Snijers prepares for Ypres with rally victory

Belgian rally legend Patrick Snijers prepared for this week’s Geko Ypres Rally by winning a national event in his homeland last weekend.

Snijers, a four-time winner of the Tarmac rally, was victorious on the national level Rallye de la Haute Senne, which the 52-year-old was using to practice for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.

His Peugeot 207 Super 2000 ran faultlessly throughout the 11-stage rally as he headed Proton Satria duo Chris Atkinson and Tom Cave, who finished second and third respectively.

Alister McRae, at the wheel of another Proton, had led but withdrew when a misfire developed on the second loop of stages.

Snijers, who will be navigated by Cindy Cokelaere, and the three Proton drivers will be in action in Ypres from this Friday. His four victories in Ypres came in successive years between 1992 and 1994