Loix all set to do battle for sixth Ypres win

Freddy Loix says he is ready to bid for a sixth Geko Ypres Rally victory following a successful pre-event test in the Westhoek region of Belgium last week.

Loix, 39, holds the record for the most wins on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event and will have a facelift version of the Škoda Fabia Super 2000, run by Škoda’s factory team, at his disposal.

“Last Thursday and Sunday we did some testing in the Westhoek that gave me ample opportunity to get to know the latest evolution of the Fabia S2000,” said Loix, who will run under the BFO//Škoda Rally Team banner. “I did some 100 kilometres on Thursday and on Sunday I concentrated on getting the set-up right.”

Of his prospects for a sixth win, Loix said: “I am not here to finish second but I have to be realistic: the level of the entries of the Geko Ypres Rally is very hight and I am very much aware of the fact that I will find at least two serious candidates for the win on my way: [factory Škoda] team-mates Juho Hänninen and Jan Kopecký will be formidable adversaries.”