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Congratulations go to ERC star Černý

Jan Černý will begin his FIA ERC Junior Under 28 Championship bid on the Azores Airlines Rallye this week with some words of encouragement from ŠKODA Motorsport chief Michal Hrabánek serving as a timely boost.

Černý was denied second place on this weekend's Valašská Rally - the opening round of the Czech championship - by a slender 1.0s margin, as Jan Kopecký, the 2013 ERC champion made it 11 home wins in succession in a factory ŠKODA Fabia R5.

"Respect to Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler for this commanding opening performance," said Hrabánek. "They dominated the rally from the first special stage to the last. Of course, this 11th straight win for the ŠKODA Fabia R5 confirms just how well we have been working. When I look into the eyes of the team members, all I can say is: they are hungry for success and want more. I would also like to congratulate Jan Černý and Petr Černohorský in third place. They showed just how competitive the Fabia R5 is."

Černý and Černohorský will travel to the Azores on Monday ahead of the recce on Tuesday and Wednesday. With their regular R5 unavailable, the Czech pair will use a hired Fabia R5 for the ERC season opener

Meanwhile, Filip Mareš and Jan Hloušek, who will join Cerný and Černohorský in the Azores as part of the ACCR Czech Team in 2017, albeit in the ERC Junior U27 category, were also in action on the Valašská Rally, finishing third among the R2 contingent. ERC stalwart Antonín Tlusťák was eighth overall.

Zdroj: fiaerc.com