The Geko Ypres Rally started yesterday evening with the traditional Shakedown in Nieuwkerke. The roads were very treacherous as rain and hail had inundated the entire Westhoek.
Today, Friday, we still had showers but fortunately, they did not bring much rain. Strong winds were drying the road surface. Perfect conditions for Andreas Mikkelsen and Juho Hänninen (Škoda Fabia S2000) who shared fastest times on the first stages. First blood went to the Norwegian who set off faster than his Finnish team mate. Hänninen took over on SS2 and SS3. Just behind: Freddy Loix (Peugeot 207 S2000) trying to keep up with the two official Škoda’s. He is a mere 12’’3 behind the two Scandinavians. Pieter Tsjoen (Škoda Fabia S2000), Patrik Flodin (Ford Fiesta S2000) and Patrick Snijers (Mini Countryman RRC) are within 6 seconds of each other on places 4, 5 and 6. The latter is hoping to improve on this in the next stages as the set-up of his Mini will be improved at the service. (« I did not feel 100% confident in the car »). He also lost 2 or 3 seconds when he damaged the right hand side of the car. Bob Colsoul (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) leads Production class and Gr. N and a superb Mathieu Arzeno (Citroën DS3) leads 2WD placing himself in ninth position overall.
Some were less lucky: broken drive-shaft for Jasper Van den Heuvel (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X), broken exhaust for Jonas Langenakens (Peugeot 207 S2000) and minor accident for Oleksandr Saliuk (Peugeot 207 S2000). Some have to pack their bags already: Florian Gonon (Peugeot 207 S2000), Dominique Bruyneel (Subaru Impreza WRX Sti) and Quentin Gilbert (Citroën DS3) all three waltzed into the scenery on stages 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Matthias Boon had to retire with a broken diff.
Next two legs will see the participants pass through Dikkebus and Mesen-Sauvegardeom while finishing with the 18.84 km of Langemark.
SS1 – Dikkebus (14.30 km)
1. Mikkelsen : 08’09”0 ; 2. Hänninen : + 0’’8 ; 3. Loix : + 1’’2 ; 4. Tsjoen : 5’’4 ; 5. Snijers : 9’’4 ; …
SS2 – Westouter (7.39 km)
1. Hänninen : 4’20’’7 ; 2. Mikkelsen : + 4’’0 ; 3. Loix & Flodin : + 4’’7 ; 4. Tsjoen : 5’’0 ; 5. So?owow : 7’’6 ; …
SS3 – Mesen-Sauvegarde 1 (15.00 km)
1. Hänninen : 8’17’’7 ; 2. Mikkelsen : + 5’’9 ; 3. Loix : 7’’2 ; 4. Snijers : 15’’30 ; 5. Flodin : + 16’’8 ; …
After SS3
1. Hänninen-Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) : 20’48’’2 ;
2. Mikkelsen-Floene (Škoda Fabia S2000) : + 9’’1 ;
3. Loix-Vanneste (Peugeot 207 S2000) : 12’’3 ;
4. Tsjoen-Chevaillier (Škoda Fabia S2000) : + 26’’8
5. Flodin-Bergsten (Ford Fiesta S2000): + 32’’3
6. Snijers-Gitsels (Mini Coutryman RRC) : + 32’’9
7. So?owow-Baran (Peugeot 207 S2000) : + 43’’2
8. Viane-Vyncke (Peugeot 207 S2000) : + 1’04’’8
9. Arzeno-Jamoul (Citroën DS3 R3T) : + 1’07’’2
10. Barrable-Loudon (Ford Fiesta S2000) : + 1’07’’7
…
Leaders
SS1 : Mikkelsen ; SS2 & 3 : Hänninen.
