After SS19: Bouffier closes on runner-up spot in Ypres
Bryan Bouffier has taken another step towards securing second place on the Geko Ypres Rally by winning the penultimate stage of the FIA European Rally Championship event.
Bouffier was 0.9s faster than closest rival Craig Breen through the second pass of Heuvelland to open a 31.5s advantage with one stage left to run.
Out front, Freddy Loix will head to the final stage leading by 1m21.0s after he went third quickest through the 14.99-kilometre test.
BREAKING NEWS: ERC Ypres joy for Loix and Miclotte
Freddy Loix and Frédéric Miclotte have won round six of the FIA European Rally Championship, the Geko Ypres Rally.
Driving a ŠKODA Motorsport Fabia Super 2000, the Belgian duo dominated their home event from start to finish with Loix celebrating a record-extending eighth victory on the event he tackled for the first time 20 years ago. The event finished in dramatic fashion when the final stage SS20 was neturalised for safety reasons.
ERC Geko Ypres Rally day two report: Joy for record-breaker Loix
Home hero Freddy Loix has won the Geko Ypres Rally for an eighth time on the back of a faultless display as the FIA European Rally Championship made its annual visit to Belgium for the all-asphalt spectacular.
The ŠKODA Motorsport driver, who entered his first Ypres Rally 20 years ago, led from the start having also set the pace during Thursday evening’s Qualifying Stage – the first ever on a Tarmac event – which marked the competition debut of MICHELIN’s new PILOT Sport R asphalt tyre.
As well as celebrating Loix’s record-extending win in Ypres, the fans who flocked to the stages in huge number were treated to a glimpse of rallying’s exciting future right here, right now, when Kris Meeke and Thierry Neuville demonstrated the new-generation Peugeot 208 T16 and M-Sport Ford Fiesta R5 respectively as course cars. The R5-specification machines were fast and created considerable interest.
Elsewhere, Mitsubishi Lancer pilot Andy Lefevere took full advantage of Andreas Aigner’s woes to win the ERC Production Car Cup in a stunning fourth overall as fellow Belgian Xavier Baugnet clinched the ERC 2WD Championship spoils in a Peugeot 208 R2. Melissa Debackere won the ERC Ladies’ Trophy on her debut in the contest in a fine seventh overall.
Next Rnd 7 - Sibiu Rally - Romania - Gravel 25-27 July 2013
Based around the city of Sibiu, a former European Capital of Culture 280 kilometres northwest of the Romanian capital Bucharest, the punishing gravel stages are mixed with sections of asphalt with some runs taking place under the cover of darkness.
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