Skoda privateer, Jan Kopecky has said that he would 'especially like to succeed' in Germany this coming weekend as it is the closest thing he gets to a home event in the WRC.

Speaking ahead of the latest round in the FIA World Rally Championship – and his seventh outing of the season, he added that he is feeling pretty positive, even if he did crash out in Finland two weeks ago on the final day.

Indeed after a good pre-event test he is satisfied with how he has managed to set-up his Fabia WRC for this weekend's three-day affair.

“In the WRC, Rally Deutschland is the like a home rally not only from the perspective of the Czech fans and crews, but especially for Škoda Auto, a.s., with the support of which I start on the event. Of course I do not lack motivation at any of the rallies, but especially in Germany I'd like to succeed,” said the Czech Rally Team-Kopecky driver.

“After returning from Finland, the entire team was finishing the intensive preparations for the Rallye Deutschland, which also included two days of testing in Germany. We understandably pay attention to every last detail before the rally just the same as before each WRC round. The two days of testing were also attended by the shocks supplier representatives, with whom we tried to customise as much as possible the handling properties of the car for the two absolutely different characteristics of stages, which await us in Germany.

“The familiar special stages in attractive vineyards are narrow, but on relatively good quality tarmac. On the contrary, the special stages in the military zone – Baumholder, are very treacherous with its concrete slabs along the stages. The roads, on top of that, run predominantly over a broken and jumpy concrete surface, and this is why the car needs to be set differently for each of the Rallye Deutschland's legs.

“The two day test was performed without complications and I am happy with the way the Skoda Fabia WRC is set up. The result of the test itself will of course be proven by the rally itself.”

Pressed on how he might get on, especially as he has done this event a fair few times - making his WRC debut in Germany back in 2002, as well as finishing seventh last year, he added that while he hasn't competed on asphalt for a while, he is still really looking forward to it.

“As a driver I grew up on tarmac, but I have not started on tarmac with a WRC specification car within the world circuit for some time now. Even so this is another reason why I am particularly looking forward to the start of Rallye Deutschland,” he summed-up.