Guy Wilks continues to keep the pressure on ŠKODA Motorsport’s Freddy Loix at the top of the GEKO Ypres Rally leaderboard after going four-tenths of a second slower than the Belgian through the second stage of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.
The Peugeot UK driver is 3.9s behind Loix in the overall standings heading to the final stage of the opening loop.
Loix said: “I’m driving more safe but it’s difficult because I am used to pushing hard. It is a shame that Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen went out so early because it was important to see the fight between the old star and the inexperienced driver.”
Bryan Bouffier said he lost a few seconds going off into a field towards the end of the stage, which left his Peugeot France 207 Super 2000 with front-right bodywork damage. His moment means he has now slipped to fourth behind Belgian driver Pieter Tsjoen in another 207.
Irishman Robert Barrable has moved up to seventh overall after setting the fifth fastest time in his privateer Fabia.
Bruno Magalhães has retired from fourth position with an engine problem on his Peugeot Sport Portugal 207.
Germany’s Felix Herbold had to stop and change a right-rear puncture on his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000.
Overall positions after SS2
| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loix Freddy / Miclotte Fréderic | Škoda Fabia S2000 | 15m55.5s |
| 2 | Wilks Guy / Pugh Phil | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +3.9s |
| 3 | Tsjoen Pieter / Vanneste Lara | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +16.3s |
| 4 | Bouffier Bryan / Panseri Xavier | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +20.0s |
| 5 | Rossetti Luca / Chiarcossi Matteo | Fiat Grande Punto S2000 | +20.5s |
| 6 | Weijs Hans / Degandt Bjorn | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +22.0s |
| 7 | Barrable Robert / Connolly Damien | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +23.0s |
| 8 | Casier Bernd / Caesemaeker Francis | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +27.1s |
| 9 | Snijers Patrick / Gitsels Johan | Mini John Cooper Works S2000 | +27.9s |
| 10 | Gardemeister Toni / Suominen Tapio | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +33.7s |
| 11 | Sołowow Michal / Baran Maciej | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +34.5s |
| 12 | Kruuda Karl / Järveoja Martin | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +36.5s |
| 13 | Basso Giandomenico / Dotta Mitia | Proton Satria Neo S2000 | +38.2s |
| 14 | Betti Luca / Barone Maurizio | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +40.0s |
| 15 | Ten Brinke Bernhard / Thierie Davy | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +40.5s |