After winning this award for four consecutive years, Kopecký has now won his fifth Golden Wheel. Petr Starý, Kopecký's co-driver, has been also been selected as best co-driver.

Jan Kopecký fought for victory in last year's Intercontinental Rally Challenge until the last event but missed it by just one point, becoming the IRC Vice-Champion for the third consecutive year. By winning the Barum Rally (his home event) and in Hungary, Jan helped ŠKODA win the Manufacturers’ category of the IRC for the second year.

ŠKODA's motorsport efforts in 2011 made it the most successful year in its history. In addition to winning both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ categories of the IRC, the Mladá Boleslav-based carmaker won its first-ever world championship title in the SWRC.

Jan Kopecký: “I feel honoured to have been selected by Czech motoring experts for this award and I am also glad to have repeated my last year's victory in the Golden Steering Wheel. This award is a token of appreciation of the hard work put in by the entire ŠKODA Motorsport team and the first-class support we are getting from the factory team”.

Made up of leading Czech motoring journalists and experts, the jury selects awardees in several categories including rally, circuits, hill climbs, auto-cross + rally cross, endurance races and go-carts. The final rounds are usually reached only by drivers who have either triumphed in national championships or achieved excellent results in international competition.

Jan Kopecký is also part of the ŠKODA Motorsport team this year. The priority will be to achieve the third victory for the IRC Manufacturers’ category. Besides the IRC, Jan will also take part in the Czech Rally Championship.