After wins in the ORC; the TBR and the Rally of Staden, Andy Lefevere arrived at the start of the ConXion Omloop van Vlaanderen with confidence. “On Friday, though, it was very difficult. I had a totally wrong choice of tires and on De Ruiter the windshield spoiled…”
On Saturday morning, Andy and co-pilot Bram Maes left Roeselare in sixth place. The roads had dried up and the pilot of the red Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X immediately went on the attack. “Systematically we climbed up the rankings and soon a podium place seemed attainable… I have to say that the Dutchman Ten Brinke was very fast, but on Zilverberg and Rumbeke I was always a few seconds faster. Those tests suited me and the Lancer more, at Passendale and Houthulst there were many fast fans where the R5 had the advantage, there we ran about the same times.”
Before the start of the final lap, Andy Lefevere was in fourth place, still 3 seconds behind Bernard Ten Brinke’s Skoda Fabia R5. “With 2 more passes at Zilverberg and Rumbeke, third place was definitely achievable! But in one of the last corners on kp Passendale, the attachment of the rear uniball broke… I lost a wheel and could not continue. Of course I was disappointed! I myself made no mistake, the broken part showed signs of metal fatigue.”
After the race, it appeared that even a second place finish would have been possible. “No, I wasn’t going to be proud with that second place. In Staden, me and Vincent fought for the win, but now I helped myself to push the Skoda over the podium. A race has to be decided on the tests! For me, Vincent finished second.”
