ŠkodaPortal.cz Simply clever

Ypres, 22 June, 2012 – Finns Juho Hänninen & Mikko Markkula of ŠKODA Motorsport are in the lead of the Belgian Rally after Day 1. The event is part of both the IRC Championship and the European Championship. Seven times winner of the Ypres Rally (including last year) Freddy Loix (BEL) in a Peugeot Super 2000 is second, Pieter Tsjoen in a Fabia Super 2000, also of Belgium, is third, which is quite a surprise.

Hänninen & Markkula seem to have forgotten the bad memories of the Belgian Rally near Ypres they have from the previous years: "We have made a good start to this rally, but tomorrow will be long and difficult – 200 special-stage kilometres within one day is a mouthful. The weather will be one of the major factors".

The other crew to drive a factory Fabia Super 2000, Andreas Mikkelsen & Ola Floene of ŠKODA UK Motorsport, were right behind their Finnish pals up until Stage 5 when they flew off the track to lose about one minute and fall to fourth place after Day 1. The Ypres Rally continues on Saturday with a challenging dose of 12 special stages (202 kilometres in total).

ŠKODA Motorsport´s other crew, Jan Kopecký & Pavel Dresler, are taking part in a concurrent Czech Championship event in Hustopeče. Their ambition is to remain unbeaten this year.

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