Freddy Loix
Belgium (B) |
CAREER PROFILE1989:
Started rallying with Lancia Delta Integrale
1993: 9th in his WRC debut in Italy with Opel Astra 1994: Belgian Champion with Opel 1995: Win F2 class in Italy with Opel 1996: 4th overall in Italy and Spain with Toyota, 8th WRC for Drivers 1997: 2nd in Portugal, 5th in Italy with Toyota, 9th WRC for Drivers 1998: 2nd in Spain, 3rd in Portugal with Toyota 1999: Full WRC programme with Mitsubishi, 8th WRC for Drivers 2000: Drives with Mitsubishi 2001: Drives with Mitsubishi, 4th in Catalunya 2002: Move to Hyundai, 6th in New Zealand 2003: Drives Hyundai and Peugeot, 6th in Great Britain 2004: Move to Peugeot, 5th in Monte Carlo, 10th WRC for Drivers
|
| Date of Birth: 10/11/1970 at Tongres Marital status: World Drivers' Champion: |
|
Widely regarded as the most promising Belgian of all time, Freddy Loix progressed from domestic events to top four finishes on World Rally Championship in just three years, before taking on the majority of the test driving for Toyota team in 1997. Very much at home on tarmac, he came to prominence in the F2 arena in Opel Astras, making himself hot property with a string of brilliant drivers at home and abroad in 1995. Nicknamed "Fast Freddy" by his fans at home, the young Belgian made the switch to a 4WD cars in '96 and immediately impressed. His program, backed by Marlboro and Toyota produced a fine second overall on Rally of Portugal, 7th place in Greece and fourth places on Sanremo and Catalunya. In Italy he was the fastest man on the final, all tarmac stages. He also won two National Belgian events - 24 Hours Ypres and Condroz Rally and finished second in Spa. He achieved his "A" seed with a storming drive to second in Portugal in '97 and was very fast in Sanremo driving Corolla WRC to the 5th place. For 1998 he has a program of three Belgian events, plus Portugal, Spain and Greece, as he worked towards his objective of a full 14 round World Rally Championship program in 1999 with Mitsubishi. The season 1999 was not so easy. He rolled badly in Kenya and after that it was very difficult to find the right "touch". The practising year was over but he was not able to achieve success in 2000 and 2001. After three frustrating years with Mitsubishi he moved to Hyundai for the season 2002. He showed that his speed is still there, but many technical problems prevented the good results. In 2003 continued with Hyundai and started his second year in the team hoping to achieve something more. The season was a big disappointment. For the season 2004 he made a contract with Peugeot. It was a dream come true for Loix to be in the top works team, but it showed to be like a nightmare. He replaced Harri Rovanpera in the Peugeot team and Rovanpera replaced Loix after just two rallies of the season 2004. The team was not happy with Loix“s driving and after Rally New Zealand Peugeot confirmed that the Finn will drive the second works 307 on all remaining loose-surface rounds of the 2004 World Rally Championship. There was still tarmac surface events for Loix, but the results were not so encouraging and we will see what kind on future Loix has in the rallying... |
|
