Ypres Rally 2015

[Rallyper]

Peugeot Sport ‏@peugeotsport 1m1 minute ago
Bad news... Princen retired (medical) #208T16 @FIAERC @PeugeotBelux @ypresrally

What medical?

[EightGear]

What medical?

He became unwell last night and had to be taken to hospital for checks. Doctors wouldn't allow him to start due to low blood pressures.

Hope he'll be OK!

[wildboar]

Great battle between the two top Porsches! Dumas and Delecour are separated by less than 5 seconds and are 7th and 8th overall.
Why is Snijers so slow?

[dimviii]

Breen puncture and lost the lead from Bouffier for 0,6 sec.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Breen puncture and lost the lead from Bouffier for 0,6 sec.

At the end of the stage thankfully...

[RS]

That makes things close! I still think Breen has the edge though.

[noel157]

That makes things close! I still think Breen has the edge though.

Not so sure on that...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Back from holiday and back at my computer now.. anywhere to get split times ?

[RS]

Not so sure on that...

Loix has been quicker today but Breen still has an 8.1s advantage at the moment.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Loving the Ypres photos... especially of this car ! :eek:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIfXebpWUAAOmqi.jpg:large

[WUff1]

Loix will manage this I bet.

Breen, Bouffier, Lefebvre for follow up positions on the podium.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Are the other drivers ERC registered & will take points off Breen if he doesn't win ?

[dodge33cymru]

Lefevbre sounds like he's in tears the way Paddon was the other week. I hope Peugeot think he's done enough to be worth another event at least. Punishing stage, sounds like everyone's been off.

[noel157]

Bouffier and Freddy now, looks like Breen had an off but still going.

[EightGear]

Lefevbre sounds like he's in tears the way Paddon was the other week. I hope Peugeot think he's done enough to be worth another event at least. Punishing stage, sounds like everyone's been off.
His future seems pretty safe with Citroen in WRC. Although Ypres is the first event this year where he showed some good speed TBH.

A shame the big 4 way fight is over now.

[Rallyper]

Bergkvist took over lead in ED3 on SS11.

[noel157]

Yep, unless something happens looks like it's between Freddy and Bouffier:

After SS12:

http://i.imgur.com/Ew9b8LA.jpg

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Breen out now. Tough result from a small mistake. :(

"Made a little mistake and went into a field, it blocked the radiator.." Car still won't start.

Damn that 208 radiator !

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIg0Un2WIAA3AAb.png

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIg0xzeWgAAKdDv.png

[HaCo]

Bergkvist took over lead in ED3 on SS11.
And is out in... Hollebeke.

What a shame, Loix is lucky just like last year. Really disappointed for the young guys.

Fingers crossed for Bouffier, don't care who wins now, the battle should last until the last stage.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I've seen Loix win soooo many Belgian rallies where he has just finished, as everyone else has either gone off or had mechanicals.

Experience is a huge benefit on these high speed, tricky events.

[Rallyper]

And is out in... Hollebeke.

What a shame, Loix is lucky just like last year. Really disappointed for the young guys.

Fingers crossed for Bouffier, don't care who wins now, the battle should last until the last stage.

Shouldn´t have written that... :(

What happened to Emil?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Thorburn had a hot moment on Hollebeke 1 also...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIg55ghWwAADMWV.jpg:large

[Fast Eddie WRC]

From Emil Bergkvist on Facebook "Race is over, engine fire. Game over!"

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Breen
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIg_TYJWwAA0J7U.png

[Rallyper]

From Emil Bergkvist on Facebook "Race is over, engine fire. Game over!"

OK. He did very good job as long as it lasted! Hope fire was from technical, not driver failure.

[RS]

Breen
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIg_TYJWwAA0J7U.png

How many times have we seen this photo?

[Eli]

How many times have we seen this photo?

too many

[mousti]

Kajto is lucky then..

Verstuurd vanaf mijn Nexus 5 met Tapatalk

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Loix does it again following Bouffier's puncture...

[WUff1]

Loix does it again following Bouffier's puncture...

Think we can congratulate him already for winning Ypres.

[EightGear]

Ypres turns out to be a battlefield, again... :(

[Ucci]

Althoug I have nothing against ''fast'' Fredy, this week end he doesn't deserve victory. There were faster than him....but you have to finish, that is clear.
For me surprise of the race : Dumas ! Nobody expected that even one 911 will finish between first eight (see the pickem), now he is on 4th position (although Magalhaes is closing). Great job, indeed. He should change the circuit racing for rally, hehehehe.....

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Just looking back as I was away yesterday... Loix said on SS3: 'I go absolutely flat out, I'm on the limit...' but he was only 6th fastest. This was when all his main opponents were still running.

[RS]

Just looking back as I was away yesterday... Loix said on SS3: 'I go absolutely flat out, I'm on the limit...' but he was only 6th fastest. This was when all his main opponents were still running.

He did say that but then this morning he was fastest.

[Mariusz]

Just looking back as I was away yesterday... Loix said on SS3: 'I go absolutely flat out, I'm on the limit...' but he was only 6th fastest. This was when all his main opponents were still running.
Yesterday he also said: "We are running this car for the first time and we see some things which could be improved. But the rally is long so no panic." like he knew that he hadn't had to be the fastest.

[WUff1]

Loix is an old fox which cannot really be trusted in his (obviously tactical) words during a rally. It´s the same with Baumschlager, his Skoda mate.

I´m now 100% sure he was driving tactically yesterday - it´s the same way he won Ypres more than once.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I still think others could have won but for their mistakes, mechanicals or punctures.

But no surprise Loix was there to pick up the win when they did... he's done it so many times on so many events in the Belgian Championship.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Real shame in this event was for Breen (again) ...

'Championship leader Breen had been leading the event by 12.6s, but picked up a puncture and lost 15s and the lead to Bryan Bouffier (Citroën DS3 R5) on SS11. Worse was to happen on the following stage, when he slipped off the road and into a field. Having lost over 30 seconds, he arrived at the end of the stage with his Peugeot 208 T16’s radiator full of vegetation and the water temperature reading 155°C. Unfortunately, the car refused to start, and he was forced to retire.'

“We came too fast into a left-hand corner and went out of the road and into a field,” said Breen. “It seemed quite harmless, but the water temperature started to rise and we stopped to clear the grass out of the front of the car. Unfortunately, there is a constant vacuum at the back of the rad, and with the movement of the car through the air as well, the damage must have already been done by the time we reached the end of the stage, even though the temperature was going down. We’ve won three different rallies on three difference surfaces in the ERC, so I think I’m performing consistently on all surfaces this year. I just really wanted to win Ypres as well, because it’s such a classic event. We’ll come back stronger, that’s for sure.”

And I suppose it keeps the title battle with Kajto running... :rolleyes:

[dodge33cymru]

Great Periscope feed from the last stop line - this tech has great potential for rallying.

[Ucci]

What happend to Dumas??
And yes, congrats to Freddy Loix......he did it again.

[JoostSchouten]

My highlights of our very high speed day, what a fast stages!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxlAcvDtzqI

http://i60.tinypic.com/2zf937s.jpg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxlAcvDtzqI)

[gianni123]

Crash Josh Moffet - Fiesta RRC - SS 17 Hollebeke - Kenotek Ypres Rally 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x2Sy4ZP2Jg

[mas-racing]

http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q695/freddyzonnebeke/sf%20crash%20ieper%202015_zpsgw3hawqb.jpg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mOewJVak40)

[dimviii]

wow big crash!! hopefully they are ok!


this was a lucky one
https://youtu.be/wfBy4RM1ZLM

Casier crash
https://youtu.be/ZLeoB4Ge7uA


http://ewrc-results.com/quickp/19497_defekt.jpg

[dimviii]

http://www.tout-le-rallye.be/forum/images/upload/rallye007/DSC_6820-BorderMaker_id768790.jpg
http://www.tout-le-rallye.be/forum/images/upload/rallye007/DSC_6452-BorderMaker_id252286.jpg
http://www.tout-le-rallye.be/forum/images/upload/rallye007/DSC_5929-BorderMaker_id375886.jpg
http://www.tout-le-rallye.be/forum/images/upload/rallye007/DSC_5824-BorderMaker_id109885.jpg

[gianni123]

ERC KENOTEK Ypres Rally - 2015 (Crashes & Mistakes)

Incl. Crash Abbring & Josh Moffet + mistake Mccormack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozQ3esvCojI

[dimviii]

https://youtu.be/mOkLkBk5lZc

[mas-racing]

http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q695/freddyzonnebeke/sf2%20zat%20iepr%202015_zpsyqfzqyqo.jpg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vui472ym3U)

[dodge33cymru]

Thanks for all the videos, keep them coming. My first time proper at the event and I had an amazing time, credit to the organisers for staging such a great event. I couldn't believe how easy it was to get around, how helpful the stage side staff were and how relaxed the atmosphere was. Despite being willing, I ended up paying €15 in total for 4 stages (simply because no one was there to ask for money - I wasn't avoiding them!).

Already planning on next year and will aim for the full four days from historic Shakedown as I didn't get to see enough of those cars in action. I hope the modern Shakedown is able to stay in the same village as the atmosphere inside that little loop is something very special.

As a spectator, it doesn't matter too much how close the event is, but it's been fun to follow anyway and I hope the main protagonists all manage to find a way to come back next year and give it another go. All credit to Freddy; he knew how to drive the event and let it come to him, and that's why he's the master of the place.

[tommeke_B]

Althoug I have nothing against ''fast'' Fredy, this week end he doesn't deserve victory. There were faster than him....but you have to finish, that is clear.
For me surprise of the race : Dumas ! Nobody expected that even one 911 will finish between first eight (see the pickem), now he is on 4th position (although Magalhaes is closing). Great job, indeed. He should change the circuit racing for rally, hehehehe.....

You praise Romain Dumas for the same reason you devalue Loix' prestation. ;) He climbed up to 4th only after others mistakes and retirements. But of course he did well, very clean driving style compared to Delecour, "Mr. frein tard" was all over the place, really amazing to see. Still there are some differences between the GT3 of Delecour and Dumas I think. The gearbox of Dumas seemed much shorter than anyone else's.

On friday Freddy wasn't quickest indeed. On friday he was not happy at all, about his set-up. It's interesting to mention that on the 2nd loop on friday he was the only driver with R11's (the softer one) and he had 2 spares in the booth. On saturday he managed to get the set-up more as he liked, and then it was his time... On first 5 stages of saturday he did 3 quickest times and 2 times only 0,3s from fastest time. There was only one driver notably quicker than Freddy, and we all knew he would end up somewhere next to the road, it took him quite long in fact. ;) What we've seen from Abbring was really crazy, on every corner he was not on the limit, but completely over. At the finish of the fifth stage, Pieter Tsjoen told someone from another team "We are going to crash, I'm 100% sure, it's impossible what he is doing."... For me, Kevin Abbring is the one who deserved the Colin McRae award, he was the one who was really driving with the same style and commitment McRae had...


Photo of Freddy on the first stage on saturday. You can see he is cutting deeper than anyone else, he's in the line of small gravel with his outer wheels, causing the clean line to be full of small gravel again for the car starting behind him... :)
https://scontent-bru2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/11705462_1098054956873056_6542422167281913534_o.jp g

[jarauto2]

unofficial top 10 after Ypres:

1 (-) harriswrc 110 +15 126
1 (+1) stalin 109 +17 126
3 (-) Zigz 106 +15 121
3 (+2) Henkie H. 104 +17 121
3 (+8) T.Maanteiden kuningas 93 +28 121
6 (-2) jarauto2 104 +16 120
7 (-) cosmin_sb 100 +18 118
8 (+1) Fiat-131-Abarth 99 +16 115
8 (+15) arko5 85 +30 115
10(-) Vaggelis27 97 +17 114

[tommeke_B]

Photo of one of the most lucky moments I've seen so far this year. This is Euan Thorburn on SS Hollebeke, not so far after the start. Just after the start of the stage you go into a medium left and medium right. Then you go over a crest, and the section of extremely fast corners begins, left-right-left and so on, with some crests between. Then they have a crossroad, then a very fast right into this left corner. I'm sure that (almost) every driver had in their notes not to cut, because there is a driveway in the middle of the corner, which creates a huge edge in the cut. With the helmet on, things are a bit difficult... When you enter the corner, you are just getting in the rythm, and just out of the right corner before, you can't see that particular driveway yet. So your brain will tell you to cut, even when the notes tell you to not do it... Very tricky situation. If Thorburn cutted any deeper he would have ripped his wheel off I think. Hard to understand that the car was still running after such brutal "kick" to all mechanical parts. Moffet crashed in this place in the second run. Also Pieniazek (208, JERC) crashed here in the first loop.

https://scontent-bru2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/t31.0-8/11709964_1098083856870166_2208385305120502083_o.jp g

[Luis Pacheco]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmLHYMekxN0

[Ucci]

You praise Romain Dumas for the same reason you devalue Loix' prestation. ;) He climbed up to 4th only after others mistakes and retirements. But of course he did well, very clean driving style compared to Delecour, "Mr. frein tard" was all over the place, really amazing to see. Still there are some differences between the GT3 of Delecour and Dumas I think. The gearbox of Dumas seemed much shorter than anyone else's.

Of course I will praise R.Dumas (in fact everyone who has the courage to go flat with 911 GT3 on rally stage), so don't have hard feelings for my opinion, but I will say following : I can really not compare Loix performance against Dumas, because out of 15-stages which Dumas successfully passed, he was on seven less than a 1sec/km slower that the fastest driver on the stage! Which is, at least for me one hell of success.
Remember words of Snijers that those 911 GT3's which are adapted to RGT rules are much slower than the ''open'' ones....so imagine to have Dumas in the car with around 450-470 HP.....in the dry conditions.....that could lead to a bizarre situation for top R5 drivers....
I hope this will not turn to accusations who has ''balls'' and not.....everyone of us has a personal favourite, so RWD drivers are my heroes....
Again : Loix is a winner, there is nothing to add. Congratulations !

[MartijnS]

We only went yesterday.
Nice day, did 6 stages without having to hurry too much! Last time we went was 5 years ago and we enjoyed it again. Shame about the retirements during the day, but had a nice rally. Didn't do any preperations at all, we were following some friends who did recce the stages on friday!
Big difference in speed between the top 4 drivers (Loix, Breen, Lefebvre and Bouffier) and the others behind them! Enjoyed the R2's especially Zawada in his Opel Adam was pushing! Didn't really like the Porsches in the FIA configuration, not much to see and hear in my opinion, except for Delecour maybe.

http://www.rallymedia.nl/images/2015/ypresrally/00185224.jpg

http://www.rallymedia.nl/images/2015/ypresrally/44055509.jpg

http://www.rallymedia.nl/images/2015/ypresrally/92213659.jpg

http://www.rallymedia.nl/images/2015/ypresrally/25648781.jpg

http://www.rallymedia.nl/images/2015/ypresrally/82543554.jpg

As usual more at our Facebook Page (http://facebook.com/rallymedia) or our Website (http://www.rallymedia.nl/images/2015/ypresrally/ypresrally.html) !

[Mirek]

Of course I will praise R.Dumas (in fact everyone who has the courage to go flat with 911 GT3 on rally stage), so don't have hard feelings for my opinion, but I will say following : I can really not compare Loix performance against Dumas, because out of 15-stages which Dumas successfully passed, he was on seven less than a 1sec/km slower that the fastest driver on the stage! Which is, at least for me one hell of success.
Remember words of Snijers that those 911 GT3's which are adapted to RGT rules are much slower than the ''open'' ones....so imagine to have Dumas in the car with around 450-470 HP.....in the dry conditions.....that could lead to a bizarre situation for top R5 drivers....
I hope this will not turn to accusations who has ''balls'' and not.....everyone of us has a personal favourite, so RWD drivers are my heroes....
Again : Loix is a winner, there is nothing to add. Congratulations !

With restrictor Dumas has little less than 400 Hp, he has traction control, very short sequantial gearbox compared to other GT cars and very good suspesnion as well. He was setting nearly same times as Delecour who is around two years younger than black coal (big respect to Delecour for what he is still capable of but the younger drivers simply shall beat him as time can't be stopped). Dumas was 15 seconds ahead after 11 stages when Delecour suffered technical problems. Dumas is full-time professional who did his job very well but he didn't do something totally from the other planet like You portrait it.

Moreover what Your comparison to fastest R5 drivers say? He was one second per kilometer slower and so what? How do we know that it's good or not? Maybe if Abbring drove Porsche he would be faster. Maybe not. We don't know.

By the way forget about Snijers. His car is junk compared to those of Dumas and Delecour. Believe me it is. You can clearly see how bad his engine and suspension is compared to Dumas.

Frankly I would give the CMR Flat out trophy to Abbring. He was the exact example of what the trophy means - to be flat out all the time no matter what. Dumas was driving very efficient, clean, no power slides, no drifts, no moments (at least I didn't see a single one and I saw hot moments from nearly all drivers).

[Mirek]

Before I write about the rally itself I would like to react to all "Loix was just lucky comments". In my opinion it's not fair to downplay his victory. He was the smartest driver in the rally just like last year and that's why he won for the tenth time and why he is the benchmark for everybody coming to Ypres. All his rivals except Princen lost the game by their own mistakes in the direct fight. For me Freddy won fair and square. I heard he said a big truth on Friday - something like "I have nothing more to prove here, it's up to them to prove themselves." That's exactly what it's all about. It's the same like the bashing of Loeb we had here on forum for years of his reigning.

Anyway I would like to point out that Freddy was quite unhappy with the car and dampers on first leg. He also made a wrong tyre choice for the second loop and had two punctures (fortunately for him always at the end of stage). His "wunderwaffe" engineer Yannick Willocx was in Poland on Škoda pre-event testing and arrived only after first leg. I'm sure the change in Freddy's speed and mainly appearance had a lot to do with it (on Friday he didn't look confident at all, on Saturday it was a different story).

[vino_93]

So I was there saturday. I saw three times the ERC field (Reninge 1 & 2, Kemmel 1) and one the ERC historic (Reninge 1).

To be quick about the historics ... boring. 5, 6 good drivers, all the other promenaded.

About the ERC, I agree with Mirek. Loix is really smart. So it's not so impressive, but when you look how far he was cutting ... that's amazing, any other drivers was able to go so far. He was so clean, not pushing like hell, but really efficient.
Breen, Lefebvre and Bouffier didn't have the same style. They were more agressiv, and finally, that's not so surprising to see they had problems.
I was quite surprised with Verschueren drive. Last time I saw him, he was quite slow, not a ease. It seems he is getting better with his DS3 now.
The other after were slower, and more imprecise. I especially thinks about McCormack. He was pushing, trying to take the same trajectories like the top guys. But he couldn't ... every time I saw him, he was on the limit. That was really different from Magalhaes, who was soooo clean and smart ... But at the end, we know it was him who was right compared to his direct opponents.

In the R2 field, that was clear that the Opel boys were much faster than the others. Griebel and Bergkvist drive clean, precise, and fast. Bergkvist astonished me by his trajectories. He was a bit like Loix, cutting the more possible, and being clean.
Zawada was more brutal with the car, more spectacular, a bit like Gago, who was the only JERC Peugeot guys who seems to be at the level of the Opel. (from what I've seen, unfortunately I saw Ingram only once).
I'd like to prise Victorien Heuninck too. Every year he is doing a great job. I hope in the future he can rent a R5 :)

Very happy to see the Porsche. That's a great add to the field of cars !

Quite surprised to see that Erdi won the N group, and beat the R2 ... he seemed slow, and I thought Pyck would have won.
And a small word too for Xavier Lannoo, who was pushing with his DS3 R1. It's rare in Belgium to see a R1 well drived !

So a few of my pics :
http://www.ewrc.cz/images/2015/photos/kenotek_ypres_rally_2015/tbr_ypres%20rally%202015%20053.jpg
http://www.ewrc.cz/images/2015/photos/kenotek_ypres_rally_2015/tbr_ypres%20rally%202015%20353.jpg
http://www.ewrc.cz/images/2015/photos/kenotek_ypres_rally_2015/tbr_ypres%20rally%202015%20393.jpg
http://www.ewrc.cz/images/2015/photos/kenotek_ypres_rally_2015/tbr_ypres%20rally%202015%20257.jpg
http://www.ewrc.cz/images/2015/photos/kenotek_ypres_rally_2015/tbr_ypres%20rally%202015%20467.jpg

More here : http://www.ewrc.cz/ewrc/fotogalery.php?events=19497&fotograf=277

[dimviii]

but when you look how far he was cutting ..


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIq6u_JWIAAuIie.jpg

[mousti]

Loix had a bit of luck though, Gitsels clocked one minute too early in. If Bouffier wouldnt have that puncture he would have won :D

Verstuurd vanaf mijn Nexus 5 met Tapatalk

[Mirek]

Bouffier crashed in the second stage and if the suspension was broken nobody could say a thing. He was lucky with that too.

[Mirek]

Great video from Devillers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOkLkBk5lZc

Thanks to Tommeke for bringing me as well to the places which You can find on the video (those which looks craziest :) )

[dimviii]

cuts

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/735989P1140619.jpg
http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/827611P1140639.jpg
http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/746867P1140617.jpg
http://forum-rallye.com/uploads/monthly_06_2015/post-564-0-46406000-1435521775.jpg

[Mirek]

Those cuts through the field are in this great full HD video ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmLHYMekxN0

And we were there too, although only for the second run :)

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Loix luck was his puncture only cost seconds, Bouffier's cost minutes.

Also Breen's run into a field didnt deserve retirement.

Either could have won.

[tommeke_B]

If his puncture... If his off... If he hadn't... If my aunt had balls she would be my uncle. There's no need to argue, the classification is official... This sport is (as so many) partly decided by luck. It's just interesting how some drivers almost always have good luck and others always have bad luck, or is there something more...? :)

Anyway I enjoyed the rally a lot. For me personally this was the best edition of Ypres Rally I've seen so far, I start to appreciate my home event more and more. This year had shorter stages, less SS kms, but the stages themselves were more interesting for both drivers and spectators. Only the itinerary could be better. The battles in both R5 and R2 were epic. I don't have time for a proper review as I'm leaving to Poland in one day, but sure Mirek will write some interesting things. :)

[Mirek]

I promised to write something about the my rally... So it was again great event. I have to repeat what I said last year. It keeps becoming easier for spectators every year. This time we visited SD/QS and 9 stages and I haven't seen a single case of safety helicopter or safety car moving spectators. The marshals and atmosphere around the stages was generally very relaxed and friendly. It's probably useless to repeat how great the atmosphere in the old town is but I have to. That's something special about Ypres. You can sit in the restaurant on the historic square together with team members and being part of the rally all the time. You can park Your car just a hundred meters from the market square/service, You can sit in a beer garden, buy some sweets, visit the war museum or have a look on the town from the belfry tower and You are still in the service park!

It was also great to meet many forum members. Some I knew from the past, some not. I met namely Tommeke_B, wwbroe, CWJ, dupanton, mousti, gianni123 and PLuto (I hope I didn't forget someone). Thanks guys for a great time!

What to say about the sporting side of the event? Abbring was just crazy. Everybody thought he would soon crash and he did. Breen and Lefebvre looked both very fast and flamboyant. They payd for their mistakes. Bouffier was interesting. Sometimes he looked crazy, sometimes on the other hand he was very clean and tidy. Funny thing was that when I congratulate one of his mechanics he told me he couldn't still believe the car was able to hold till the finish (they have had a lot of technical problems with the car through the season here in CZ). I have already commented Loix, Dumas and Delecour and so I wouldn't repeat the same again.

During the shakedown we spoke with Tommeke about Irish drivers as all of them without exception took really aggresive and risky approach. We were joking to bet if all of them go eventually off and in the end they all did. Some were more lucky, some less. The funny thing is that the only one who finished was the most crazy-looking. McCormack was really trying hard but despite his numerous offs the car somehow managed to survive till the end. Nevertheless the Irish guys were very spectacular!

About our Czech drivers and teams. I think they did good job. There were six cars of Czech teams (Bouffier, Tarabus, Orsák, Tlusťák, Kristiansen and Štajf) on the start and all of them finished without some major technical problems which is quite remarkable in a rally where nearly a half of the crews retired. There was also no Škoda retirement from six cars at the start and in the end they all took half of the places in top 12. About the drivers I was quite happy about Tarabus. He was in Ypres for the first time and he took the rally quite nicely without any major moments. He looked neat and tidy on fast places and quite spectacular in slow ones. Pity of his puncture on first Kemmelberg. Orsák was more flamboyant but he was in Ypres for I think third time. On the other hand he was on Hankooks.

Few words about two-wheel drive drivers. Since the shakedown it was clear it's Opels who will make the show. The suspension of Adams looked so much better than 208. All 208 without an exception show always some rear axle movement in the corners or in heavy braking. Opels are like stuck to the ground. They look like some go-karts. Really impressive. The other thing was drivers. Griebel was extremely clean, was doing nearly no cuts and the more I was surprised by his puncture in the last stage. Compared to that Zawada was extremely spectacular and completely crazy (similarly all over the place was Gryazin but not so fast). Bergkvist was something between, so were Wagemans, Ingram or Heuninck. A nice surprise for me was Pieniazek.

I think I will not comment gr.N drivers. There was not much to see. The few cars were looking so boring and lame compared to the R5 and even R2. Maybe the opinion would be different with Andy Lefevere or with Jasper van den Heuvel but none of the was there...

[marcosg]

If his puncture... If his off... If he hadn't... If my aunt had balls she would be my uncle. There's no need to argue, the classification is official... This sport is (as so many) partly decided by luck. It's just interesting how some drivers almost always have good luck and others always have bad luck, or is there something more...? :)

and punctures are 90% of the time self inflicted so I can't see where luck comes into play...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

and punctures are 90% of the time self inflicted so I can't see where luck comes into play...

Where in a stage they happen, near the start or near the end, that is luck..

Or did Loix only do his big cuts in the last few kms of the stages...

[Mirek]

Oh no, don't start that again. Or do You really belive that every cut si same? You know that in our championship Pech's spies walk through every possible cut on foot to check exactly what is where? There are cuts where You can cut, cuts where You must not cut but also cuts where You just have to cut totally extremely or not at all otherwise You have a problem. There is a lot of such in Ypres. Anyway it's totally pointless debate. If someone has punctures say five times more often than someone else and if it's usual suspects well known for very risky driving style than it has nothing to do with luck. You can't win Ypres ten times out of twenty starts by luck.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

So we cant discuss any luck in rallying then ? I didnt say Loix was lucky here, only that others with massively less experience in Ypres were a bit unlucky.

I've seen many, many Belgian Rally events and Loix wins so often becaue he's the 'last man standing', not through sheer speed. Experience.

When Ogier wins all his rallies no-one says he's lucky... because he's also the fastest.

Loix might know what all the precise cuts are here but after other cars have gone through he cant know what will be on the ground. It still needs some luck.

Loix isn't some superhero driver, he just wins on his specialist events.

[Fred.]

Another Cuts ->

https://picasaweb.google.com/115028952408441692886/YpresRally2015

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/846422P1140633.jpg (http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=846422P1140633.jpg)

http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/182340P1140665a.jpg (http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=182340P1140665a.jpg)

[dimviii]

http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/5756727Copier.jpg
http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/1750588Copier.jpg
http://www.maxicorde.fr/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ypres2015_kevin_5_2.jpg
http://www.maxicorde.fr/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ypres2015_kevin_24_1.jpg

[dupanton]

Loix isn't some superhero driver, he just wins on his specialist events.

Like Barum, Madeira and Valais? :)

He is very quick, takes less risk than the others, and that pays off!

[liposh]

I think if Loix would compete in any of this year´s ERC tarmac events Breen would sweat a lot to beat him. And honestly I would like to see him for example on Barum this year. He is not 2x winner of Barum just because luck...and once he was second there beaten by 2 secs., right? :D

[marcosg]

1.2s

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Photo of one of the most lucky moments I've seen so far this year. This is Euan Thorburn on SS Hollebeke, not so far after the start.

https://scontent-bru2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/t31.0-8/11709964_1098083856870166_2208385305120502083_o.jp g

Hey, I posted this pic first ! ;)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIg55ghWwAADMWV.jpg:large

[dupanton]

It was also great to meet many forum members. Some I knew from the past, some not. I met namely Tommeke_B, wwbroe, CWJ, dupanton, mousti, gianni123 and PLuto (I hope I didn't forget someone). Thanks guys for a great time!


It was great to meet you and discuss the rally at the side of the road :)

As for the rally itself, I have to agree with what is sad here. The level was the highest I ever witnessed, we saw some very crazy passes (Abbring mainly).
I was surprised by the speed of Breen and Bouffier, didn't expect them to fight for the win.
Biggest pity were the retirements of Cherain and Princen, which will make the rest of the Belgian Championship pretty boring I'm afraid...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Like Barum, Madeira and Valais? :)

Loix is a massive specialist in certain events and on one surface.

[QUOTE=liposh;1057279]I think if Loix would compete in any of this year´s ERC tarmac events Breen would sweat a lot to beat him. And honestly I would like to see him for example on Barum this year. He is not 2x winner of Barum just because luck..

Loix has any ice, snow or gravel wins which are surfaces in other ERC events? Breen has.

I'd like to see him come to the Circuit of Ireland and see if he's so fast there. But he wont as he hasn't done it 20x before.

[dodge33cymru]

To me that's what makes this interesting. Some experts on tarmac, some on snow and some on gravel, whilst others are complete all-rounders.

Breen is a good all rounder, he's up in each event against some specialists. Will be interesting to see him against the regulars in Zlin too.

It's like cycling; there are sprinters and mountain specialists and time triallers, but none of them will win the Grand Tours against a good all-rounder.

Having this mix if wild cards is why I prefer ERC to WRC a lot of the times, although it's difficult this year with only one full-time entrant.

[Mirek]

Loix is a massive specialist in certain events and on one surface.



Loix has any ice, snow or gravel wins which are surfaces in other ERC events? Breen has.

I'd like to see him come to the Circuit of Ireland and see if he's so fast there. But he wont as he hasn't done it 20x before.

Maybe You would do better job for Breen if You were not starting over and over debates on the topic Breen versus someone. Breen is a great driver and he doesn't need Your help to be well respected.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Maybe You would do better job for Breen if You were not starting over and over debates on the topic Breen versus someone. Breen is a great driver and he doesn't need Your help to be well respected.

I barely mentioned Breen here, others brought up how they thought Loix would 'make Breen sweat' on asphalt events.

This thread, post-rally, has been mostly about Loix and good and bad luck in the event. Breen did not need defending.

And I doubt whether you would be so antagonistic if Loix hadnt been driving one of your beloved Skoda's.

If you dont like debates on luck or road surfaces, then leave the thread to those who want to discuss it...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Nice review by Peugeot UK Junior Chris Ingram on Ypres: https://twitter.com/PeugeotUK/status/616617492253839361

[Mirek]

Loix onboard SS12 Hollebeke. At 0:40 You can recognize the place where Moffet and Pieniazek crashed and where Thorburn had his crazy moment. The speed exactly at the bump is 103 km/h.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbnLHupr_Eg

[Plhus]

My photos:

http://www.src.czechrallyeweb.net/pages/ypres2015.htm