Mon June 22, 2009

 Kopecky finishes 2nd in Belgium Just like at the Azores Rally a few weeks ago, Škoda Auto's factory team Škoda Motorsport came second at this weekend's Ypres Rally in Belgium, thanks to an excellent performance put in by Jan Kopecký – Petr Starý. Furthermore, the other factory crew, Juho Hänninen and Mikk...

Sat June 20, 2009

 Meeke makes it three in a row! Peugeot UK driver Kris Meeke has won his third consecutive IRC event by claiming victory on his first participation in the Belgium Ypres Rally, round five of the IRC series. The momentous win has promoted Meeke to a six-point lead in the standings over Peugeot Belgium driver Fred...

NEWS JUST IN

 B end - Traditional last stage dramas @ 10:00 PM - Last stage excitement is traditional for IRC, but also for Abarth, as Basso collects his traditional last stage puncture and drops from 5th to 8th. Hänninen puncture drops from 3rd to 5th. Peugeot gains from a 1-4-6-8 to 1-3-4-6. Final Results (SS16)
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 2h32m16s3;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +20s4;
3rd= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +1m40s5;
4th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +2m35s3;
5th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +3m35s1;
6th= Schammel/Jamoul, Peugeot, +4m06s4;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +4m06s5;
8th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +4m24s9;
9th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +5m48s3;
10th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +6m24s5

 Meeke wins Ypres! @ 09:22 PM - Kris Meeke put in a great performance to win the Ypres Westhoek Rally from Jan Kopecky's Skoda. Freddy Loix moved back onto the podium on the final stage as Hanninen and Basso both picked up final stage punctures.

 B SS15 - Loix just 9s behind Hänninen @ 09:00 PM - Loix wins stage and has hope to pass Hänninen on live stage. Results after SS15
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 2h15m42s1;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +24s5;
3rd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m42s6;
4th= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, +1m51s6;
5th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +2m16s;
6th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +2m28s1;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +3m48s6;
8th= Schammel/Jamoul, Peugeot, +3m53s5;
9th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +5m10s5;
10th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +5m59s9

 B SS14 - Loix tries to fight back @ 06:58 PM - Loix wins Kemmelberg stage, showing his car has no lasting damage. But he will have to attack in the live stage if he wants to snatch podium from Hänninen. Results after SS14
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 2h11m24s8;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +23s8;
3rd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m42s9;
4th= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, +1m52s8;
5th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +2m08s8;
6th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +2m20s9;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +3m38s7;
8th= Schammel/Jamoul, Peugeot, +3m48s8;
9th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +4m57s6;
10th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +5m44s8

 B SS13 - Number 13 brings decission! @ 06:42 PM - The hot Peugeot battle ended in Loix losing 1m25s in a ditch. That now gives Meeke a lead of 21s over Kopecky. Realistically Loix can fight for 3rd now. Results after SS13
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 2h05m43s7;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +21s5;
3rd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m43s1;
4th= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, +1m53s3;
5th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +2m04s7;
6th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +2m16s6;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +3m30s3;
8th= Schammel/Jamoul, Peugeot, +3m38s9;
9th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +4m39s7;
10th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +4m32s5

 B SS12 - New leader!! @ 06:14 PM - Kris Meeke has been slowly eating into local man Freddy Loix's lead all morning. Now it is the 2nd time Meeke drives over the stages. Meeke takes the lead, but it's still less than a second. Fontana passes Betti again. Results after SS12
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 1h59m39s7;
2nd= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, +0s8;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +19s9;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m37s8;
5th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +1m56s8;
6th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +2m08s8;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +3m19s5;
8th= Schammel/Jamoul, Peugeot, +3m28s8;
9th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +4m24s1;
10th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +4m28s4

 B SS11 - Lead down to 0.2s! @ 06:01 PM - On the 33km live stage with a fastest stage time of over 16min, Meeke beats Loix by 1.4s and narrows the lead to 0.2! Betti moves ahead in Italian battle. Results after SS11
1st= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, 1h48m05s8;
2nd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +0s2;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +18s8;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m30s3;
5th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +1m45s2;
6th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +1m58s3;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +2m56s5;
8th= Schammel/Jamoul, Peugeot, +3m19s9;
9th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +4m06s;
10th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +4m07s9

 B SS10 - Meeke comes closer @ 05:52 PM - It's so close between top3. NOTES: Wittmann retired before SS10 with transmission problems. Schammel suddenly 8th is due to a time correction on SS5, where he was slowed by Neuville's big crash. Sorry I was late with this. Results after SS10
1st= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, 1h31m43s4;
2nd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +1s6;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +17s7;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m14s7;
5th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +1m25s8;
6th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +1m39s6;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +2m27s2;
8th= Schammel/Jamoul, Peugeot, +2m53s2;
9th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +3m29s4;
10th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +3m30s4

 B SS8 - Good Skoda stage, Vouilloz out @ 01:22 PM - Kopecky wins the stage. It is the first stage not won by Loix or Meeke. Meanwhile Hänninen passes Basso for 4th. Vouilloz crashed. Results after SS8
1st= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, 1h21m41s6;
2nd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +3s5;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +12s;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m08s9;
5th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +1m11s4;
6th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +1m25s3;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +2m11s2;
8th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +3m02s1;
9th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +3m07s1;
10th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +5m35s9

 B SS7 - Loix' lead down to 2s! @ 00:57 AM - Meeke wins stage and is really breathing down Loix's neck, however on the first split Kopecky was fastest. Vouilloz overtakes Casier in the battle for 13th place. Results after SS7
1st= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, 1h15m32s4;
2nd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +2s;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +12s4;
4th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +1m04s6;
5th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m05s4;
6th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +1m18s2;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +2m03s5;
8th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +2m53s5;
9th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +2m59s1;
10th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +5m09s5

 B leg1 - Loix leads Meeke @ 00:17 AM - Remarkable for the whole day, as in SS5 Meeke wins stage but Loix leads. Basso overtakes Hänninen for 4th. Snijers retires with technical problems. Results after leg1 (SS6)
1st= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, 1h03m46s4;
2nd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +4s9;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +13s3;
4th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +56s9;
5th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +57s1;
6th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +1m09s2;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +1m41s;
8th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +2m40s6;
9th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +2m41s4;
10th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +3m57s1

 B SS9 - Loix and Meeke so close @ - Loix wins the stage to extend his lead from 3.5 to 3.7s! Results after SS9
1st= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, 1h27m24s6;
2nd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +3s7;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +16s;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m13s8;
5th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +1m19s8;
6th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +1m32s3;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +2m18s6;
8th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +3m17s9;
9th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +3m20s1;
10th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +ms

Fri June 19, 2009

 Loix leads after day one in Belgium Last year's Belgium Ypres Rally winner Freddy Loix (Peugeot 207 S2000) holds a lead of just under five seconds at the overnight halt, from IRC series leader Kris Meeke. "I'm just trying to drive carefully and keep my concentration," said Loix at the finish. "I know this eve...

 Ypres Rally started with a bang Several bangs in fact as some of the entries we waited for in desperation went out before they recorded a single time. Once again the IRC proves to be a mega competitive show. And as well the IRC tries to have rallies that are totally different from one another, and Ypres does no...

 Ypres Shakedown times Normally Shakedown doesn't say much. It's just a shakedown, some do one run, some 10, some just play around to try handling.... But with the debuts of Opel and Proton we thought this time we bother nevertheless. Shakedown in Ypres has just finished....

NEWS JUST IN

 B SS5 - Meeke's stage, Loix's lead @ 10:19 PM - Meeke takes 27km stage by only 1s from Loix. Casier punctures. Proton lost 5min with an off and then retires with broken suspension when just about to move into top10. Also Bruyneel's Subaru off. We also lose Neuville from 4th. Results after SS5
1st= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, 58m17s1;
2nd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +7s3;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +15s4;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +54s8;
5th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +55s8;
6th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +1m02s3;
7th= van den Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +1m30s8;
8th= Betti/Capolongo, Peugeot, +2m27s5;
9th= Fontana/Cassina, Peugeot, +2m33s4;
10th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +3m31s3;

 B SS4 - Loix-Kopecky-Meeke @ 09:58 PM - For the 3rd stage running same top3! Pieter Tsjoen's promise to attack backfired slightly as he dropped 3 places despite not experiencing any kind of drama. Results after SS4
1st= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, 43m32s2;
2nd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +8s3;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +14s9;
4th= Neuville/Maraite, Peugeot, +43s;
5th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +43s2;
6th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +46s8;
7th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +47s;
8th= Casier/Caesemaeker, Fiat Abarth, +58s3;
9th= van der Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +1m09s1;
10th= Schammel/Jamoul, Peugeot, +1m16s7

 B SS3 - Loix wins live stage also @ 07:56 PM - But top3 still very close. Tsjoen and promising BFGoodrich driver Neuville confirm he following places. Wilks in the Proton still just outside top10. Results after SS3
1st= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, 31m51s4;
2nd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +5s7;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +12s9;
4th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +23s4;
5th= Neuville/Maraite, Peugeot, +26s4;
6th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +29s6;
7th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +34s6;
8th= Casier/Caesemaeker, Fiat Abarth, +37s7;
9th= van der Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +48s8;
10th= Schammel/Jamoul, Peugeot, +56s8

 B SS2 - Loix wins stage and takes lead @ 07:39 PM - Another local hero Freddy Loix takes the lead from Kris Meeke, just. The 3 main actors of the rally at this moment appear to be Loix, Meeke and Kopecky. Another SS1 casualty to still report is Belgian championship leader lady driver Melissa Debackere, blowing her engine. Results after SS2
1st= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, 26m24s6;
2nd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +3s9;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +12s5;
4th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +19s2;
5th= Neuville/Maraite, Peugeot, +23s3;
6th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +26s5;
7th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +30s5;
8th= Casier/Caesemaeker, Fiat Abarth, +31s2;
9th= van der Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +37s1;
10th= Schammel/Jamoul, Peugeot, +45s3

 B SS1 - Duval fastest for 200metres @ 07:10 PM - Local hot favourit Duval crashed out of the rally only 200metres into SS1! His sponsors and team will think twice about a further progam. Apparently some years back Duval crashed his Ford Puma S1600 at the same spot. But the 1st stage had even more drama. Vouilloz has a front right impact and loses bodywork and near 3min. The debut of Alex Bengué in the Opel ends in 1st stage retirement for mechanical problems. Kris Meeke wins the stage.
Results after SS1
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 11m43s;
2nd= Loix/Miclotte, Peugeot, +1s4;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +9s3;
4th= Casier/Caesemaeker, Fiat Abarth, +9s9;
5th= Tsjoen/Chevaillier, Peugeot, +10s9;
6th= Neuville/Maraite, Peugeot, +11s;
7th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +12s4;
8th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +14s1;
9th= Schammel/Jamoul, Peugeot, +14s2;
10th= van der Heuvel/Kolman, Mitsubishi, +16s7

Thu June 18, 2009

 Ypres Rally Preview The Intercontinental Rally Challenge returns to mainland Europe for round five of this year's series, the Belgium Ypres Rally from June 18-20. The asphalt surface and the tricky conditions of Belgium make for a technically challenging event which is likely to be played out ...

 Ypres Live TV Times EUROSPORT EVENTS, the promoter of the INTERCONTINENTAL RALLY CHALLENGE, is delighted to announce unprecedented live television production from the 45th Belgium Ypres Rally, which forms round five of this year's IRC series from June 18-20....

Wed June 17, 2009

 Ypres Rally is a big party! Internationally, the Belgium Ypres Rally is not only known for its very typical narrow and bumpy twisties but also for its unique atmosphere in the town centre. Most international rally's have moved to boring places outside the towns. Ypres has stuck to keeping its rally centr...

 IRC Ypres - Massive Belgian TV interest! Eurosport is really pushing the envelope to get the Belgian leg of the IRC on TV. They will broadcast 4 stages live on Eurosport and will broadcast images from the service-park and interviews during the week after the rally. It is an effort without precedent from Eurosport. The ...

 All star French commentary on Eurosport Two of France's great rally heroes will join forces to give their expert views on the IRC action on this weekend's Belgium Ypres Rally. Jean-Luc Thérier and Jean-Pierre Nicolas will share the microphone and bring French-speaking fans a whole new perspective on what promises...

 Hanninen tipped for Ypres success Juho Hanninen could produce a shock victory on the Belgium Ypres Rally on June 18-20, if the results of an online poll predicting the winner of the asphalt event are to be believed....

Tue June 16, 2009

 Ypres a difficult challenge for Wittmann The “Ypres Rally” in Belgium from June 18 to 19, 2009 as part of the “International Rally Challenge (IRC)”, will pose the most difficult challenge so far in this season for Franz Wittmann/Bernhard Ettel in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX. The two Austrians who had already impress...

 Neuville tipped to impress Thierry Neuville is capable of producing a surprise result on the Belgium Ypres Rally according to his team boss. Neuville, who will be 21 by the time the event starts in Ypres on June 18, impressed joint Kronos Racing team principal Marc van Dalen during a test in Belgium on Jun...

 Tsjoen set for Ypres in 5th Kronos 207 Pieter Tsjoen will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on the Belgium Ypres Rally on June 18-20. A Belgian native, Tsjoen will drive a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 for the Kronos Racing squad, bringing the total number of cars being entered by the Namur-based team to five....

Mon June 15, 2009

 Wilks to take steady approach in Ypres British driver Guy Wilks is determined to get to the finish the Belgium Ypres Rally as he looks to increase his experience at the wheel of the Proton Satria Neo Super 2000, which makes its debut in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on the asphalt event from June 18-20....

Thu June 11, 2009

 ERC regulars to appear on Ypres Several leading lights from the FIA European Rally Championship will battle the Intercontinental Rally Challenge regulars for glory on the Belgium Ypres Rally later this month....

Sun June 7, 2009

 Casier replaces Alen for Ypres Bernd Casier will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on June 18-20 when he replaces Anton Alen in the works Abarth team on the Belgium Ypres Rally....

Thu June 4, 2009

 Skoda Motorsport confirm Ypres After the successful premiere at the Monte Carlo Rally in January and the second-place finish at the Azores Rally in May, the Mladá Boleslav-based team Škoda Motorsport has announced that it will appear at the next IRC event, the Ypres Rally in Belgium (18 – 20 June). The highly ...