Juho Hanninen took a commanding win on his return to the International Rally Challenge during the 2012 Ypres Rally. Despite contesting a limited IRC schedule this year, the 2010 champion secured his 2nd win of the season.
Seven-time Ypres Rally winner Freddy Loix closed in when Hanninen made a few mistakes on Saturday, but Hanninen’s speed and consistency allowed him to reopen his lead; the Finn eventually won by a margin of 46.5 seconds from Loix.
Skoda driver Pieter Tsjoen completed the podium with championship leader Andreas Mikkelsen retiring with damage from an off-road moment on Saturday.
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap 1. Juho Hanninen Skoda 2h36m52.7s 2. Freddy Loix 2C Peugeot + 46.5s 3. Pieter Tsjoen Wevers Skoda + 2m14.6s 4. Michal Solowow Cersanit Peugeot + 5m25.4s 5. Patrik Flodin Solberg Ford + 5m55.5s 6. Mathias Viaene Atlantic Peugeot + 9m37.8s 7. Jonas Langenakens Atlantic Peugeot + 9m55.6s 8. Andreas Aigner Stohl Subaru + 10m27.1s 9. Antonin Tlustak Tlustak Skoda + 10m38.9s 10. Bob Colsoul Colsoul Mitsubishi + 12m24.3s