Kopecký completed the 1.8-kilometre Titanic Super Special Stage in Belfast in a time of 2m11.8s at the wheel of his ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.
Sepp Wiegand impressed with the second fastest time, 0.2s slower than Kopecký, in his ŠKODA Auto Deutschland Fabia.
ŠKODA UK Motorsport’s Andreas Mikkelsen was third fastest, 1.2s behind Kopecký with Craig Breen fourth in his Saintéloc Racing Peugeot 207 S2000, 3.5s down on the Kopecký.
Garry Jennings was the leading IRC Production Cup runner in fifth with Josh Moffett sixth in a Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. Former Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Juho Hänninen was seventh with Robert Barrable eighth in his ŠKODA Ireland-backed entry.
Sam Moffett took ninth with Alastair Fisher completing the top 10 after a cautious effort in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000.
Robert Consani was the leading IRC 2WD Cup runner in 12th overall at the wheel of a Renault Mégane RS.
Crews are now heading to the Drummond stage south of the town of Dungannon. The 12.96-kilometre test goes live at 18:30hrs local time.
Source: irc series.com
Comment after SS 1:
Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola: "Very slippery. Difficult start, because there wasn't the start clock, so we will see."
