Kopecky opts for Czech runs to stay sharp.

Skoda privateer, Jan Kopecky has been keeping match fit for the Rally d'Italia Sardegna, his next outing in the FIA World Rally Championship, by taking in two events in his native country.

The Czech, who recently competed on the Vala?sk? Rally in a Skoda Fabia Kit Car finishing third overall, went one better at the weekend on the Agrotec Rally Hustope?e when he took 'silver'.

Right from the start Jan was running at the front and going into the seventh special stage he was second overall, with a 16.2 second cushion over his nearest rival. However power steering problems in stage eight dropped him to third. He bounced back at the end though and took the position by just 0.1 seconds.

Speaking after his outing at the weekend he said the Skoda Fabia Kit Car definitely has potential: "We were very glad to fill the gap between our start with the Skoda Fabia WRC in April's Rally de Portugal and the start of Rally Sardinia just up ahead by starting twice behind the wheel of the Skoda Fabia Kit Car in the Czech Republic's Rally Championship," he explained.

"Two finishes on the podium are a very good result and they confirm the quality of the Skoda Fabia Kit Car and the fully professional attitude of the Impromat Motorsport team, which develops and prepares the car for racing.

"We've tried to repeat the good result from the Vala?sk? Rally during the very interesting super special stages in South Moravia. Following the seventh super special stage we've moved to second, but right in the next stage we suffered a time loss due to a power steering malfunction.

"However, after this special stage followed a good service stop and we entered the final special stages with a fully functional car. We wanted to regain the lost 'silver' position and therefore focused as much as possible on the two final special stages.

"Not only with Filip [Schovanek - my co-driver] were we happy with the runners-up spot that we've won, but understandably this was an accomplishment for the entire Impromat Motorsport team. The two rallies have convinced us that the Skoda Fabia Kit Car is a full fledged competition rally car and an ideal sports tool especially for the young drivers."

Kopecky's fifth of twelve planned events in the WRC with the Czech Rally Team-Kopecky takes place now in four weeks time.