In cloudy and windy weather with 20 C temperatures start Geko Ypres Rally 2012.
In the first stage of the day Mikkelsen takes the lead followed by Hanninen. In the second stage Hanninen move to the lead followed by Mikkelsen. The new rally leader Hanninen comments: I was quite off the road. But we are here. A lot of interesting moments.
It is reporting for water and mud on the stages. In the third stage Hanninen extend his rally lead followed by Mikkelsen, as third is the local star Freddy Loix.
No changes in stage 4 while in stage 5 Mikkelsen lost the second position and move to 5th at +1:12.6. Freddy Loix moved to second position is third is Pieter Tsjoen (B) at +51.8.
Mikkelsen says: I brake too late in one junction and we stuck in the ditch. We lost about 1 minute.
Freddy Loix also lost some time due too Mikkelsen. He says: They pushed Andreas on the road just before me. So we lost some time.
In the last stage for Day 1, Andreas Mikkelsen backs to 4th position. He set second fastest time in the stage.
Comments after SS 8:
Hanninen: Ok day for us. Now I was little bit careful.
Mikkelsen: I came little bit to late on the brake on last stage. We want to catch back some time. Not Juho, but we will see.
Loix: I have to keep pushing. Skoda is very quick, but it's not far away.
Tsjoen: It was quite good. We are better now. I have still problems with changing gears. I don't know when to shift sometimes.
Results after Day 1:
1. J. Hanninen 46:42.3
2. F. Loix +26.8
3. P. Tsjoen +1:00.6
4. A. Mikkelsen +1:14.0
5. P. Flodin +1:29.0
6. M. Solowow +1:52.1