Loix joins Wilks at Skoda for Goodwood Festival
Freddy Loix will make his Goodwood Festival of Speed debut next month (2-4 July), driving the Skoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000 on the Forest Rally Stage, while Guy Wilks will make his first public appearance since his accident on the Rally d'Italia-Sardegna.
Freddy is one of Belgium’s top professional rally drivers, with a career spanning 25 years and a long and distinguished history of competing in the FIA World Rally Championship.
It will be an all-too rare chance for British rally fans to see the 39-year old driver in action. His last appearance in the UKwas when he finished 6th overall on the 2003 Wales Rally GB, having replaced an unwell Richard Burns in the works Peugeot team. Somewhat fittingly, the Richard Burns Foundation is the official charity of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the Skoda UK Motorsport team will be working with the RBF to help raise funds during the three day event.
Freddy will arrive in the UKjust days after driving an official Skoda Motorsport Fabia S2000 Facelift car on Round 6 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the Ypres Rally – an event he has won five times in the past.
Guy is making a speedy recovery after breaking two vertebrae in an accident on the Rally d'Italia-Sardegna two weeks ago. He has undergone treatment in an oxygen chamber, commenced training in a swimming pool and is already able to drive his road-going Skoda Octavia. A further x-ray this week revealed that the fractures are healing extremely well.
Freddy Loix: “I am very happy to come to Goodwood and drive for Skoda UK Motorsport. I have never been to the event before, but other rally drivers have told me what a fantastic experience it is and I’ve always wanted to do it. I really didn’t have to think twice before accepting the invitation.”
Guy Wilks: “Getting back behind the wheel of the Fabia S2000 has been a great goal for me to aim at, and every step of my recovery has been focused on doing that. The fractures are healing very well and I’m already back driving my road car. I want to be one hundred per cent fit for my next rally, that’s the only reason we’re missing Ypres, and I hope to be back rallying very soon.”
The Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place in the immaculate grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, where the Earl and Countess of March open their home to what is described as the largest motoring garden party in the world. The celebration of motorsport and the automotive industry annual attracts many of the biggest stars of today and yesteryear, driving a glittering array of modern and historic cars and motorcycles. Tickets are available from goodwood.co.uk.
