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Ypres, 20 June 2014 – Impressive display from the ŠKODA drivers on the opening day of the Ypres Rally: four Fabia Super 2000s are currently placed in the top ten at the sixth round of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC). Eight-time winner Freddy Loix (B), making his 17th appearance at the demanding asphalt rally in Belgium, is second in his Fabia Super 2000 after the first 104.77 kilometres against the clock. ERC leaders Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) of the ŠKODA Motorsport team are hot on their heels in third place.

"The first day was quite ok. I am happy with that," said Lappi, who opened the route on the first three stages on Friday. "You have to cut a lot of corners on the narrow asphalt streets in order to be really quick here in Belgium. We did not make any mistakes and our speed was good. I will continue the same way on Saturday and try to reach the finish without any problems."

Also on course for a points finish after the first seven of 20 special stages are Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian (D/D). The ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland duo is fifth going into the final day of the Ypres Rally. "I struggled to find the right rhythm at first," said Wiegand. "But everything came together in the end, particularly on the final stage. Let's hope for more of that tomorrow."

Neil Simpson/Claire Mole (GB/GB), who line up in the very same Fabia Super 2000 with which Loix won the Belgian rally classic last year, are ninth overall, rounding off a fine opening-day result for ŠKODA.

The 50th anniversary of the Ypres Rally continues on Saturday, when the route includes a 9.76-kilometre detour over the French border. At the end of Saturday's 13 stages and 190.02 kilometres against the clock, the winner of the 50th Ypres Rally will be known at about 22:15.

The number of the day: 4

Four Fabia Super 2000s in the top ten: the ŠKODA drivers impressed on the opening day of the Ypres Rally. Luca Rossetti/Matteo Charcossi (I/I) came close to making it five Fabia Super 2000s in the top ten. However, the Italian duo, who won Friday's qualifying and were running second overall at times, were forced to change a tyre on the sixth special stage and subsequently dropped back into 14th place.

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