29 December 2016
Mechelen: Wild card drivers claim victory
The wild card drivers in the first competition of the FEI World Cup™ Driving in Mechelen, Belgium, proofed to be worth the invitation! Winner in 2015 Boyd Exell won this class, ahead of multiple Mechelen-winner Koos de Ronde and home favourite Glenn Geerts.
Boyd Exell
Photo: Marie de Ronde-Oudemans
Level 4 international Course Designer Jeroen Houterman had laid out a nice course for the eight drivers, in which technical aspects and speed were well combined. Exell and Geerts were the only drivers who stayed clear. Geerts put down the time to beat, but this was quickly improved by Boyd, who was no less than 13 seconds faster. Koos de Ronde used the 11-year-old Amadeo V for the first time in the wheel of his team. His basic time was seven seconds slower than Boyd’s, but this was good enough for the second place.
IJsbrand Chardon was two seconds faster than Koos, but picked up two balls and finished in fourth place, ahead of his compatriot Theo Timmerman. Jérôme Voutaz had three knockdowns and finished in sixth place, ahead of Rainer Duen and Georg von Stein. The reigning German Champion lost precious seconds when he passed a gate in the second marathon obstacle and had several knockdowns as well.
