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In Ypres, 24 June, 2011 – Freddy Loix in a factory Škoda Fabia Super 2000 comfortably leads the Ypres Rally in Belgium after Day 1. Giving his opposition no chance, Loix won all of the today's six stages and is 37 seconds ahead of Guy Wilks in a Peugeot who is second. The rally did not start well at all for Škoda Motorsport (factory team) – one of the consequences of Kopecký & Starý's crash in Thursday's shakedown is a sharp pain in Starý's right collar bone. Due to a suspect fracture, the team decided to withdraw Kopecký & Starý from this rally before its start.

As a result, the only driver to represent ŠKODA's factory team is Freddy Loix, Belgium's ace and six times winner of the Ypres Rally. Day 1 was a disaster for a number of drivers with podium ambitions – both Neuville in a Peugeot and Mikkelsen in a Fabia had to give up the rally due to vehicle damages already in Stage 1, and so today's 96-km part was a battle between Loix and the rest of the field.

Leader Freddy Loix comments on Day 1: "My opponents are doing their best to make my life difficult here, so I really have to go full blast. I know that many of the favourites for victory are not in the game anymore, and I am rather sorry about that. In particular, I am sorry for my team colleagues, I wish Petr a fast recovery, because I want to see him back on the track soon. Tomorrow is going to be a long day with many kilometres to go and the final part with lights on, and I am sure it's gonna be very exciting".

The Ypres Rally continues tomorrow with 12 stages (192 kilometres) and is scheduled to end shortly before midnight.

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