ypres

Ott Tanak was handed the reins at Ypres Rally after a mistake by Hyundai team-mate Thierry Neuville on Saturday’s penultimate stage dashed all hope of a repeat victory in front of his home supporters.

Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville caught his Rally1 rivals napping over the closing miles of Ypres Rally this afternoon to move into the lead of his home round of the World Rally Championship.

Thierry Neuville edged out his Rally1 rivals on this afternoon’s short, sharp Ardeca Ypres Rally shakedown stage by powering through it six tenths of a second quicker than anyone else.

Hyundai Motorsport’s Thierry Neuville has spoken of his relief that the World Rally Championship is switching back to Tarmac for the first time in four months after five consecutive outings on gravel.

Oliver Solberg has received the backing of his boss at Hyundai Motorsport who has said the young Swede must be given the opportunity to “learn and improve” as World Rally Championship driver.

Michelin's new European Rally Championship tyre is praised after Freddy Loix's Belgian win

Freddy Loix maintained his impressive domination of the Ypres Rally to reclaim the IRC points lead.

Pre-event favourite Jan Kopecky will miss the GEKO Ypres Rally after his co-driver was injured in a shakedown crash.

Freddy Loix completed a dream return to the IRC by taking an uncontested victory on home soil in Belgium.

Guy Wilks: "It's not a screaming pain, more a dull pain in the bottom of the back. I want to be back sooner rather than later and everything is possible for Ypres but we have to see what the doctor says first."

Francois Duval has revealed that he hopes to return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge during the 2009 season. The Belgian made his last outing in the series in Portugal last season but was forced to retire from the event due to a wheel bearing failure on his Abarth Grande Punto.