ERC – Azores: Kopecky keeps the lead, Breen stays in the race

Le rally of the Azores counting forERC entered its third and final day this Saturday and is still being run in difficult weather conditions. Jan Kopecky is still in the lead in his Skoda Fabia S2000 and took three of the four stage wins this morning. Despite everything, he is “only” 20??8 ahead of Craig Breen. The Irishman on his Peugeot 207 S2000 is not giving up with only three stages remaining. Ricciardo Moura, also in a Skoda Fabia S2000, completes the top 3 and is still in the mix. The Portuguese is 41 seconds behind the Czech. “We still have a long second section this afternoon, we have to push as much as possible,” explains Jan Kopecky. “I try not to touch the stones, during the 15th special there was a bad stone in the trajectory and I had to brake to avoid it”. Attacking while avoiding traps, this is the equation that the leading men will have to solve at the end of the rally if they wish to win.

Despite rolling over the day before, Robert Kubica (Citroën DS3 RRC) was able to take part in the debates again and is in 6th position. The Pole, dominant at the start of the event, is far away, more than 8 minutes behind the leaders. Jérémi Ancian is the first Frenchman, in fifth position, 3 minutes behind the Czech.