The second loop of the second stage of the ConXioN Omloop van Vlaanderen hardly brought any changes to the standings, despite an unexpected rain shower in Rumbeke. But, just after the final service in Roeselare, the bad luck devil struck. Leader Adrian Fernémont, authoritative leader since the start of the race, had to pull over his Skoda Fabia R5 on the way to the start of the test in Passendale with mechanical failure. However, with a 22″ lead, he almost had the win in his pocket... in his second "home rally". Indeed, Fernémont was for many years one of the drivers of Team Floral, the team that now hosts the rally centre of the ConXioN Omloop van Vlaanderen.
Before his abandonment, Adrian Fernémont remained cautious: "A rally lasts until the finish, but I can tell you that we haven't experienced a hair-raising moment yet. Of course, we know our Fabia R5 very well and that is an advantage with this changeable weather. Sébastien and Kevin may have to look a bit more for where the limit is."
Adrian Fernémont's retirement is especially unfortunate for the tension in the Belgian championship, as with a win the Skoda driver could have brought the tension back into the title race.
The lead is taken over by Sébastien Bedoret, who however no longer had any prospect of a first victory: "At regular intervals it seemed impossible to make up the 22″, as Adrian drove a very strong race. I mostly looked behind me, as Kevin Demaerschalk also kept pushing..."
Kevin Demaerschalk mainly looked at the dark clouds with hopeful eyes: "In the rain on Friday night, our Fiesta was wonderfully efficient and easy to drive. In the dry, the set-ups have already improved, but we are still a touch short compared to the drivers who know their car better. After all, we had only driven 50km with the Ford..."
Vincent Verschueren followed in third place, 11″6 from Demaerschalk and 4″4 ahead of Kris Princen, the championship leader who is still not finding his groove. "The team tells me there is nothing wrong with the car, but I can assure you there is something thoroughly wrong. When I brake hard, the four wheels lock up and the car breaks way too aggressively. There must be something wrong with the differential. I can't go full speed," said Princen, who is here driving the car with which Craig Breen won the Ypres Rally.
PJM Cracco follows 3″6 from Princen, while he in turn has a 4″7 lead over Ghislain de Mevius, who could not confirm his strong performance from Friday night on a dry track.
In the Junior BRC, Gilles Pyck continues to control the race and in the M Cup Gunther Monnens holds all the cards, although the Limburger is having problems with the swingarm of his M3. In Historic, Bjorn Syx made a brief mistake, but he remains leader ahead of Paul Lietaer.
(Photos BRC Media)
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