Sezoensrally (BE) - 17 May 2008

Euro Rally Challenge - Wevers dominates race from start ‘til finish

Posted: May 21, 2008 9:52 AM

11 fastest times out of 12 special stages. Erik Wevers was untouchable Saterday, in his Ford Focus RS WRC06, on the wet and slippery gravel of the Sezoens rally in Bocholt, Belgium.

The top Belgian drivers were at the start line, in the small town just over the Dutch border, but they were never in the running for the top contenders of the Euro Rally Challenge. Seven-time Belgian champion, Snijers, was forced to retire on the 2nd stage due to engine problems and was joined shortly afterwards by countrymen Princen, who also suffered engine failure. However, their tempo was also no match for the Dutch Tenors who gladly demonstrated the quality of their WRC’S for the large turnout of spectators.

Erik Wevers got off to a great start with the four fastest stage times in a row, but Mark van Eldik was hot on his heels. The Subaru driver however, was unpleasantly surprised close to the finish of the 6th stage when he slid off the track. This ensured Weavers of victory. Harry Kleinjan was able to steal one stage-win when Wevers succumb to a flat tyre. Kleinjan then went on to take second place despite also having a flat tyre as well as spinning off the track.

René Kuipers missed a crucial braking point on the 1st stage and crashed straight into a tree with his Ford Focus. John Temmink’s first taste of the especially slippery, treretcherous and fast race led him to take a cautious approach in his Skoda, giving the Hungarian Hondula the room to score a well earned 3rg place in Group A.

Dennis Kuipers made a strong start in his Peugeot 207 S2000 but suffered the same fate as Stebani with a broken front suspension. The Peugeot had zero ground clearance and was forced to retire. Michael Pedersen crawled over the finish of the morning stages with a battered Lancer, after two incidents on the gravel. In the afternoon a better set up allowed Michael to find his rhythm back and he clocked up some fantastic times, positioning himself in the fight for first place in Group N. Janina Depping’s choice to give up a German Championship race for the foreign event paid off when she scored 2nd place, earning her valuable Challenge points. Edwin Schilt despite driving the rarely-seen new Prodrive weapon, the Subaru Impreza WRX STi N14, was unable to outrun the German driver and finished in 3rd place.

Jan de Winkel presented his new Renault Clio R3 in Bocholt. He gave a flawless debut, never the less his limited top speed of 165km/h was a serious handicap. De Winkel scored maximum points in Group R

In Group H, Tim Stebani’s Skoda Octavia was no match for the raw gravel which demolished the front suspension early on in the race. Father and son team Funch, in their Historic Opel Kadett GT/E enjoyed their victory in Group H almost as much as drifting on the gravel roads. The Deans are already making plans to compete in next years challenge with a faster set of wheels.

The Euro Rally Challenge will continue, after a long summer break, on the 19th & 20th September 2008 with the Hellendoorn Rally in the Dutch town of Nijverdal, a home race for Challenge leader Erik Wevers.

Erik Wevers takes commanding win at Belgian Sezoensrally

Posted: May 21, 2008 9:49 AM

Wevers Sport Press Release

Belgian top welcome ERC-tenors

Posted: May 15, 2008 1:10 PM

This proverb is very fitting for the first Belgian rally on the calendar of the Euro Rally Challenge this coming weekend. The only way to finish on top in this short race is to keep the pedal to the metal on the fast stretches of gravel. Hesitation will loose you precious seconds.

But the proverb also applies to the Belgian drivers, who were conspicuous by their absence when the Euro Rally Challenge was launched. The rest of the competitors will be pulling out all stops to ensure that seven-time Belgian rally champion Patrick Snijers and his fellow countrymen Kris Princen, Melissa Debackere, Hubert Deferm, Bernd Casier and Gunther Monnens will get a run for their money if they want to stand tall in front of their home crowd.

With already two legs driven in the Euro Rally Challenge, where fun, comradeship and spectacle are proving essential ……things are already heating up. In the Tank S rally, the opening race of the Dutch Championship, Erik Wevers’ slight driving error cost him the race despite a courageous comeback, giving victory to van Eldik. In the Vogelsberg Rally in Germany, Wevers evened the score ensuring a thrilling duel with van Eldik in the upcoming race in the small town of Bocholt. Famous for its tricky gravel stages and the Marten Browery, which produces a delicious local beer named…………”Sezoens”.

Rene Kuipers will be fighting for third place with the Skoda Fabias WRC of Harry Kleinjan and John Temmink. Milhaly Hodula will be coming from Hungry with his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6 ready to take advantage of even the smallest mistake of the WRC drivers.

Dennis Kuipers is again the favourite in Group N with his Peugeot 207 S2000 but in the Sezoens Rally, top speed is more important than it is in a lot of other events. This gives the “classic” Group N’s a definite chance. We anticipate Michael Pedersen with his Lancer Evo9to be a front runner but Edwin Schilt in the Impreza WRX STi and Janina Depping in her Lancer Evo7 also have a good chance. Jan de Winkel is the only participant in Group R with his Renault Clio R3. He will be undoubtedly concentrating on keeping pace with the Group N drivers.

Tim Stebani, after having to retire early in the Vogelsberg rally, is determined to score some points with his Skoda Octavia kit car. The Dane Funch, in his Opel Kadett, will definitely be keeping the pressure on the rest of the competition in Group H.

The Sezoens rally, to be driven on Saturday 17th May 2008, consists of 12 special stages divided into 3 loops of 4 stages.

Sezoensrally (be)