Juho Hänninen has made it 10 career wins in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge by claiming a standout victory on the Geko Ypres Rally.
Driving a ŠKODA Motosport Fabia Super 2000 alongside co-driver Mikko Markkula, Hänninen led from Friday’s second stage.
SS18; Hanninen goes fastest to secure Ypres win
Juho Hänninen has sealed his maiden Geko Ypres Rally victory by winning the final stage of the event, the 13.39-kilometre Kemmelberg test.
It was the ŠKODA Motosport driver’s 12th stage win of the event, which ensured a commanding winning margin of 46.50s over multiple Ypres winner Freddy Loix. Hänninen, from Finland, has also made it 10 career wins in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, a new benchmark.
Patrik Flodin was second fastest in his Petter Solberg Engineering Fiesta with Loix third fastest and Pieter Tsjoen fourth quickest. Mathias Viaene set the fifth best time to complete his recovery from 18th place by securing sixth overall after going off the road and picking up a puncture this morning.
Andreas Aigner secured the IRC Production Cup spoils for Subaru, while Honda driver Martin Kangur won the IRC 2WD Cup.
| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Hänninen J. - Markkula M. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | 2h36m52.7s |
| 2. | Loix F. - Vanneste L. | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +46.5 |
| 3. | Tsjoen P. - Chevaillier E. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +2:14.6 |
| 4. | Snijers P. - Gitsels J. | Mini Cooper S2000 1.6T | +2:55.7 |
| 5. | Solowow M. - Baran M. | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +5:25.4 |
| 6. | Flodin P. - Bergsten G. | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +5:55.5 |
| 7. | Viaene M. - Vyncke P. | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +9:37.8 |
| 8. | Langenakens J. - Beernaert N. | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +9:55.6 |
| 9. | Aigner A. - Ertl-Weissengruber D. | Subaru Impreza STi R4 | +10:27.1 |
| 10. | Tlust(ák A. - Škaloud J. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +10:38.9 |
| 11. | Colsoul B. - Colsoul T. | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X | +12:24.3 |
| 12. | Kangur M. - Ots A. | Honda Civic Type-R R3 | +13:01.9 |
| 13. | Vanden Abeele T. - van Quickenborne V. | Volkswagen Polo S2000 | +15:22.9 |
| 14. | Debackere M. - Cokelaere C. | Citroen DS3 R3T | +15:52.0 |
| 15. | Vizin L. - Zsiros G. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +16:06.5 |
| 16. | Vanneste D. - Houssin G. | Citroen C2 R2 Max | +16:17.1 |
| 17. | Al-Ketbi R. - Al-Kendi K. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +16:59.0 |
| 18. | Baugnet X. - Jalet J. | Ford Fiesta R2 | +18:05.2 |
| 19. | Radoux T. - Grégoire A. | Ford Fiesta R2 | +18:37.9 |
| 20. | Barbier P. - Defever D. | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +18:41.5 |