Fréderic Miclotte and co-driver Nicolas T’joen will focus on the Belgian Championships this year. — © David Mares
He has extensive experience as a co-driver and even won the race in 2013 alongside Freddy Loix, but this weekend Fréderic Miclotte will be at the start of the Rallye de Wallonie for the first time as a pilot. The Skoda driver hopes to show himself again from the second row, just like in Sint-Truiden and Tielt.
In between his busy activities as team manager of SXM Compétition, Fréderic Miclotte is increasingly finding himself behind the wheel. This year he and co-driver Nicolas T’joen will focus on the Belgian Championships. “Last year we mainly rode in our own region with quite good results,” says the Wannegem resident, who took his first overall victory in the ORC Rally. “Together with the sponsors and my co-pilot, we have therefore decided to raise the bar. We realize that we will have to lose some results because we are competing against faster guys with more experience. I have only been behind the wheel of about fifteen rallies, although it does help that I have a lot of experience as a co-driver.”
In the Haspengouw Rally, where he finished eighth after a strong start to the race, it became clear that Miclotte performs well, especially in difficult weather conditions. “I don’t know why that happens, but that just suits me,” Miclotte continues. “I have no problems driving in such conditions. We had a dry course in Tielt and I still have to make some progress. If it goes really fast, I might still lack some courage and confidence. The Rallye de Wallonie will be one of the most difficult races of this season for me. It is a very fast course where you really need to have balls, but if you don’t look for difficult things, you won’t learn. It is a competition to gain experience and learn.”
“We mainly want to have fun, although we always prepare like the top players”
Frederic Miclotte
During the second round of the Belgian Championship Division 1 in Namur, all the top players will be present. “We will be driving very fast and perhaps some things will also happen at the front. In any case, we will drive at our own pace. Above all, we want to have fun, although we always prepare like the top players. When I do something, I want to do it well. I was already like that as a co-pilot and that is difficult (laughs). If we sit at the front of the second row of pilots, we will be very satisfied and then we will see. The Rallye de Wallonie is a long race in which a lot can happen,” said Miclotte.