The survivors of the first day of the Geko Rally Ypres 2012, got a serious wake-up call this morning : the first stage is the 26.75 km long Heuvelland-stage, one of the longest of the weekend. And it sure didn’t fail to bring some surprises.
Juho Hänninen (Škoda Fabia S2000) leads the rally since the second stage and he is the first to arrive to the TRC. «It is a really difficult stage and the roads are very slippery. » He didn’t finish his sentence or disaster struck for team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen (Škoda Fabia S2000). Like yesterday, he missed his braking point, this time on a T-junction: broken suspension and game over. Kris Princen (Renault Mégane RS) and the again unfortunate Cédric de Cecco (Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX) were the next victims and also had to retire. De later mowed down a pole and the stage had to be stopped to clear the road. On only a few kilometres, the race had lost three of its most colourful drivers.
The man of the moment however is Freddy Loix (Peugeot 207 S2000). Sure, he has a deficit compared to Hänninen who drives a supermodern factory-prepared car, but Freddy compensates with his outstanding knowledge of the local roads. As a result, he sets two fastest times on three stages and takes 4 seconds back on the Finn on this leg. Pieter Tsjoen (Škoda Fabia S2000)follows 1’06’’ behind the leader but he manages to keep Patrick Snijers (Mini Countryman RRC) a good 42’’ behind him. Snijers is not very satisfied by his morning performance. Michal So?owow and his Peugeot 207 S2000 sit in fifth position.
But there were more changes, again mainly in Heuvelland: Patrik Flodin (Ford Fiesta S2000) started to struggle straight away with a stubborn drive-shaft and was overtaken by the other Ford Fiesta S2000 of Oleksandr Saliuk (Ford Fiesta S2000). He went from ninth to sixth this morning. Mathias Viaene (Peugeot 207 S2000) also hit troubles suffering a puncture when stupidly pulling straight. He loses nearly 2’30’’. Jasper Van den Heuvel (Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX) finally retired on SS8 with a broken transmission.
The retirement of Harry Hunt (Citroën DS3 R3T), also on SS8, allows local lady Melissa Debackere (idem) to get onto the podium in class 5, behind Martin Kangur (Honda Civic Type R) and Mathieu Arzeno (Citroën DS3 R3T). These three lead the 2WD class since Princen’s retirement. Andreas Aigner (Subaru Impreza WRX STI) comes back to Ypres in 10th position and leads the Production class.
SS7 – Heuvelland 1 (26.75 km)
1. Hänninen : 14’14’’9 ; 2. Tsjoen : + 11’’0; 3. Loix : + 11’’4 ; 4. Van den Heuvel : +16’’5 ; 5. Snijers : + 23’’3…
SS8 – Vleteren – Krombeke 1 (14.34 km)
1. Loix : 7’33"3 ; 2. Tsjoen : + 3’’4 ; 3. Hänninen : +4’’8 ; 4. So?owow : +13’’8 ; 5. Saliuk : + 15’’0…
SS9 – Watou 1 (12.86 km)
1. Loix : 6’48’’7 ; 2. Tsjoen : + 6’’6 ; 3. Hänninen : +10’’6 ; 4. Snijers : +13’’0 ; 5. So?owow: + 15’’0…
After SS9
1. Hänninen-Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) : 1:15’34’6
2. Loix-Vanneste (Peugeot 207 S2000) : + 22’’8
3. Tsjoen-Chevaillier (Škoda Fabia S2000) : + 1’06’’2
4. Snijers-Gitsels (Mini Coutryman RRC) : + 1’48’’1
5. Solowow-Baran (Peugeot 207 S2000) : + 2’37’’4
6. Saliuk-Aftnaziv (Ford Fiesta S2000) : + 3’10’’5
7. Flodin-Bergsten (Ford Fiesta S2000): + 4’02’’7
8. Barrable-Loudon (Škoda Fabia S2000) : + 4’14’’0
9. Verschueren-Vanassche (VW Polo S2000) : + 4’47’’1
10. Aigner-Ertl (Subaru Impreza WRX STI) : 5’13’’8
…
Leaders
SS1 : Mikkelsen ; SS2 & 9 : Hänninen.
