Abarth's Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) title bid suffered a major setback in Belgium at the weekend as Giandomenico Basso's sixth place made him the only runner in the Italian S2000 machine to finish in the points paying positions. There was better news in Belgium though for Fiat in the 2WD Cup as, despite failing to collect any points in Belgium, it retains its leadership with 28 points, 16 points ahead of second placed Honda (12 points), with Peugeot (10 points) in third.

Abarth's Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) title bid suffered a major setback in Belgium on the Ypres Rally at the weekend as Giandomenico Basso's sixth place made him the only runner at the wheel of the Italian S2000 machine to finish the all asphalt event in the points paying positions.

Basso, the reigning Italian Rally Champion, was however blighted by misfortune on the rally's final stage which he had gone into facing a realistic chance of making the podium: on the penultimate stage he had overhauled veteran Patrick Snijers (Peugeot 207 S2000) to move into fourth place overall and enter the very last test just 5 seconds adrift of the third placed VW Polo driven by Bernard Casier. However a huge spin mid way through the stage and a 1 minute time penalty for checking in too early dropped him down to finish in sixth place.

Of the other Grande Punto S2000 runners, Renato Travaglia dropped out on SS14 whilst running a points position, Volkan Isik lost a wheel on his S2000 machine on SS3, one stage after Corrado Fontana had succumbed with gearbox issues, while Basso's Abarth factory team mate Anton Alén eventually finished in 12th place, 7 minutes and 58 seconds behind the winner.

While Abarth were struggling to make an impact, Peugeot Belgium driver Freddy Loix was making history on his home event by becoming the only person to win the Belgium Ypres Rally five times. Loix’s resounding success saw him lead from the opening day in order to clinch a dominant victory. In second place was his team mate Nicolas Vouilloz, who has moved to within four points of the IRC series leader thanks to another podium finish.

While Loix enjoyed a clear advantage, the battle behind him was intense – with third to sixth places covered by less than half a minute even in the closing stages. It was a battle where every second – and even the smallest problem – counted. Luca Rossetti was Loix’s closest challenger at the start of the rally, but a puncture during the opening leg meant that the Italian dropped out of the lead battle. Undeterred, he launched himself back into the battle for the points positions with the firm aim of maintaining his series lead. An excellent drive saw him climb back to third and achieve his objective by winning the final 42-kilometre stage, Heuvelland 2.

Rossetti narrowly beat Bernd Casier, who marked Volkswagen’s best result in the IRC series to date. Casier overcame a heavy crash in the shakedown to claim fourth place and underline the competitiveness of the Polo S2000. Belgian rally legend Patrick Snijers was fifth at the wheel of his BFGoodrich-backed Peugeot, while Basso had to settle for sixth. The Italian, who won the Ypres Rally in 2006, was a regular podium contender throughout the rally but was let down by a puncture halfway through the final stage.

The tough and unpredictable asphalt roads of Ypres meant that a number of drivers fell victim to the stages. Jan Kopecky, a podium finisher on the last IRC round in Portugal, rolled his Peugeot on Friday. Other retirements included former Junior World Champion Brice Tirabassi. “This was just the result that myself and the team needed,” said Loix. “I came here looking for the win, as it was the only way I could get back into contention for the title. Hopefully our luck has changed now – and it’s nice to have the record of Ypres wins as well!”

In the manufacturers' championship Peugeot are rapidly racing out of sight after collecting their third maximum points haul from the three IRC events to be held so far. The French firm now has 54 points, while Abarth, after collecting just three points in Belgium courtesy of Basso's sixth place finish, has 18 points. Mitsubishi (8 pts) and VW (5 pts) make up the points registered manufacturer numbers. There is better news though for Fiat in the 2WD Cup as, despite failing to collect any points in Belgium, the Italian firm retains its leadership of the category with 28 points, 16 points ahead of second placed Honda (12 points), with Peugeot (10 points) in third.

In the drivers' championship Luca Rossetti, winner of the opening two rounds, retains his title standings' lead and the Italian now has amassed 26 points, with Basso (8 pts) in fifth, one ahead of Alén (6pts), while Travaglia (5 pts) is in eighth place.

Intercontinental Rally Challenge Rd 3, Belgium Ypres Rally - Final Results

1Loix/Buysmans Peugeot 207 S2000 2h44m40.3s
2 Vouilloz/Klinger Peugeot 207 S2000 +58.7s
3 Rossetti/Chiarcossi Peugeot 207 S2000 +1m28.6s
4 Casier/Miclotte Volkswagen Polo S2000 +1m34.5s
5 Snijers/Soenens Peugeot 207 S2000 +1m44.0s
6 Basso/Dotta Abarth Grande Punto +3m22.9s
7 Van den Heuvel/Kolman Mitsubishi Lancer (N) +4m43.7s
8 Lietaer/Dejonghe Mitsubishi Lancer (N) +6m20.6s
9 Auquier/Pirotte Volkswagen Polo S2000 +7m42.1s
10 Debackere/Geerlandt Mitsubishi Lancer (N) +1m48.4s

IRC Drivers' Championship (after 3 rounds): 1. Luca Rossetti ITA (Peugeot) 26 points; 2. Nicolas Vouilloz FRA (Peugeot) 22; 3. Jan Kopecky CZ (Peugeot) 12; 4. Freddy Loix BEL (Peugeot) 11; 5. Giandomenico Basso ITA (Abarth) 8; 6. Anton Alen FIN (Abarth) 6; 7. Berndt Casier BEL (Volkswagen) 6; 8. Renato Travaglia ITA (Abarth) 5; 9. Juho Hanninen FIN (Mitsubishi) 4; 10. Patrick Snijers BEL (Peugeot) 4.