Fri March 15, 2013

 Geko Ypres best organisation of ERC 2012 During the annual Rally Safety seminar which was held on 22 – 23 February 2013 in Zagreb, the Geko Ypres Rally was awarded an award as the best organisation of the 2012 European Rally Championship. This prestigious award is handed to the rally that scores best on a number of fiel...

Wed July 4, 2012

 Ypres organisers praise spectators Last weekend Juho Hänninen took his first ever victory in the Geko Ypres Rally, after an intense battle with local hero Freddy Loix. The 2012 edition of the rally was also one of the safest ever, with spectators responsibly enjoying the action. Over the whole rally weekend, secur...

Wed June 27, 2012

 Ypres serves as test for new Lotus The Lotus Exige R-GT made its debut as a course car at the weekend’s Geko Ypres rally in West Flanders, among the most beautiful rally venues in the world.   Portuguese driver Bernardo Sousa, who is set to race the Lotus Exige R-GT in anger later this year, drove the offici...

 Ypres 2WD victory for Martin Kangur Martin Kangur roared to the top of the 2012 IRC 2WD Drivers' Cup this weekend, following a stunning victory with co-driver Andres Ots at the Geko Ypres Rally. It is the second IRC win for Kangur in the Honda Civic Type R, repeating his success in the rally of Scotland last ye...

Tue June 26, 2012

 Difficult but positive debut for Molly At the Geko Ypres Rally, valid for the European Rally Championship and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge seated in the picturesque town of Ypres in Belgium, Australian Molly Taylor, codriven by Englishman Seb Marshall, concluded the race with honour despite the difficulties en...

Sun June 24, 2012

 Andreas keeps IRC lead despite Ypres setback ŠKODA UK Motorsport’s Andreas Mikkelsen continues to lead the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, despite a very strong run on Round 6 of the series, the Geko Ypres Rally, coming to a premature end....

 Skoda reinforce championship leads Juho Hänninen & Mikko Markkula of ŠKODA Motorsport put in a great performance to win the Ypres Rally in Belgium, beat seven times winner of this event Freddy Loix in a Peugeot Super 2000 who came second and win points for both the Manufacturers category of the IRC and the Drivers...

 Hanninen sets new records with Ypres victory Juho Hänninen has underlined his status as the most successful driverin the six-year history of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge by winningthe Geko Ypres Rally in Belgium on Saturday, the first Finn to do so since the late Henri Toivonen in 1984....

Sat June 23, 2012

NEWS JUST IN

 B records, Skoda most successful make @ 09:21 PM - Not only is Juho Hänninen the first Finn since Henri Toivonen to win Ypres. This win also makes Skoda now the most successful manufacturer in IRC history!

 B end - First Finn win since Toivonen! @ 09:01 PM - Hänninen becomes the first Finn to win Ypres since Henri Toivonen in 1984. Snijers finishes event with a 2nd fastest stage time. Verschueren VW retires on last stage from 7th. Final results (after SS17)(subject to last road section and scrutineering):
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 2h36m52s7;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +46s5;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +2m14s6;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +2m55s7;
5th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +5m25s4;
6th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +5m55s5;
7th= Viaene/Vyncke, Peugeot, +9m37s8;
8th= Langenakens/Beernaert, Peugeot, +9m55s6;
9th= Aigner/Ertl, Subaru, +10m27s1;
10th= Tlustak/Skaloud, Skoda, +10m38s9

 B SS17 - Mathias Viaene flying @ 08:45 PM - Amazing show by Mathias Viaene. He not only overtakes the groupN leader, but also his team mate Lagenakens in one stage. Amazing show too by the two leaders. After 29km Hollebeke separated by 0.6s! Results after SS17:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 2h29m10s1;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +38s3;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +2m06s;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +2m50s8;
5th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +5m08s3;
6th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +5m51s5;
7th= Verschueren/Vanassche, Volkswagen, +8m17s2;
8th= Viaene/Vyncke, Peugeot, +9m21s8;
9th= Langenakens/Beernaert, Peugeot, +9m25s2;
10th= Aigner/Ertl, Subaru, +9m54s5

 B SS16 - Exciting changes in top10 @ 06:34 PM - Robert Barrable, 7th, did not start stage with a sick gearbox. Langenakens overtakes Aigner and moves from 10th to 8th in one stage. Viaene overtakes Tlustak for the top10. Results after SS16:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 2h13m14s2;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +38s9;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +1m54s5;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +2m41s4;
5th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +4m46s1;
6th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +5m29s1;
7th= Verschueren/Vanassche, Volkswagen, +7m33s;
8th= Langenakens/Beernaert, Peugeot, +8m43s3;
9th= Aigner/Ertl, Subaru, +8m44s7;
10th= Viaene/Vynck, Peugeot, +9m00s7

 B SS15 - still pushing at the front @ 06:22 PM - Although the gap is at near 40s, both Hänninen and Loix say they are flat out still. Results after SS15:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 2h06m26s1;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +38s6;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +1m53s1;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +2m36s5;
5th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +4m34s3;
6th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +5m19s4;
7th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +7m14s5;
8th= Verschueren/Vanasche, Volkswagen, +8m20s2;
9th= Aigner/Ertl, Subaru, +8m22s4;
10th= Langenakens/Beernaert, Peugeot, +8m39s2

 B SS14 - Hänninen bites back @ 06:01 PM - On the 27km long Heuvelland classic Hänninen rectifies his earlier time loss to Loix. Otherwise drama free stage. Viaene tries hard to get back in top10, from 15th to 12th by now. Results after SS14:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h58m53s1;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +40s;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +1m52s2;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +2m34s1;
5th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +4m24s3;
6th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +5m09s;
7th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +6m42s3;
8th= Verschueren/Vanasche, Volkswagen, +6m55s9;
9th= Aigner/Ertl, Subaru, +8m01s;
10th= Langenakens/Beernaert, Peugeot, +8m04s1

 B SS13 - Saliuk drops outside top10 @ 04:12 PM - Saliuk went into ditch and lost 6 minutes. Accordingly other drivers move up. Hänninen and Loix only seperated by 0.1s on 19km Kemmelberg classic. Results after SS13:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h44m53s3;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +27s1;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +1m40s6;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +2m18s1;
5th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +3m51s6;
6th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +4m46s3;
7th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +5m55s8;
8th= Verschueren/Vanasche, Volkswagen, +6m15s2;
9th= Aigner/Ertl, Subaru, +7m12s3;
10th= Langenakens/Beernaert, Peugeot, +7m13s2

 B SS12 - Loix stars on show stage @ 04:08 PM - Surprisingly Loix wins the 1.8km show stage by 2.7s! Normally you would not expect much change, mind you last year Tsjoen crashed from 4th here. Results after SS12:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h37m15s;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +27s;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +1m32s7;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +2m13s1;
5th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +3m27s7;
6th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +4m09s5;
7th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +4m40s4;
8th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +5m19s5;
9th= Verschueren/Vanasche, Volkswagen, +5m54s3;
10th= Tlustak/Skaloud, Skoda, +6m37s6

 B SS11 - Off to France @ 02:12 PM - Although the short French show stage is yet to come, no cahnges or dramas on the bigger Lille stage. Results after SS11:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h35m51s7;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +29s7;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +1m31s7;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +2m12s3;
5th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +3m23s4;
6th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +4m08s2;
7th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +4m37s8;
8th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +5m17s5;
9th= Verschueren/Vanasche, Volkswagen, +5m51s3;
10th= Tlustak/Skaloud, Skoda, +6m32s

 B SS10 - Hänninen vs Loix @ 01:50 PM - Hänninen takes 4s out of Loix again on the long, 30km Hollebeke stage. Aigner's groupN power is not enough to stay in the top10. Results after SS10:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h31m29s2;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +26s9;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +1m27s8;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +2m05s7;
5th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +3m09s;
6th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +3m55s;
7th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +4m30s1;
8th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +5m04s1;
9th= Verschueren/Vanasche, Volkswagen, +5m33s6;
10th= Tlustak/Skaloud, Skoda, +6m11s3

 B SS9 - Fast Freddy even Faster @ 11:09 AM - Freddy Loix takes a surprising 10s out of Hänninen's lead on the 113km Watou stage. Results after SS9:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h15m34s6;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +22s8;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +1m06s2;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +1m48s1;
5th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +2m37s4;
6th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +3m10s5;
7th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +4m02s7;
8th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +4m14s;
9th= Verschueren/Vanasche, Volkswagen, +4m47s1;
10th= Aigner/Ertl, Subaru, +5m13s8

 B SS8 - Loix wins stage @ 10:56 AM - Loix wins stage but Hänninen has kind of a save lead. Flodin drops several positions with his driveshaft problem. Viaene lost 3min and a fantastic top10 place for unknown reasons. Results after SS8:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h08m35s3;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +33s4;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +1m10s2;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +1m45s7;
5th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +2m33s;
6th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +3m05s6;
7th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +3m15s5;
8th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +4m02s7;
9th= Aigner/Ertl, Subaru, +4m20s2;
10th= Verschueren/Vanasche, Volkswagen, +4m34s9

 B SS7 - Mikkelsen retires @ 10:10 AM - The long Saturday leg starts with retirement for Mikkelsen afte he broke his suspension. Flodin inherits 5th place despite a broken driveshaft. Another SS7 victim, with an accident, is 2WD leader and 3rd in gN Kris Princen. Results after SS7:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h00m57s2;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +38s2;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +1m11s6;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +1m39s9;
5th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +2m13s8;
6th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +2m24s;
7th= Viaene/Vynck, Peugeot, +2m49s7;
8th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +2m55s4;
9th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +3m44s6;
10th= Verschueren/Vanasche, Volkswagen, +3m54s

Fri June 22, 2012

 Hänninen top as Mikkelsen hits trouble Intercontinental Rally Challenge champions past and present suffereddiffering fortunes on the opening day of the Geko Ypres Rally in Belgium.While Juho Hänninen, IRC title winner in 2010, impressed by reachingthe overnight halt leading by 26.8s, defending champion AndreasMikkelse...

NEWS JUST IN

 B leg1 - Hänninen leads the day @ 08:45 PM - But Mikkelsen is on the move up again. This was the first running of Langemark, a fresh stage for everyone. Flodin had a not so good stage time, but Mikkelsen also managed to pass Snijers again, to move from 6th to 4th. Results after leg1 (SS6):
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 46m42s3;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +26s8;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +1m00s6;
4th= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +1m14s;
5th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +1m16s6;
6th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +1m29s;
7th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +1m52s1;
8th= Viaene/Vynck, Peugeot, +2m12s6;
9th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +2m25s4;
10th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +3m03s2

 B SS5 - Mikkelsen off for 1min! @ 08:04 PM - Mikkelsen misjudged a junction and went into a ditch for 1min. The front now is Hänninen from Loix. Snijers overtakes Flodin, making it 3 Belgians to chase Juho. Results after SS5:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 36m53s6;
2nd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +24s8;
3rd= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +51s8;
4th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +1m04s7;
5th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +1m06s1;
6th= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +1m12s6;
7th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +1m27s6;
8th= Viaene/Vynck, Peugeot, +1m54s;
9th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +2m01s9;
10th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +2m20s7

 B SS4 - Hänninen looks like asphalt ace @ 07:28 PM - Another fastest time for Hänninen. Only by 2.5s, but his overall lead is now over 10s after 4 stages. Saliuk overtakes Barrable. Results after SS4:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 28m41s9;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +11s6;
3rd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +17s1;
4th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +39s5;
5th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +47s1;
6th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +49s7;
7th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +1m04s6;
8th= Viaene/Vynck, Peugeot, +1m31s;
9th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +1m41s3;
10th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +1m43s8

 B SS3 - Good time from Hänninen @ 05:38 PM - Hänninen is 5.9s faster than anyone on this stage, while most drivers wonder about power and grip. Results after SS3:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 20m48s2;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +9s1;
3rd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +12s3;
4th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +26s8;
5th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +32s3;
6th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +32s9;
7th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +43s2;
8th= Viaene/Vynck, Peugeot, +1m04s8;
9th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +1m07s7;
10th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +1m19s

 B SS2 - Hänninen takes the lead @ 04:57 PM - Hänninen describes the stage as "quite an off followed by many interesting moments", but he is fastest. Flodin passes Snijers. van den heuvel drops around a minute. Results after SS2:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 12m30s5;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +3s2;
3rd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +5s1;
4th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +9s6;
5th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +15s5;
6th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +17s6;
7th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +20s6;
8th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +37s6;
9th= Viaene/Vynck, Peugeot, +40s2;
10th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +48s1

 B SS1 - Mikkelsen early leader @ 04:42 PM - Mikkelsen very narrowly in front of Hänninen and Loix. Saintelog team entered three 207s, started with only one and that rolled now, last years gN winner Gonon out. Results after SS1:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 8m09s;
2nd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +0s8;
3rd= Loix/Vanneste, Peugeot, +1s2;
4th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Skoda, +5s4;
5th= Snijers/Gitsels, Mini, +9s4;
6th= Flodin/Bergsten, Ford, +11s6;
7th= Solowow/Baran, Peugeot, +13s8;
8th= van den Heuvel/Botson, Mitsubishi, +15s;
9th= Barrable/Loudon, Skoda, +20s6;
10th= Saliuk/Aftanaziv, Ford, +24s6

Wed June 20, 2012

 Spectators take center stage in Ypres Little less than a month before the start, organizers of the Geko Ypres Rally have announced a number of changes to increase spectator comfort and make sure fans can optimally enjoy the action. First and foremast organizers have drastically increased the number of Spectator Arena...

 Skoda fights in two events The ŠKODA Motorsport team is going to make its third concurrent appearance in two rallies this year. Taking place in Belgium over the upcoming weekend, the Ypres Rally will see Juho Hänninen & Mikko Markkula (FIN) fight for both IRC and European Championship points. At the same t...

Mon June 18, 2012

 In the Spotlight: Freddy Loix Seven-time Ypres Rally winner is back in the IRC for his home event and hoping for more glory ...

 Geko Ypres Rally Preview Full Geko Ypres Rally Preview, as IRC hero Freddy Loix returns....

Mon June 11, 2012

 Lotus Exige R-GT at Geko Ypres Rally! Legendary British sports car marque Lotus will make its debut as a course car at Belgium’s Geko Ypres rally on the 21-23 June. Portuguese driver Bernardo Sousa, who is set to rally the Lotus Exige R-GT later this year, will drive this official car ahead of its entry in the FIA Eu...

Thu June 7, 2012

 Belgian Vice Prime Minister enters Ypres Belgian Vice Prime Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne to co-drive in Geko Ypres Rally     Tuur Vandenabeele and Vincent van Quickenborne, winners of the 2011 Ypres Historic Rally, won't defend their title in the historic rally as they will take part in the IRC rally at ...

Sat May 19, 2012

 20th ConXion Ypres Historic Rally The twentieth edition of the Ypres Historic Rally powered by CONXION will take place in the weekend of 22-23 June. At the wheel of legendary rally cars, drivers and co-drivers tackle 13 special stages in search of victory. The Ypres Historic Rally powered by CONXION is a classic ...