SS14: Loix fighting hard for rally lead
Mikkelsen takes stage win
Despite a “big push” on the 10.48-kilometre Kudlovice test Freddy Loix has been unable to close the gap to leader Jan Kopecký heading into the final stage of Barum Czech Rally Zlín.
Loix was 0.3s slower than his fellow ŠKODA Fabia driver and is now 2.0s behind with one stage of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier left to run. “I had a big push and we are quite on the limit,” said Loix.
In the fight for fourth place Andreas Mikkelsen has closed to within 11.0s of Thierry Neuville after posting the fastest stage time in his ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia.
Neuville, the surviving front-running Peugeot 207 driver, is intent on reaching the finish and admitted to being a little cautious as a result.
Toni Gardemeister was 0.8s faster than the chasing Craig Breen but after being handed a 10-second penalty on the previous stage, the Finn’s advantage over his Irish rival is down to 7.1s.