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
 

These pictures are in a memory of Gareth Roberts (age 24) who crashed in SS 8 Cefalu 1 18.00 km in Rally Targa Florio 2012 (Italy).

The Italian Rally Targa Florio finished dramatically after SS 8 Cefalu 1 18.00 km. The Ireland star Craig Breen (Peugeot 207 S2000) crashed seriously in the containment. His co-driver Gareth Roberts (age 24) was seriously injured and died. Craig Breen was unhurt in the accident.
Craig Breen in stage 7 was on position number 6 at + 52.8 by the leader.  
The rally was cancelled after stage 8.

In the rally Andreas Mikkelsen and Jan Kopecky changes the leader positions couple of times as in the cancelled stage Jan Kopecky set faster time and finally is the rally leader.

Results after the cancelled stage 8 (Unofficial overall):
1. J. Kopecky 1:04:59.1
2. A. Mikkelsen +0.8
3. G. Basso +2.5
4. U. Scandola +23.5
5. P. Andreucci +33.3
6. M. Gamba +54.4

IRC Manager Jean-Pierre Nicolas said: “It’s a very sad accident that reminds us that motorsport is dangerous: accidents can affect both driver and co-driver in rallying. As the President of the Automobile Club Palermo, Antonio Marasco, said after the accident, the Targa Florio is an event where many great champions have left us in the past, and sadly this has happened again. The death of a 24-year-old young man at the start of a fantastic career is always a tragedy. From the start of this year, together with Craig Breen, Gareth has put in some excellent performances and the crew really got themselves noticed. There’s no doubt in my mind that these performances would have got even better. At this terrible time, I’m thinking very much of Gareth’s family, to whom all of us at Eurosport Events pass on our sincere condolences.”