Loix rewarded with Czech rally outing

Freddy Loix has received the ultimate reward for winning the GEKO Ypres Rally: another outing in his SKODA Fabia Super 2000.

Less than a week after winning the Intercontinental Rally Challenge round on his home soil, Belgian Loix will be heading to Czech Republic to contest the national championship Rally Bohemia with the factory SKODA Motorsport team.

The current IRC leader has been called up to replace Jan Kopecky who has been prevented from taking part after his co-driver Petr Stary broke his collarbone in a crash during the pre-event shakedown for the Ypres Rally.

It will be Loix’s first appearance on the Mlada Boleslav-based rally, which runs from 1-3 July.

“I have heard that the profile of Rally Bohemia is similar to that of the Barum Rally and that it is a great but difficult rally”, said the 40-year-old Loix, who will be co-driven by regular navigator Frederic Miclotte. “I am sorry for Jan and Petr, we could have made a strong team together. Anyway, we are going to do our best, and although my unfamiliarity with the [stages] will be bit of a disadvantage for me, Frederic and I want to fight for the top ranks.”

SKODA is based in Mlada Boleslav and is also a partner of the event.

The company’s motorsport head Michal Hrabanek said: “I am sure that the appearance by the current IRC leader Freddy Loix will make this rally highly attractive and will be a good reason for fans
to come to this event.”

Rally Bohemia features 15 all-asphalt stages over a competitive distance of 193 kilometres.