Freddy Loix is convinced that the future of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge is in safe hands thanks to the continued emergence of young stars Andreas Mikkelsen and Thierry Neuville, currently first and third overall on Rallye Sanremo.
Speaking after the completion of the afternoon loop of stages, which he completed in second overall, 4.5s behind Mikkelsen and 0.9s ahead of fellow Belgian Neuville, Loix said he was hugely impressed with the youngsters’ pace.
“They’re the new generation,” said 40-year-old Loix. “They’re very fast, in fact I knew this already from last year that both of them are very fast. That’s good that we have some people for the future who are coming up and it’s really what this championship needs.”
Loix said he was “quite happy” with his own performance behind the wheel of his BFO-ŠKODA Rally Team Fabia, despite a slightly sluggish opening stage, which he completed with the seventh fastest time.
“I lost a bit on the first stage but that’s always the same with me,” said Loix, who is second in the IRC drivers’ standings. “But after I took back some time and it’s going very well, I’m quite happy and my car is okay. For sure it was a bit slippery but I could live with that.”