SS3: Hanninen extends lead in Ypres

Juho Hänninen has extended his lead of the Geko Ypres Rally by going 5.9s faster than Andreas Mikkelsen through Friday’s third stage, the 15.08-kilometre Mesen-Sauvegarde run.

Hänninen, in a factory ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000, now leads the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event by 9.1s heading to the mid-evening service halt in Ypres.

“It was quite good with no mistakes but it’s much better without so much dirt on the road,” said Hänninen.

Mikkelsen, who was second fastest, said: “We’re here and that’s the main thing. We took too many cuts in the tyres so they are moving all over the place but it’s a long rally and there is nothing to worry about. It’s easier to go faster but we’re trying to take an easier approach.”

Pieter Tsjoen was slow leaving the start after forgetting to put his ŠKODA into ‘stage mode’. He was fifth fastest. Patrik Flodin, who set the fourth quickest time, said he was driving with caution in his PS Engineering Fiesta, while Michal Solowow reckoned his Peugeot’s tyres were too soft for the dry conditions and clean road surface.

Mathias Viaene reported a high engine temperature in his Peugeot, while Andreas Aigner’s Subaru Impreza R4 STI is suffering from brake problems.

Dream Team Ukraine’s Oleksandr Saliuk was delayed slightly by having to overtake Jasper Van den Heuvel’s Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, which has been hobbled by a differential problem since the second stage. A broken exhaust – and the subsequent loss of power – continues to plague the Peugeot of Jonas Langenakens.