Skoda keeps Hanninen and Kopecky for 2012 IRC

17th December 2011

Skoda will retain Juho Hanninen and Jan Kopecky as the core of its Intercontinental Rally Challenge line-up for a fourth straight year in 2012 - and will also field the duo on European and Czech championship rounds respectively.

Hanninen and Kopecky have been Skoda's factory IRC contenders since the firm arrived in the series in 2009. While Kopecky has finished second in the championship at every attempt, Hanninen won the 2010 title. Between them, they have taken 12 IRC rally wins over those three seasons and - alongside Skoda UK's Andreas Mikkelsen and BFO Skoda's Freddy Loix in their works-spec Fabias - have led Skoda to the last two IRC manufacturers' crowns.

After seconding Hanninen to the World Rally Championship's S2000 class - which he won - for 2011, Skoda's works team boss Michal Hrabanek said that in 2012 "Škoda's top priority will be to defend the IRC titles we have won in the past two years."

But both Hanninen and Kopecky will also be in action in other championships, with Hanninen also running in a selection of European championship rounds and Kopecky also contesting the Czech national series.

Kopecky will have a new permanent co-driver for 2012, with Pavel Dressler becoming his regular partner as Petr Stary has had to withdraw from competition due to illness.

Skoda has also revealed a new livery for its 2012 IRC campaign, as pictured below.