More attack turned Loix into a record-breaker
29th August 2010By Charlie Contadeli
Freddy Loix says his decision to adopt a more attacking driving style after the opening loop of stages of the rain-hit Barum Czech Rally Zlin on Saturday was a key factor in him claiming his third consecutive victory in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season to become the most successful driver in the history of the series by winning six IRC events.
Although Loix conceded he had been astounded by the pace of Skoda Motorsport team-mate Jan Kopecky and questioned whether he would have caught the Czech had he not crashed out with three stages remaining, Loix says his change of approach got him back into contention after he languished in fifth overall after five stages.
“I was missing a little experience in the wet conditions with this car because it was not since Monte Carlo last year that I had driven in wet and damp conditions and I did not have much experience of driving the Skoda in the wet,” said Loix. “I was not driving well the first four stages [on Saturday]. We changed a little bit the car at first service but I changed much more my driving style with more attack. We stiffened up a little bit the transmission because I had the feeling I was going sideways when I was coming off the throttle. There was more connection to the front and the rear after that but I also drove better.”
Loix moved in front on the penultimate stage when Bryan Bouffier, who inherited the lead when Kopecky hit trouble, encountered difficulties of his own by going wide and damaging his Peugeot’s rear suspension. Bouffier recovered to start the final stage 3.8s behind Loix only to crash into a ditch on the final stage when water leaked onto his car’s front tyres.
Second place for Juho Hanninen has put the Finn firmly in contention for his first IRC drivers’ crown following Kopecky’s demise. Pavel Valousek, in a factory-supported Fabia, made it a Skoda podium lockout and ensured the Czech make’s first IRC manufacturers’ crown with three rounds of the IRC still to run.
