead heading into day 2.     2 stages were cancelled on Saturday, and SS12 was cancelled this morning. Then news came that the last 3 stages would also not run as conditions were so bad that the safety car also could not get through. Both drivers felt the conditions were impossible to drive in and hence requested for safer conditions before resuming.

2013 European Rally Champion Jan Kopecky admitted he has happy for the rally to finish after driving in very tough conditions. He said, “I am happy to have my first win of the season and the Team MRF Tyres Skoda team have been great in really tough conditions. I have to say I didn’t enjoy my driving so much, with so much mud. One stage I liked it was in the North, more like a proper stage, the rest was like driving over the fields in the mud, I didn’t enjoy so much. Our gap (today) was quite huge, so I didn’t want to make a mistake. There was no pressure and I was relaxed in the car, there was one stage in the North I enjoyed and each time I was able to go quicker than Gaurav, so it was good for us. We are now on equal points with Gaurav, that’s good for championship. If you have a close battle from the start its always better. Next is Australia – I’ve never been there, so a new country, a new rally we are looking forward to it.”

Defending champion Gill rued the fact that his mistake yesterday cost him the win but was happy to salvage 2nd place. He commented, “We had a good lead and a health margin, but unfortunately we got caught out by the conditions yesterday and found a tree on the exit of a corner, wasn’t so good for the car and we bent a suspension arm. Glenn (Macneall) and I had to do some repairs, the drive the last stage very conservatively. We’re happy to finished the day yesterday and today fastest of the day, so maximum points in the kitty – the best I could have done.”

Jan Kopecky and his Team MRF Skoda team next head to Australia on equal points (to be confirmed) with his team-mate Gaurav Gill in second. Many stages were cancelled after heavy rain made the roads impossible. The next round of the 2014 APRC is the International Rally of Queensland which will take place next month. Full bonus points will apply as the event had reached the required threshold. Last year 5 stages were cancelled on the final day, again after torrential rain.

Provisional Result Rally New Caledonia

1 – Jan Kopecky (Czech) Pravel Dresler (Czech) MRF Skoda 2hr01min40.6sec

2 – Gaurav Gill (IND) Glenn Macneall (Aust) MRF Skoda 2hr04min53.2sec

3 – Michael Young (NZ) Malcolm Read (NZ) Cusco Proton 2hr23min18.3sec

eom/Adrenna Communications Press Release.

Photos by MACSPEEDFOTO/ALAN MCDONALD