Janner Rally- Thrills galore as Hanninen takes lead after chase ride

A thrilling start to the Janner Rally in Austria is what rally car enthusiast expected and that’s certainly what they got. Typical harsh winter conditions prevailed as drivers battled to take control of the roads on day one. Drivers struggled on snow covered roads plagued with blinding snow. Twists and turns in the course of the day kept fans busy with their nails. Fans that had gathered at different parts watched in amazement as drivers maneuvered their vehicles in difficult terrain.

The show stoppers for the day were Juho Hanninen and Jan Kopecky, Skoda Motorsport’s factory drivers. Both drivers did not have a start they hoped for but grit and determination to move forward saw the chase down drivers and climb up the standings. There were mixed reactions from drivers at the end of day one. Drivers that led the way made it easier for riders to follow by clearing the snow.

After the first day, Juho Hänninen says: “We did not make the best of starts this morning – although we looked forward to snow, we actually ploughed the road for the others. However, the road conditions got gradually fairer and we put in a good performance.”

Jan Kopecký adds: “The start was not really good, but the second section was better because the road was cleaner. We could have been even higher than we are if I hadn’t made a small mistake. We have a difficult leg ahead of us tomorrow, because the conditions here are really tricky.”