Skoda Motorsport boss Michal Hrabanek believes his team can build on their second place at the Belgium Ypres Rally and win the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

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Jan Kopecky's podium finish was his second consecutive runner-up placing, and Hrabanek said the result was very significant.

"The final result confirms that our success at the Azores Rally was no coincidence and that we are indeed good enough to fight for the overall victory," said Hrabanek.

"The experience we have gained in Belgium will definitely help us in our development work and in preparing the car for the races to come, as well as in our customer sales programme."

The next stage of the IRC is the Rally of Russia from July 9-11, and Hrabanek is urging caution ahead of that trip to Russia.

"We haven't made the last step, though, and we know that we still have a lot of hard work to do."