With four consecutive best times on the second part of the first day of the Ardeca Ypres Rally, Stéphane Lefebvre (Citroën C3) has consolidated his first place in the BRC. This was coupled with a leadership position in WRC2, which was punctuated by a ninth place in the overall standings when he returned to the Grand Place in Ypres.   His main competitor for the BRC points is currently Grégoire Munster (Hyundai i20), who is about half a minute behind him. After the heavy outing in Staden last week, Munster is happy to be only a handful of seconds behind Yohan Rossel (Citroen C3), who is fighting at the front in WRC2. Third in the BRC is Chris Ingram (Skoda Fabia Evo), 57"6 behind Lefebvre.   Gino Bux (Skoda Fabia Evo) said he was relatively satisfied with his first day, especially as he was the first Belgian in the standings. Vincent Verschueren (Volkswagen Polo GTi) was fifth, but his co-driver Filip Cuvelier felt that he could have done better. "We don't know where we lost. In Staden and in yesterday's shakedown we had the right settings, but now it's not working. Otherwise we could compete with people like Lefebvre. Now we have to sit back and analyze. But the worst thing is that we don't know what to change."   Maxime Potty, 6th in the provisional BRC standings, continues to explore the Ypres stages after his early retirement last year. A puncture at the end of Mesen fortunately only cost him a minimal amount of time.   Sébastien Bedoret (Skoda Fabia Evo), Bernd Casier (Ford Fiesta MKII), Pieter Jan-Michiel Cracco (Hyundai i20) and Niels Reynvoet (Skoda Fabia Evo) completed the top 10.   In the junior category, Gilles Pyck (Renault Clio Rally4) scored 6 fastest times on 7 stages (one was neutralized after a competitor left the track). The resident of Poperingen will have to continue tomorrow with the same enthusiasm. Tom Rensonnet (Renault Clio Rally4) and Jonas Dewilde (Peugeot 208 Rally4), who lost time in a puncture, are the only ones still within a minute. The two are in a great battle for second place. Difference between the two tonight: 8 seconds!   In the NCM and RGT ranks, the Alpines are currently in the lead with Amaury Molle in first position, ahead of Paul Lietaer, at 10"0. Remarkable, considering that both are participating in their first major race with this car. Bjorn Syx took the lead with the BMW M3. But the former winner of the historic Ypres rally complained about engine problems. In addition, his "BMW colleagues", the Merleveve cousins, in order Cedriek then Christophe, as well as Pieter-Jan Maeyaert are on the lookout and follow at about half a minute of the fastest "Mats-M3". Johan Dekens is the only Porsche driver left, after Glenn Janssens and Tim Van Parijs (gearbox) have retired.   In Rally3, Patrick Snijers (Ford Fiesta R3) is well ahead in the BRC, but he is paying particular attention to the Finnish Sami Pajari, who is just 20 years old and ahead of him in the absolute standings. "Remember what I'm telling you: he's a future world champion," said the four-time Ypres winner.   After Freddy Loix (Skoda Fabia Evo) lost time due to a puncture (he stopped to change his wheel), Jos Verstappen (Citroën C3) took the lead of the BRC Masters. The father of the reigning F1 World Champion, Max Verstappen, has a 1'42" lead over Paul Lietaer and a 2'06" lead over... Patrick Snijers.   Tomorrow, two other loops of 4 stages await the survivors of this first day, with Hollebeke and its more than 22 km to finish each lap in style. VZW SUPERSTAGE, Lefebvre facebook screen

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