Belgian Rally News

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Just watched the Rd1 highlights on Motors TV... very predictable entry and winner...

Loix wins every year like Ogier in the WRC.

[Rally Power]

Nice coverage! I didn't found that predictable...Princen was close and the Lancer Evo guy manage to lead. It will be interesting to follow.

Portuguese first rally action tomorrow night, also in Motors TV. Any chance to see British RC highlights outside UK?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Nice coverage! I didn't found that predictable...Princen was close and the Lancer Evo guy manage to lead. It will be interesting to follow.

But that just proves what I'm saying... Princen and the others are always close for a while, but then they never actually convert it into beating Loix. Even the guy in the WRC Mitsubishi couldn't beat him in his R5...

[tommeke_B]

Just watched the Rd1 highlights on Motors TV... very predictable entry and winner...

Loix wins every year like Ogier in the WRC.

We'll have to wait and see for this year, the competition is stronger than ever (since the 90's maybe). Without the technical issues Van Woensel-Mitusbishi Lancer WRC would have won by the way. Also in the end Princen was only some 10s behind, it's not such a big gap... Last year Princen had a lot of bad luck, and retired many times, but he was always on the same pace of Loix (if not quicker). Last year we had a few very exciting events, like Wallonie, where 4 drivers could win until the last few stages (and that was after the retirement of Princen and Lefebvre, who were also fighting strong). In the East Belgian Rally we had 3 drivers who could win until the last stage (there was some 5s difference between 1st and 3rd), the difference between 1st and 2nd hadn't been bigger than 2s all day long. Loix retired there while being 4th, I think. So no, Loix isn't dominating in the way Ogier is in WRC. Loix is probably the most consistent, he is extremely fast, and drives the most reliable car. I also think Freddy could have his toughest Ypres ever this year, even without a proper ERC field (I doubt any ERC driver could fight for podium anyway, as long as not too many Belgian drivers get in trouble).

[mousti]

But that just proves what I'm saying... Princen and the others are always close for a while, but then they never actually convert it into beating Loix. Even the guy in the WRC Mitsubishi couldn't beat him in his R5...

For a while, 10.8 seconds over a whole day, is still close for Belgian norms. Btw Both have gentlement co drivers, but the notes of Loix are way more precise and more on time then with Princen (makes a small difference in seconds too). Loix won't be so dominating like the last few years. Last year he got it already tough on some rallies, mostly PSA broke down then or his own car broke down and Kobus won the East Belgian Rally (decided on last stage!).

[br21]

With Loix you have to remember also that he was development driver of Skoda R5, he done many, many kms with it, so he knows the car very well. Also knows the 2C team very good. And he is also development driver for Michelin, so knows tires very good, which also is an advantage (in Van Haspengouw he was using different tires than others and it worked well for him looks like).

[Fly]

Spa entry lists. Modern + Histo
http://www.sparally.com/fr/node/104

[dupanton]

Princen will certainly win a rally this year. Also Verschueren, Cherain and Kobus might win one.
Last year Princen had a lot of bad luck. He had to retire after day 1 in Ypres, being in front of Loix because he was ill. In Wallonie slightly hit a concreet block which caused retirement, while Loix had a huge off in a ditch with no consequences at all. Title fight could have been a lot closer last year!

[mousti]

With Loix you have to remember also that he was development driver of Skoda R5, he done many, many kms with it, so he knows the car very well. Also knows the 2C team very good. And he is also development driver for Michelin, so knows tires very good, which also is an advantage (in Van Haspengouw he was using different tires than others and it worked well for him looks like).

And because all those tests, he never loses car rhythm!

[mas-racing]