IRC: Spectator killed in Zlin

Tragic accident sees Barum Czech Rally Zlin end early
IRC: Spectator killed in Zlin

Juho Hanninen has been declared the winner of the Barum Czech Rally Zlin today, the ninth round of the 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, although the podium celebrations and final stage were cancelled as a mark of respect following an accident that claimed the life of a spectator.

The incident occurred when Vaclav Kopacek went off the road in his Subaru Impreza STi in SS13, the repeat-run through the 21.40 km Halenkovice stage. Two fans were injured, it has been confirmed on the events official website, one fatally.

Hanninen had been leading Skoda team-mate Jan Kopecky by 11.4 seconds last night, but Kopecky was forced out in SS13 this morning, when his engine failed. Andreas Mikkelsen also lost time today when he clipped a kerb at a left hand corner in SS10 and had to stop twice to replace punctured front and rear right tyres. He then worked his way back up to eighth, before the event was stopped one stage before scheduled. Roman Kresta took second, with Tomas Kosta third.

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