Loix commits to IRC title effort

[Francisco]

Loix commits to IRC title effort

By Steven English

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVwA-eCgEeAsfsimNg4X_kMXbaAVMPQdbo_beiic--Cf5Aaiv7

Freddy Loix could be a contender for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge crown after announcing that he will enter six more rounds this season.

The 40-year-old Belgian won three of the four IRC rallies he contested in 2010, and finished second in last week's season-opening Monte Carlo Rally.

He will return for the Gran Canaria, Corsica, Ypres, Madeira, Zlin and Sanremo events this season in a Skoda Motorsport-run Fabia.

The IRC championship counts each driver's best seven scores, leaving Loix able to fight for the title but unable to drop any bad results.

"I am extremely pleased with this programme," Loix said. "But because I have no spare rallies I have to be very clean - but I work well under pressure so it won't be a problem."

He will again be co-driven by fellow Belgian Frederic Miclotte, and the pair will also contest two rounds of the Belgian national rally championship."

END

Source: Autosport.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89094)

[Francisco]

Loix confirms seven-event IRC programme

Freddy Loix, who has won more Intercontinental Rally Challenge events than any other driver, has confirmed that he will contest six further rounds of this year’s series in a Skoda Motorsport-prepared Fabia Super 2000.

Loix, who began his 2011 IRC campaign with second place on the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo earlier this month, will contest the rounds in Spain (Gran Canaria), France (Corsica), Belgium (Ypres), Portugal (Madeira), Czech Republic (Zlin) and Italy (Sanremo) with backing from the financial services company BFO.

IRC regulations stipulate that drivers can only count their best seven scores, meaning Loix can’t afford to make any major errors during the season. However, with the Belgian ace including the three events he won in 2010 (Ypres, Madeira and Zlin) on his schedule, he is not unduly concerned by the prospect.

“I am extremely pleased with this programme,” said the 40-year-old winner of six IRC rallies. “But because I have no spare rallies I have to be very clean. But I work well under pressure so it won’t be a problem.”

Loix will continue to be co-driven by countryman Frederic Miclotte in 2011. The pair will also contest two rounds of the Belgian national championship.

END

Source: IRC Series (http://ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2445)