Spa Rally (Belgium) - 12-13 Dec 20 - CANCELLED

Spa Rally will not take place in 2020 following thorough health and safety assessment

Posted: November 18, 2020 2:54 PM

The 2020 FIA European Rally Championship will be decided on Rally Islas Canarias next week following confirmation that the planned season-finale, the Spa Rally, will not take place in 2020.

It has been agreed by the Mayor of Spa, Sophie Delettre, and the Governor of the Province of Liège, Hervé Jamar, that despite DG Sport’s extensive efforts, going ahead with the event in the current COVID-19 context could not be justified. The decision follows an assessment of the health situation in Belgium and the ability for all necessary safety measures to be implemented.

“Despite the excellent work and all the professionalism of DG Sport I found myself obliged to request the postponement of the Spa Rally,” Sophie Delettre, the Mayor of Spa, said. “The health crisis we are presently experiencing, with the dangers it poses, impels me to be extremely cautious. I am deeply saddened by this health situation, which affects all our activities. Tourism, culture and motor sport are part of the DNA of Spa, and I whole heartedly hope we will be able to resume our lives with peace of mind following this second wave of the epidemic.”

Christian Jupsin of DG Sport, the Spa Rally organiser, said: “It is with great disappointment that we are obliged, similar to last March, to once again postpone the Spa Rally. Everything had been put into operation to make this a spectacular edition, and I wish to take this opportunity to salute our team. I also wish to thank the town of Spa and the other municipalities and organisations for the support and trust they placed in us. All that is left now is for us to turn over the pages of this difficult year, retaining all our energy to bounce back and offer up an even more enticing event in 2021.”

ERC Co-ordinator Jean-Baptiste Ley said: “We stand as one with DG Sport in accepting there was no choice other than to postpone the planned running of this year’s Spa Rally to 2021. Christian Jupsin and his team at DG Sport did everything possible to keep the Spa Rally on the 2020 calendar but the health and safety of all must remain the priority.

“While we share the sense of disappointment and the difficulties this decision causes, we must reflect on what has been achieved in 2020 in terms of what will be a five-event calendar during these challenging and unprecedented times. Our gratitude goes to everyone who made this possible, in particular the FIA Rally Commission. The thoughts of the ERC family are with all those people suffering due to COVID-19.”

Rally Islas Canarias takes place from November 26-28 and follows on from events in Italy (Rally di Roma Capitale), Latvia (Rally Liep?ja), Portugal (Rally Fafe Montelongo) and Hungary (Rally Hungary). Of the 70 crews entered for the international section of Rally Islas Canarias, 46 are ERC registered to underline the continued success and popularity of the championship.

It's Spa time! Belgian rally added to FIA ERC calendar

Posted: September 18, 2020 5:23 AM

The 2020 FIA European Rally Championship is set to be decided on the Spa Rally in Belgium after the event was added to the ERC calendar as the sixth and final round of the current season.

Scheduled to take place from December 12-13, the Spa Rally features stages in and around the famous Belgian Grand Prix venue and will provide an exciting challenge for some of Europe’s top driving talent.

Based in the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps paddock, the event follows Rally Islas Canarias (November 26-28) on the list of 2020 ERC events and marks the championship’s return to Belgium for the first time since 2016.

Jean-Baptiste Ley, the ERC Co-ordinator for promoter Eurosport Events, said:
“We have followed the Spa Rally closely for a while now and have always been impressed by the forward-thinking approach, attention to detail and strong organisation and promotion from Christian Jupsin and his team at DG Sport.

“Having discussed the possibility of the Spa Rally joining the ERC previously, it’s very satisfying that those conversations have resulted in the event joining the FIA European Rally Championship calendar for the first time for what promises to be a spectacular finale to the current season.”

Run over a distance of 205.52 kilometres on predominantly sealed-surface stages, the Spa Rally will include the WRX track – used for the Spa World RX of Benelux event in November – on the action-packed itinerary. The mixed-surface course will be combined with internal rounds within the venue to form an epic night stage on December 12. Additional stages take place in the Francorchamps countryside on fast and technical roads with the wintry weather set to be a major factor in the battle for victory.

Christian Jupsin, the Spa Rally promoter, said:
“This is a project that we had already discussed in the past. It was not possible then, but the postponement of this year’s Spa Rally from March to December due to COVID-19 restrictions gave us the opportunity to re-enter discussions with Eurosport Events regarding the hosting of an ERC round. I am very happy an agreement has been concluded and it is a great satisfaction and a great recognition for DG Sport and its staff are now also able to organise the final round of the 2020 FIA ERC.

“In collaboration with the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, the City of Spa and the municipalities that host the special stages, I can guarantee you that we will put the small dishes in the big ones so that the Spa Rally 2020 is a great rally celebration that will be remembered.”

The Spa Rally replaces the Cyprus Rally on the ERC schedule after it was agreed the Nicosia-based event, a long-term and popular fixture on the European Rally Championship calendar, will count for FIA Middle East and national championship points only in 2020. Eurosport Events and the Cyprus Automobile Association are already discussing the events return to the ERC roster for 2021.

Next up on the ERC schedule is Rally Fafe Montelongo from October 2-4 followed by Rally Hungary from November 6-8 and Rally Islas Canarias (November 26-28).

Event Website

Posted: September 18, 2020 5:22 AM

Spa Rally (Belgium)