Ypres - IRC news before SS7

Belgian engineer credited for Hanninen’s early pace

Freddy Loix reckons he might have identified Juho Hänninen’s secret weapon in the battle for victory on the Geko Ypres Rally, round six of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge

Hänninen, from Finland, is leading the famous asphalt rally by 26.8s starting day two with local hero Loix in hot pursuit in second place.

Loix claimed his seventh victory on the event in 2011 driving for ŠKODA Motorsport where he worked with engineer Yannick Willocx (pictured with Loix, centre, last season).

Following Loix’s switch to the French championship for 2012, where he is driving a Peugeot 207 S2000 for the 2C Competition squad, Willocx was assigned to Hänninen’s car.

When asked about his expert knowledge of the roads around Ypres, Loix said: “We also can ask now Juho because he took my engineer from last year! He also knows how you have to drive and to be quick over here.”

Before Friday’s start, Hänninen joked: “We have to decide with the engineer if he should drive or should I drive because he has so much knowledge.”

IRC Production Cup battle set to thrill Ypres Rally fans

A thrilling battle for victory is expected in the IRC Production Cup section of the Geko Ypres Rally today.

Subaru Impreza driver Andreas Aigner (pictured), making his debut on the Belgian asphalt event, heads the division by 6.3s with Cédric De Cecco in hot pursuit. And with Belgian star Kris Princen 12.5s behind Aigner and Jasper Van den Heuvel firmly in contention just 22.0s adrift, a dramatic fight for glory is in store over Saturday’s 12 stages.

However, former category leader Bob Colsoul fears his hopes of victory are over following a disastrous run through Friday’s final stage when his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer suffered a broken turbo three kilometres from the finish. He is in fifth place, 45.6s behind Aigner.

“We had now power,” he said. “For sure we can fix it but the time we have lost is the time you can never make up.”

Sunglasses give Princen the edge in IRC 2WD Cup

Renault Mégane RS driver Kris Princen heads the IRC 2WD Cup division of the Geko Ypres Rally thanks in no small part to his sunglasses.

Princen, an Ypres veteran, holds a narrow advantage of 2.6s over Honda Civic Type R talent Martin Kangur starting Saturday’s opening stage.

He said his decision to wear his sunglasses for Friday’s evening final stage, held at sunset, gave him an a crucial edge as a number of drivers reported struggling to see where they were going in the low-lying sun.

“I put them on at the start of the stage,” said Princen. “It was a risk but the sun was very low so I was pleased to be wearing them. We have to push again on Saturday.”

Ypres legend Thiry back in action

Two-time Ypres Rally winner Bruno Thiry is back in action this year – but this time he is driving ŠKODA Belgium VIP guests around the stages, to give them the thrill of their lives.

Belgian Thiry, 49, is piloting a ŠKODA Fabia R2 with a different guest co-driver on every stage, ahead of the main field on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event.

“Officially I’m meant to be retired but this is a lot of fun,” said Thiry. “There are no pacenotes and a lot of planning, but it’s nice to experience the atmosphere of this great rally from the inside again. And driving any rally car is always great fun.”

Thiry’s son Adrien is also in Ypres in his role as a reporter for the AUTOhebdo magazine in France.