I will fight until the end again next time, says ERC star Lukyanuk

Lukyanuk was less than five seconds behind Jan Kopecký going in to the final stage of the asphalt classic after a thrilling rally-long duel with the local expert and 2013 ERC champion, but lost 10 minutes when the steering rod broke on his Ford Fiesta R5 after an error at a chicane. It followed similar disappointment for the rapid Russian on auto24 Rally Estonia, when a similar breakage took him out of the lead on the penultimate stage.

A defiant Lukyanuk has defended his approach to the final stage in Zlín however, saying any sportsperson would try to win when presented with such an opportunity.

"The mood has improved, and given how quickly we went throughout the weekend, I'm still happy and even a little glad that we were able to show that kind of speed," he said in the aftermath of the event.

"Before the start of the final stage the gap in front of us to Kopecký was less than five seconds and I felt that at a normal pace, we would be able to reduce the gap. Some will say that here it is necessary to just drive to the finish, but when after 200 kilometres you have only five seconds to get, it is not an option. It’s easy to give sermons from the couch, but if you're an athlete, you're going to go for victory.

"Next time I will fight until the last kilometre and continue to attack to the maximum, if there is such a possibility."