Škoda Motorsport Team Drivers


In addition to technicians and other specialists at the motor sport department, two racing crews help with the development of the Škoda Fabia Super 2000. The experience of Jan Kopecký, Juho Hänninen and co-drivers Petr Starý and Mikko Markkula is significantly moving the development of the new special forward. Both crews are confirming this fact through their excellent performances in IRC competitions.
 
  Jan Kopecký

Date of birth: 28 January 1982
Nationality: Czech
Marital status: single
Hobbies: winter sports (skiing, snowboarding), jogging

Best results:

  • Czech Rally Champion in 2004
  • 5th overall in the 2006 RACC Rally Catalunya (E)
  • 5th overall in the 2007 ÖMV ADAC Rallye Deutschland (D)
  • 2nd overall in the 2008 Vodafone Rally de Portugal (P)
  • 4th overall in the 2009 Rallye Monte Carlo (F, MC)
  • 2nd overall in the 2009 Sata Rallye Acores (P)
  • 2nd overall in the 2009 Ypres Rally (B)
  • 2nd overall in the 2009 Rally Russia (RUS)
  • 1st overall in the Barum Czech Rally Zlín (CZ)
  • 1st overall in the Principe de Asturias Rally (E)
  • 2nd overall in the 2009 Rally Bohemia (CZ)
  • 3rd overall in the 2010 Rally Argentina (ARG)
  • 1st overall in the 2010 Rally Islas Canarias (E)
  • 3rd overall in the 2010 Rally d'Italia Sardegna (I)
  • 2nd overall in the 2010 Geko Ypres Rally (B)
  • 2nd overall in the 2010 Rali Vinho Madeira (P)


  • The Škoda Motorsport team driver has a wealth of experience with Škoda sports specials. He began to obtain it with an Octavia as a circuit driver as a part of the Octavia Cup organised by the Mladá Boleslav automaker between 1999 and 2001. 
  • In 2003 he finished third in the Czech Championship with an Octavia WRC and in the next year, when he first got into the cockpit of a Škoda Fabia WRC, he became champion of the Czech Republic. He achieved his best result in the world championship in 2007, when he finished 12th in the overall classification. 
  • Since 2008, in the Škoda Motorsport team his experience and results in the IRC series have significantly contributed to the to the successful development of the new Fabia S2000.
  Petr Starý
– co-driver

Date of birth: 7 August 1977
Nationality: Czech
Marital status: married
Hobbies: cycling, skiing, swimming, veteran cars

Best results:

  • 9th overall in the 2004 Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo
  • Slovak Rally Champion in 2005
  • 4th overall in the 2007 Junior World Rally Championship
  • 2nd overall in the 2008 Vodafone Rally de Portugal (P)
  • 4th overall in the 2009 Rallye Monte Carlo (F, MC)
  • 2nd overall in the 2009 Sata Rallye Acores (P)
  • 2nd overall in the 2009 Ypres Rally (B)
  • 2nd overall in the 2009 Rally Russia (RUS)
  • 1st overall in the Barum Czech Rally Zlín (CZ)
  • 1st overall in the Principe de Asturias Rally (E)
  • 2nd overall in the 2009 Rally Bohemia (CZ)
  • 3rd overall in the 2010 Rally Argentina (ARG)
  • 1st overall in the 2010 Rally Islas Canarias (E)
  • 3rd overall in the 2010 Rally d'Italia Sardegna (I)
  • 2nd overall in the 2010 Geko Ypres Rally (B)
  • 2nd overall in the 2010 Rali Vinho Madeira (P)


  • Petr Starý started racing in 1997 as a driver, but “moved over” to the co-driver’s seat in 1998 and remained faithful to it. He carefully collected the necessary navigation skills, before moving to Jan Kopecký’s team, for example as the co-driver for the Slovak Jozef Béreš. 
  • He and Jan Kopecký formed a racing team from the start of the 2008 season, when he replaced Kopecký’s long-term partner Filip Schovánek in the co-driver’s seat. In the prestigious motoring poll for the Golden Steering Wheel 2008 he obtained a great fourth place in the “Co-driver of the Year” category.

 

Juho Hänninen

Date of birth: 25 July 1981
Nationality: Finnish
Marital status: single
Hobbies: fitness, forestry

 


 


Best results:

  • Finnish Rally Champion in group N in 2004
  • 5th overall in the 2007 Production cars World Rally Championship
  • 2nd overall in the 2008 Production cars World Rally Championship
  • 1st overall in the 2008 Rally Russia (RUS)
  • 1st overall in the 2009 Rally Russia (RUS)
  • 1st overall in the 2009 Rally Finland - production cars category(FIN)
  • 3rd overall in the 2009 Barum Czech Rally Zlín (CZ)
  • 1st overall in the 2009 Rally Bohemia (CZ)
  • 2nd overall in the 2010 Rallye Monte Carlo (F, MC)
  • 3rd overall in the 2010 Rally Curitiba (BR)
  • 1st overall in the 2010 Rally Argentina (ARG)
  • 2nd overall in the 2010 Rally Islas Canarias (E)
  • 1st overall in the 2010 Rally d'Italia Sardegna (I)
  • 3rd overall in the 2010 Sata Rally Acores (PT)
  • 3rd overall in the 2010 Rali Vinho Madeira (PT)


  • The driver from Punkaharju, Finland, completed his first rally with a VW Golf in 1999. 
  • Has been a driver with the Škoda Motorsport works team since 2008.
  • Hänninen’s biggest success to date in the colours of the Mladá Boleslav automaker was his two victories in the 2010 IRC series - in the Rally Argentina and the Rally d'Italia Sardegna.
  Mikko Markkula
– spolujezdec

Date of birth: 3 January 1981
Nationality: Finnish
Marital status: Single
Hobbies: exercising, football, downhill skiing, snow scooters

 

 

Best results:

  • 5th overall in the 2007 Production cars World Rally Championship
  • 2nd overall in the 2008 Production cars World Rally Championship
  • 1st overall in the 2008 Rally Russia (RUS)
  • 1st overall in the 2009 Rally Russia (RUS)
  • 3rd overall in the 2009 Barum Czech Rally Zlín (CZ)
  • 1st overall in the 2009 Rally Bohemia (CZ)
  • 2nd overall in the 2010 Rallye Monte Carlo (F, MC)
  • 3rd overall in the 2010 Rally Curitiba (BR)
  • 1st overall in the 2010 Rally Argentina (ARG)
  • 2nd overall in the 2010 Rally Islas Canarias (E)
  • 1st overall in the 2010 Rally d'Italia Sardegna (I)
  • 3rd overall in the 2010 Sata Rally Acores (PT)
  • 3rd overall in the 2010 Rali Vinho Madeira (PT)




  • Hänninen’s co-driver Mikko Markkula was born in Hämeenlinna, Finland, is a graduate of Polytechnic (Industrial Management Engineer) and started racing in 2000. 
  • He achieved his greatest success in the Finnish championship and the international scene between 2001 and 2006 with the driver Jarkko Miettinen. 
  • In 2005 he also completed seven races in the world championships with the driver Janne Tuohino in a Škoda Fabia WRC. 
  • He has formed a successful pairing with Juho Hänninen since 2007.