Ypres - SS13: Three stage wins for Kopecky

After SS10: First stage win for Kopecký

Jan Kopecký has taken his first stage victory of the Geko Ypres Rally by topping the times on the first Langemark stage in his works Škoda Fabia Super 2000. The Czech driver, who insisted he took no big risks, was sixth tenths of a second faster than overall pacesetter Freddy Loix, whose gap at the top of the leaderboard is more than 30 seconds.

Thierry Neuville is third despite losing more than 10 seconds when he spun on a slow first gear corner in his Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207 S2000.

After SS11: Huge crowds lead to stage axe

Jan Kopecký’s second stage victory is set to be nullified after Geko Ypres Rally organisers took the decision to cancel the 11.32-kilometre Dikkebus stage for safety reasons due to excessive numbers of spectators lining the route.

Hot weather and a bulging entry have attracted huge numbers of fans to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event in northwest Belgium.

Thierry Neuville was the last of three drivers to complete the run in his Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207 Super 2000 with the third fastest time.

The remaining runners have been awarded notional times.

After SS12: Another stage win for Kopecký

Škoda Motorsport’s Jan Kopecký has gone faster than Freddy Loix for the third consecutive stage but has done little to eat into the Belgian’s commanding lead of the Geko Ypres Rally, round six of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Kopecký was six tenths of a second faster than Loix through the Heuvelland stage, which at 28.80 kilometres is the longest of the 19-stage rally. However, his gap overall to Loix is 29.1s.

Loix reported a minor brake problem on his Fabia S2000 but said he expected the fault would be rectified in service back in Ypres. Before then, however, crews will cross the border into France for the Lille-Eurométropole stage, which takes place in the town of Wasquehal.

Organisers have installed several grandstands around the 1.66-kilometre course and are expecting thousands of fans to attend.

After SS13: French stage win for Kopecký

Jan Kopecký has completed a clean-sweep of stage wins in the second loop of day two of the Geko Ypres Rally by topping the times on the spectator-friendly Lille-Eurométropole stage, which took place across the border in France.

The Škoda Motorsport driver completed the 1.66-kilometre course in the town of Wasquehal in a time of 1m17.5s, one second faster than event leader Freddy Loix managed in his factory Fabia S2000.

However, Belgian Loix, who actually lives in France, is still in control in the overall standings with a lead of 28.1s over Kopecký. Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg’s Thierry Neuville remains in a solid third place, 1m17.8s ahead of fellow Belgian driver Bernd Casier.

Overall positions after SS13: