ERC, Ypres Rally : Et de 10 pour « Fast » Freddy !

Le Belge Freddy Loix a remporté le Rallye d’Ypres pour la 10e fois et offert un premier succès international à la nouvelle Skoda Fabia R5 chaussée de pneumatiques Michelin. Bryan Bouffier et Vincent Verschueren complètent le podium sur Citroën DS3 R5.

La 51^e édition du Rallye d’Ypres, qui s’est disputée sous le soleil des Flandres, a basculé en milieu de deuxième étape, alors que la bataille était au plus fort entre Bryan Bouffier, Craig Breen, Stéphane Lefebvre et Freddy Loix, tous groupés en moins de 10 secondes.

Pour espérer gagner quelques dixièmes dans les nombreuses intersections du parcours, les pilotes n’hésitent pas à couper les virages, ramenant des pierres sur l’asphalte. Ces routes salies et ces passages répétés dans les « cordes » furent sans doute à l’origine des crevaisons successives de Craig Breen (ES11), de Stéphane Lefebvre (ES12) et de Bryan Bouffier (ES15)

En début d’épreuve, Freddy Loix avait lui aussi perdu une trentaine de secondes dans une crevaison. Mais le Belge, qui découvrait la nouvelle Skoda Fabia R5 en course, est peu à peu remonté vers le haut du classement, signant son premier meilleur temps samedi matin (ES9). Après les déboires de ses rivaux, Freddy Loix est allé cueillir une 10^e victoire à Ypres (nouveau record) à 45 ans !

L’Irlandais Craig Breen, qui a ensuite effectué une petite sortie de route et endommagé son radiateur, fut contraint à l’abandon. Mais en l’absence de Kajetanowicz, Breen reste leader du Championnat d’Europe des Rallyes FIA.

Le Français Bryan Bouffier et le Belge Vincent Verschueren sont montés sur le podium final de Grote Markt à Ypres samedi soir. Le Portugais Bruno Magalhaes (Peugeot 208 T16), qui ouvrait la route samedi, n’a pas commis la moindre erreur pour terminer à la 4^e place devant Lefebvre et Orsak.

La catégorie Junior a quant à elle basculé dans la toute dernière spéciale du rallye, quand les deux leaders, Marijan Griebel (Opel Adam, crevaison) et Diogo Gago (Peugeot 208, sortie) ont été retardés. Le Polonais Alex Zawada (Opel Adam/Michelin), qui était remonté de la 6^e à la 3^eplace après une touchette, a remporté sa première victoire Junior.

Kevin Abbring (Citroën DS3 R5), Kris Princen (Peugeot 208 T16) et Bernd Casier (Ford Fiesta R5) ont joué les premiers rôles en début de rallye avant d’abandonner. Au volant de sa Porsche 997 GT3/Michelin, surdimensionnée par rapport aux petites routes des Flandres, Romain Dumas était 4^e avant de se retirer dans l’avant-dernière spéciale. Lui aussi au volant d’une Porsche, François Delecour a retrouvé avec joie les routes de son enfance pour terminer 20^e devant Marc Duez (Porsche).

Prochaine étape du Championnat d’Europe des Rallyes FIA en Estonie les 17-19 juillet.

ZEEMA PROJECT 3 SPEED TRIPLE

osted by garethmax

In a world of increasing conformity, making a bold and individual statement is a difficult task. Even in the seemingly free-thinking custom motorcycle culture there are dominant trends and prevailing aesthetics, and most expressions of individuality are confined to a small variation of detail or nuance. Not so with the first public offering from Zeema Innovations unveiled at Bike Shed London 2015 at Tobacco Dock last month. The Project 3 Triumph Speed Triple is a standout bike that is as brave in its ambition as it is confident in its execution. It certainly left more than a few bearded cynics lost for words and nodding in hard won appreciation.

The donor itself is an unusual choice. The Triumph Speed Triple is a machine notoriously difficult to modify, and not too pretty in its naked form. But despite its reputation as an ugly duckling, Chris Tweed from Zeema saw it as a perfect donor with a great engine, the roar of a throaty triple, and a reputation for solid handling. He loved the single sided swing arm, the twin spar frame and the “whole stubby bullishness”.

Chris started with the concept of the Riva Aquarama runabout boat and the elegant sinuous lines that led it to being known as the “Ferrari of the boat world”. Not an immediate match with the Speed Triple then. Undeterred, Chris decided this was to be “a wooden boat triumph motorcycle thingy”. OK.  Chris found the unloved donor on eBay, and began in earnest to strip the sorry thing apart. The first task was the seat unit. Wood and varnish were the chosen materials and after several incarnations and four sheets of 8′ x 4′ birch ply the seat began to take shape. This was the longest solo part of the build, but is it’s defining feature.

With the seating position fixed next came the bars and pegs. The riser bars were ditched for clip-ons, the foot pegs swapped for fully adjustable rear-sets and the forks dropped through the yokes by 20mm to set the riding position. Chris felt the wheels should be spoked, so the chunky mags were ditched in favour of modified and machined Borranis, originally designed for the Ducati Monster S4R. The exhaust needed to be discrete and minimal as not to distract from the sleek tail lines, so a low slung 3-into-1 was fabricated. Then the radiator was built and hung, but Chris didn’t want the standard radiator oil cooler combo and as there was a vacant space where the lights used to reside it seemed like logical place to put the oil cooler.

The frame, swinging arm, engine covers and brakes were stripped, blasted and powder coated in a bold gloss white, with the tank painted to match. In light of the lack of a fuel gauge, Chris exposed a bare strip at the rear of the tank to allow the rider to see through the opaque plastic illuminated by an internal tank-light, to check the fuel level. The loom was drastically trimmed, rerouted and tucked out of sight. The mini speedo and idiot lights sunk into the top yoke gives the minimum info, and the discreet LED brake light under the seat unit facilitates an MOT pass. The hard lines for the oil cooler were fabricated and the brakes replumbed.

Project 3 came together just right with more than a hint of the Riva. A radical departure from the cookie cutter customs, this is a statement debut from Zeema and a joy to admire.

After many years in the racing car industry, Project 3 is a venture along untravelled roads for Zeema. Chris is confident he can bring high levels of design, finish and creativity to the scene, and this is hopefully just the first of many creations. Let’s hope each and every one is as bold and genre-busting as this elegant and capable Triple.

To get in touch with Chris to discuss future projects, or indeed race car and bike preparation head over to the Zeemawebsite.

via The Bike Shed

PEDRO CARNEIRO – COLIBRI

Behind the polished facade of this super tidy CG125 lies a terrifying past. It’s creation began innocently enough, a family collaboration between two young mechanical engineering students saw time and skill lavished on the early 90’s commuter hack but just as it neared completion, the little CG nearly succumbed to a cruel death. Trapped in a blazing inferno its chances seemed bleak, but against all the odds the CG refused to tap out, surviving to tell the tale of its baptism of fire…

Back to the beginning, meet Pedro Carneiro, a 21 year old mechanical engineering student from Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. As we noted last week in the story of the stunning Ton-Up Garage Indira, Portugal is a hot bed of custom motorcycle talent and it seems the work of the big boys is filtering down to the young guns in their sheds. Maybe it is the glorious sunshine that helps provoke mechanical activity as the locals long for a fitting steed to take out beneath their great fiery orb.

After the death of his grandmother in February 2014 Pedro decided to commit himself to his passion, building custom motorcycles. He teamed up with younger brother and fellow mechanical engineering student Rui and set to work. This is the second bike the pair have built, but this time the machine came with an added pressure, the customer was Pedro’s godmother Liliana Carvalho who currently works in Luanda, Angola. The boys wanted to deliver a stunner for their beloved relative.

“My plan was to create a unique motorcycle, light, loud, and easy to drive. I disassembled the whole bike, cut the frame, carried out an overhaul revision; put wider tyres, custom exhaust, MX handlebar and a lot of ebay parts such as turn signals, thermal wrap, etc… The bike frame was powder coated, the minor things I painted at my home and the custom parts was painted by my cousin Costa.”

Keeping the build within the family Pedro turned to his godmother’s husband Rui Dinis to design custom logos for the tank. The ocean turquoise, cream and red pin stripe paint scheme is personalised with the addition of an origami bird design echoing the CG’s given name, Colibri or Hummingbird.

It was in April 2015, just as things were starting to warm up and the build neared completion, that the temperature truly soared. Colibri was having an overnight stay at the workshop of Pedro’s uncle to receive a carb tune and mechanical fettle when an explosion and fire threatened to raze the workshop to the ground. Despite the extensive damage to his uncle’s property Pedro’s prized Colibri made it through the blaze with little more than a stinging singe and quite a story to tell. After some repair work, an insurance wrangle and a few final touches, including the freshly upholstered brown seat, Pedro had the CG in tip top condition, unlike his Uncle’s Workshop…

Being the good nephew that he is, Pedro is already hard at work helping rebuild his uncle’s gaff whilst finishing up his degree. When that is all completed he has many other projects vying for a start date, a Yamaha XJR or Honda CX are the most likely contenders for his attention. He hopes to have a machine ready for the next Bike Shed event and we certainly look forward to seeing you there Pedro.

“I’m a very happy builder and hope that when my godmother comes back to Portugal she is going to be a happy customer!”

Not a doubt in our minds Pedro.

via The Bike Shed

ERC ; Loix offre sa première victoire à la Skoda Fabia R5 à Ypres / Loix gives Škoda Fabia R5 maiden ERC win in Ypres

Freddy Loix a su effacer ses 30 secondes de retard pour inscrire sa 10e victoire au Rallye d’Ypres Kenotek by CID LINES, offrant ainsi à la Skoda Fabia R5 des débuts couronnés de réussite.

Copiloté par Johan Gitsels, Loix a su adapter son style de conduite pour compenser un manque de grip avec sa nouvelle voiture. En difficulté à chaque jonction serrée, il était pourtant pressenti comme un des grands favoris… Loix pointait en 5^e position après sept spéciales, à 25,8 secondes  du leader. Son premier temps scratch, le Belge l’a réalisé sur l’ES9. Et progressivement il va réduire l’écart qui le séparait de ses adversaires. La victoire fut assurée quand Craig Breen s’est retiré dans la 12^e spéciale. Loix a également profité des ennuis rencontrés par Stéphane Lefebvre, victime d’une crevaison sur cette même section, et par le leader Bryan Bouffier, contraint de s’arrêter pour changer de pneu dans l’ES15. Cette victoire est aussi synonyme de triomphe en ERC Asphalt Masters.

« Nous n’étions pas très rapides au début. Vu qu’il s’agissait d’une nouvelle voiture, nous avions besoin de nous habituer, a déclaré Loix.Je n’étais pas forcément en confiance avec les changements de direction mais nous avons travaillé dur avec le team et étape par étape nous l’avons fait ! Gagner le Rallye d’Ypres pour une 10^e fois  est quelque chose d’assez spécial. Pour un pilote de 40 ans, face à tous ces jeunes pilotes, ça n’est pas si mal. Ca restera un des moments forts de ma carrière. »

Bouffier a réalisé une très jolie prestation sur sa Citroën DS3 R5 et a su résister au retour de Loix, menant le classement avec 1,4 seconde d’avance à l’entame de de l’ES15. Malgré ce bon rythme, il perd l’équivalent de deux minutes dans un changement de pneus à la mi-spéciale. Il terminera néanmoins 2^e à 1’27’’5.

Vincent Verschueren a pu enfin conjurer le mauvais sort à Ypres en se classant 3^e de son épreuve nationale. Le Belge était un peu tendu sur la fin puisque sa Citroën DS3 R5 n’avait plus de première vitesse. Mais il n’a dévoilé cette défaillance qu’à la fin de la dernière spéciale de crainte que ses rivaux en profitent pour l’attaquer et qu’il ne puisse pas être en mesure de se défendre.

Freddy Loix came from almost 30 seconds behind to score a sensation 10th victory on the Kenotek by CID LINES Ypres Rally, and in doing so gives the ŠKODA Fabia R5 victory on its FIA European Rally Championship debut.

Co-driven by Johan Gitsels, Loix had to adapt his driving style to make up for a lack of mechanical grip with his new BMA-run car, which struggled to find the required grip coming out of the many tight T-junctions. Having been tipped as pre-event hot favourite, Loix was fifth overnight, 25.8 seconds behind the leader after seven stages. His first of five stage wins was only registered on SS9. But Loix gradually closed the gap on the cars ahead, and victory was assured when Craig Breen retired after SS12, Stéphane Lefebvre picked up a puncture on the same stage and leader Bryan Bouffier was forced to stop to change a puncture on SS15. Loix also scored maximum ERC Asphalt Masters points.

“We started not so quick, with a new car that we had to get used to,” said Loix. “It was not such a good feeling to start off with changing direction, but we worked very hard as a team and step-by-step we did it. To win the Ypres Rally for a tenth time is pretty special. For a 45-year old driver, twentieth time here, against all these young drivers, is not so bad! It is a highlight of my career.”

Bouffier had driven brilliantly in his Citroën DS3 R5, and despite the attacked by Loix held the lead by 1.4 seconds entering SS15. Such had been his pace, that even though he lost two minutes with his mid-stage tyre change, he still finished second, 1m 27.5s behind.

Vincent Verschueren put previous Ypres Rally bad luck behind him to finish third on his home round of the ERC. He had a nervous run to the finish, as his Citroën DS3 R5 had lost first gear – although he didn’t reveal that until the end of the final stage, as he didn’t want his rivals to know.

1		5	F. LOIX (BEL) J. GITSELS (BEL) SKODA FABIA R5		2:21:29.9	-:- -:-
2		4	B. BOUFFIER (FRA) T. DE LA HAYE (FRA) CITROËN DS3 R5	T	2:22:57.4	+1:27.5 +1:27.5
3		10	V. VERSCHUEREN (BEL) V. HOSTENS (BEL) CITROËN DS3 R5	T	2:23:32.4	+2:02.5 +35.0
4		9	B. MAGALHÃES (PRT) H. MAGALHÃES (PRT) PEUGEOT 208 T16		2:24:23.0	+2:53.1 +50.6
5		3	S. LEFEBVRE (FRA) S. PREVOT (BEL) PEUGEOT 208 T16	T	2:24:31.8	+3:01.9 +8.8
6		19	J. ORSÁK (CZE) D. SMEIDLER (CZE) SKODA FABIA S2000	T	2:24:50.7	+3:20.8 +18.9
7		12	J. TARABUS (CZE) D. TRUNKÁT (CZE) SKODA FABIA S2000	T	2:25:54.9	+4:25.0 +1:04.2
8		20	D. DUQUESNE (BEL) F. CUVELIER (BEL) FORD FIESTA R5	T	2:27:16.1	+5:46.2 +1:21.2
9		14	M. MCCORMACK (GBR) J. O'REILLY (IRL) SKODA FABIA S2000		2:27:18.1	+5:48.2 +2.0
10		17	D. VANNESTE (BEL) E. SNAET (BEL) FORD FIESTA R5	T	2:27:18.2 [0:20]	+5:48.3 +0.1