Skoda Motorsport driver Jan Kopecky has dominated the morning stages on the opening day of the 2009 Barum Rally Zlin.

Kopecky was quickest on two of the three stages during the loop and leads by 16.2s from Kronos driver Freddy Loix with Abarth's Giandomenico Basso third overall.

Peugeot UK's Kris Meeke has been sensational this morning, after a puncture on last night's Super Special left him in 33rd place, and has climbed to fourth overall after posting fastest time on SS4.

Meanwhile, Proton's rally turned into a nightmare after Guy Wilks was forced to retire with engine failure on the way to the start of SS2. Nicolas Vouilloz in the Kronos Peugeot retired from 2nd place after his car burst into flames at the end of SS4.

Standings after SS4

1st= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, 38m45s9;
2nd= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, +16s2;
3rd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +25s1;
4th= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +37s5;
5th= Kresta/Gross, Peugeot, +42s9;
6th= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat Abarth, +46s5;
7th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +50s9;
8th= Novikov/Prevot, Skoda, +55s7;
9th= Valousek/Hruza, Skoda, +57s;
10th= Prokop/Tomanek, Peugeot, +1m04s7

Similar Posts:

• Barum results after SS12: Kopecky in control, Meeke still second
• Rally Ypres 2009: Results after SS14 Day 2: Meeke leads, Loix punctures on SS13
• Kopecky leads Barum Czech Rally Zlin into final day

About the Author

Scott Coursey is the editor-in-chief of RallyBuzz.com and can be found on Twitter or on Facebook