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Thursday, 09 October 2008 |
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Next year the Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally will not be on the calendar
anymore for the last weekend of June. The Belgian round of the European Rally
Championship and of the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) will now take
place on 19 and 20 June 2009, or one week earlier than usual
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Sunday, 29 June 2008 |
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Freddy Loix and his Kronos prepared peugeot 207 S2000 have dominated the Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally from beginning to end. On Friday evening already Fast Freddy made the difference by setting 5 fastest times. Only the last stage of Langemark escaped him as he was slowed down by the crash of Jan Kopecky. On Saturday, Freddy continued his push until he lost his last rival Nicolas Vouilloz. Vouilloz spun in Westouter and lost about a minute. From that moment, Freddy loix and his codriver Robin Buysmans were counting down. They finished with a 58"7 lead in Ypres. Loix now holds the new record for the number of victories in the Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally after also wiining in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999.
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After stage 16 : Rossetti on his way to the podium? |
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Sunday, 29 June 2008 |
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Luca Rossetti started to climb back up the ranking. Just before the start of the last two stages, Kemmel and Heuvelland that will be the grand finale of this Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally Luca Rossetti came within inches of Patrick Snijers (2"6) who is in fourth position and he is at 7"7 of Bernd Casier. Giandomenico Basso had to let the guys go. The Italian came one minute early at the start of the Mesen-stage and got a one minute penalty. He is now in sixth position.
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Fierce battle for third place |
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Saturday, 28 June 2008 |
Last straight for the Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally as we are setting off for the last leg. The final positions are at stake. The battle actually is happening behind Freddy Loix who again set a fastest time in Hollebeke (SS13) while letting Rossetti taking the 14-th stage. The Italian is still hoping to improve on his 6th spot.
Giandomenico Basso spun on stage 13 and let Vouilloz get in front of him again. On SS14 he had to stop to close his bonnet, which then meant Casier also overtook him in the rankings. Then the Abarth driver lost this spot to Snijers...
So just before the last two stages, he is under pressure of his fellow country-man Rossetti who is just 1"9 behind him and Snijers who is 9"2 ahead. This will be a close race !
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Rossetti pushes in Heuvelland |
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Saturday, 28 June 2008 |
The first time through the 26 mile marathon stage of Heuvelland gave no retirements but turned the tables a bit. Luca Rossetti, leader in the European Championship and IRC set the fastest time. This allows him to come back in fifth position (he started in 11th position this morning) and hence jumps over Snijers who broke his exhaust and got fumes entering the cabin.
Freddy Loix remains clearly in the lead despite a second time just 1"5 behind Rossetti. His team mate Vouilloz is now again behind him with Basso third, 4"9 behind Vouilloz. Bernd Casier drops back to fourth position after losing 14"2 in Heuvelland. The VW drivers also needs to watch Rossetti who is only 13" behind.
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Situation sketch after the third leg (SS10) |
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Saturday, 28 June 2008 |
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This morning it looked like we would have got some rain on this second day of the Belgian Ypres Westhoek Rally. Fortunately, the roads remained dry. On SS8, a left hand junction at 2kms of the finish made quite a few victims amongst the non-locals. There was an obstacle inside the corner hidden by the high grass. Tirabassi and Thoth were the biggest losers as they both broke their front left suspension and had to retire. Loix was suffering some gearbox problems but still resisted the attacks of his French team-mate Vouilloz, who set the fastest time on the first 3 stages. Unfortunately, the man of France made a mistake on SS10 and lost 50 seconds in one of the many ditches.
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Saturday, 28 June 2008 |
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Freddy Loix: Loix seems to have gearbox problems after stage 8.
Nicolas Vouilloz: fears to have similar gearbox problems at the finish of SS8. He also damaged the front left rim and needs to be careful not to lose the tyre in the next stages.
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