Midday update: Kopecký closing in on Zlín ERC lead

Tyre strategy came into play amidst inclement weather, withKopecký choosing dry tyres and FIA ERC Junior U28 leader Nikolay Gryazin taking full wets. Rally leader Lukyanuk went down the middle, selecting an intermediate compound.Both Lukyanuk and Gryazin sped away initially, withKopecký losing half a minute on stage two with a puncture. However, stage five turned the lead battle on its head, with anticipated rain not materialising as the first cars came through.On dry tyres Kopecký took 13.3s out of Lukyanuk and 23.5s out of a bemused Gryazin, promoting Kopecký to second and Junior U28 leader Gryazin down to third overall.Hyundai Motorsport's WRC factor driver Dani Sordo remains fourth and within touching distance of the leading trio, 23.4s behind Lukyanuk.Miroslav Jakeš slipped past his Czech compatriot Filip Mareš for fifth overall. Mareš had fitted full wets to the rear of his ACCR Czech Team ŠKODA Fabia, making his car especially hard to drive in a semi-dry stage five. He remains second in ERC Junior U28, though has dropped 40.6s behind leader Gryazin.

Chris Ingram was low on confidence after spinning off on Saturday morning's opening test but climbed back to third in Junior U28, as rain hindered drivers further down the road order on stage five. Facing more slippery conditions, Junior U28 championship leader Fabian Kreim dropped to fourth place.SEAJETS-backed Bruno Magalhães struggled with the heaviest spell of rain in stage five, dropping over a minute compared to stage winner Kopecký and falling to P10. His title aspirations face a severe dent, starting Barum Czech Rally Zlín nine points behind Lukyanuk but now nine places apart on the rally leaderboard.Norbert Herczig's difficult rally turned worse on the last stage before Saturday's midday service, crashing out early on Kudlovice.