Turbo problems stymie Loix

Freddy Loix endured a nightmare start to the last day of the Safari Rally when the turbo boost on his Mitsubishi Carisma failed just two kilometres into the opening 117km Oltepesi test

Jul 22, 2001, 8:48 AM

The plucky Belgian did complete the stage, albeit at a sedately 60kph, in a time 39 minutes slower than his team mate Tommi Makinen, who was fastest on the longest section of the rally. Loix is still sixth overall, but is now being pressured by Group N runner Marcos Ligato, who is less than three minutes behind Loix and is also, ironically, in a Mitsubishi.

"The first two kilometres were fine, but then we lost turbo boost," said Loix. "We thought it might be a pipe because they changed it just before that stage, but we couldn't find anything.

"I lost count of the number of times we stopped, tried to find something and then continued. I'll be happy for the boys if we get a point today."

Loix's Mitsubishi mechanics have had a torrid 24 hours. On Saturday evening they changed the cylinder head on his car in an impressive 34 minutes to keep him in the rally, and on Sunday before even starting the first section they had changed the gearbox and the turbo