Bernd Casier has narrowed the gap to fifth-placed Hans Weijs to five seconds on the GEKO Ypres Rally after recording the fourth quickest time through the 24.74-kilometre Heuvelland stage.
Casier, in a privateer ŠKODA Fabia, was 12.5s behind Weijs starting the stage nine but made the most of the Dutch driver’s cautious run to close up.
Out front, ŠKODA Motorsport driver Freddy Loix set the fastest time and continues to lead the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event with a margin of 46.9s over Peugeot UK’s Guy Wilks.
Wilks, running on slick, dry weather tyres, albeit with cuts to provide additional grip, said he lost time when it began to rain lightly at the start of the stage.
Luca Betti completed the stage with a cracked windscreen on his 207, which had been caused by his bonnet flying open early in the stage after it had been incorrectly closed.
Overall positions after SS9
| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loix Freddy / Miclotte Fréderic | Škoda Fabia S2000 | 1h20m32.1s |
| 2 | Wilks Guy / Pugh Phil | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +46.9s |
| 3 | Bouffier Bryan / Panseri Xavier | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +1m32.2s |
| 4 | Tsjoen Pieter / Vanneste Lara | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +1m46.2s |
| 5 | Weijs Hans / Degandt Bjorn | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +2m23.6s |
| 6 | Casier Bernd / Caesemaeker Francis | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +2m28.6s |
| 7 | Gardemeister Toni / Suominen Tapio | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +2m55.3s |
| 8 | Snijers Patrick / Gitsels Johan | Mini John Cooper Works S2000 | +2m56.5s |
| 9 | Rossetti Luca / Chiarcossi Matteo | Fiat Grande Punto S2000 | +3m22.6s |
| 10 | Sołowow Michal / Baran Maciej | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +3m25.6s |
| 11 | Kruuda Karl / Järveoja Martin | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +3m53.6s |
| 12 | Betti Luca / Barone Maurizio | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +3m56.4s |
| 13 | Ten Brinke Bernhard / Thierie Davy | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +4m44.8s |
| 14 | Van Eldik Mark / Buysmans Robin | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +4m51.5s |
| 15 | Barrable Robert / Connolly Damien | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +5m05.7s |