The repeat passage over the long Hollebeke stage, this time in darkness, proved to be problematic indeed for a few drivers as the darkened roads caught them out for various reasons.
Driving the Proton Satria Neo S2000 on its maiden IRC event, Guy Wilks went off and damaged his car's suspension, sending him into retirement.
The team was hopeful that Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh would be able to run untimed through today's final ten stages in order to gain invaluable testing miles on the promising new car, following an off-road excursion yesterday. Having been in 12th place on the penultimate stage of Day 1, the Proton crew made the necessary repairs but it was not possible for the Satria to join the 59 cars from 73 that started the event to tackle today's marathon 10-stage charge to the finish.
"It wasn't easy out there," Wilks said. "We had a lot of small issues with the car, which can only be expected, such as the temperature warning alarms going off which was very distracting. Because it's such a new car we've also had to run without the optimum gear ratios as they haven't been homologated yet, so the acceleration that's in the car hasn't been translated into the times."
Meanwhile, Freddy Loix managed to hold onto the lead of Rally Ypres at the conclusion of Day One, but Kris Meeke is keeping the pressure on his IRC title rival.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Leave us your comment