Ypres Rally (Belgium) (J) - 19-21 Jun 14

Wrights Heading Back To Belgium

Posted: June 18, 2014 11:52 AM

Motorsport Ireland Young Rally Driver of the Year Stephen Wright heads back to Belgium this weekend to take on the challenge of the Geko Ypres Rally in his Peugeot 208 R2. The rally is one of the most popular on the European continent and has attracted a stellar entry including over 40 cars in the R2 category alone and will provide a stern test for the talented County Monaghan driver and his co-driving sister Susanne.

Despite the strong entry, Stephen is hopeful the pair can perform well on the challenging Belgian roads where they have already picked up a string of solid results. Speaking before he set off for Ypres Stephen said; “This rally has provided the toughest field of competitors that Susanne and I will have ever competed against. Our focus will remain on the 208 Rally Trophy and accumulating more points in it. However, it would be nice to be in the mix for a podium among the Junior European Championship runners having narrowly missed out on a top 3 placing on the Circuit of Ireland at Easter.”

It has been almost 2 months since Stephen’s last foray to Belgium where he finished 5th among the 208 Rally Trophy runners on the Rallye de Wallonie but he has kept his eye in by tackling rallies on home soil and working on the set up of the pocket rocket Peugeot. “We’ve completed a couple of local events since Wallonie and the feeling is very good with the car now so I’m excited to get going in Ypres” said Stephen.

The action in Ypres starts on Friday afternoon when the crews leave the historic town to complete 7 challenging stages before the overnight halt. Saturday resumes with a 10.00am start with 13 stages (including the 27.56km Hollebeke stage) to complete before returning to the finish ramp at 10.00pm. You can find more information on the rally at www.ypresrally.com

As Young Rally Driver of the Year Stephen receives support from Motorsport Ireland and The Irish Sports Council and Stephen's Belgian campaign is also backed by a number of local sponsors including the Killyhevlin Hotel and Lafarge Tarmac.

You can follow Stephen and Susanne on Twitter @StephenWr1ght and @susannewright15 while more information on the Wright Rally Team by is available by visiting www.wrightrally.com.

Peugeot Rally Academy - ERC/Ypres: A NOT-TO-MISSED FIXTURE!

Posted: June 18, 2014 11:47 AM

The Geko Ypres Rally is invariably one of the highlights on the FIA European Rally Championship (FIA ERC) calendar. An immensely popular event, it has attracted this year a field of no fewer than 100 competitors, including all three Peugeot Rally Academy drivers: Craig Breen and Kevin Abbring in 208 T16s and Stéphane Lefebvre in a 208 R2. With Abbring – runner-up on the Rallye Açores – and Breen, who currently sits second in the overall championship standings, the Peugeot Rally Academy is once more joining the fray with two genuine contenders for the top step of the podium. Young French hope Lefebvre, meanwhile, turned heads when he upset the applecart at the Portuguese round by storming to an unchallenged victory in the Juniors class behind the wheel of his 208 R2. Ypres…the longest rally of the season

At 294.79km, the Ypres Rally – the sixth outing on the 2014 FIA ERC schedule – is the longest event of the season, and the Peugeot Rally Academy trio will need to successfully negotiate 20 special stages to reach the finish.

Taking place around the old city, the event is renowned for its tight junctions, narrow roads bordered by ditches and telegraph poles.

Craig Breen: A title contender

Sitting second in the chase for the coveted crown, Craig Breen and co-driver Scott Martin will be giving it their all in their 208 T16 in an effort to erase the 29 points separating them from Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm at the top of their respective championship tables.

The Irishman is also in the hunt for the ERC Asphalt Master trophy – a new addition for 2014. It was introduced to reward excellent performances on different types of surfaces by asphalt specialists, and is being fought out across six events including the Geko Ypres Rally. Points are awarded to the five fastest drivers on each stage on the following basis: 10-6-4-2-1. With 156 points to-date, Lappi presently leads Breen (105) in this contest, with Sepp Wiegand third on 83 and Abbring next up on 60.

Kevin Abbring: Always on the pace

The Dutchman has consistently demonstrated since the season began that he has the rhythm to fight up at the sharp end in his 208 T16. Abbring and co-driver Seb Marshall know this rally well and are fully aware that it will be no easy task – particularly given that the entry list includes a number of extremely rapid rivals. A new challenge awaits them in the shape of a rally that looks set to be fiercely-disputed.

The test planned ahead of the Ypres Rally will doubtless enable the crews to go into the Belgian event in a state of confidence.

Stéphane Lefebvre: On-track for another triumph?

Let off the leash in the Azores, the youngest member of the Peugeot Rally Academy annihilated the opposition behind the wheel of his 208 R2. Lying fourth in the Juniors classification after two appearances, he is optimistic that this Belgian outing will enable him to continue gaining ground on his nearest adversaries. Chief amongst them will be championship leader Jan Cerny, who similarly has designs on victory in his 208 R2. It is shaping up to be an enthralling battle.

Remember that after finishing as top Junior in the ‘208 Rally Cup’ in 2013, Stéphane earned the opportunity to compete in four rounds of the FIA ERC in 2014 alongside co-driver Thomas Dubois. It should also be noted that Lefebvre currently leads this year’s Peugeot 208 Rally Cup.

Driver quotes:

Craig Breen: “I really enjoyed the Ypres Rally last year, so I can’t wait to return to compete on the event a second time. Following a few setbacks of late, it will be very important for us to get back on terms in the title race. Ypres is a tricky rally with very narrow roads that really tighten in places. The weather can also play a very significant role. The competition will be fierce, but I’m confident that our speed will see us in the fight for victory. I am sure that our test on Tuesday with the whole Peugeot Rally Academy team will enable us to fine-tune our set-up for the event and in so doing, to come away from the rally with a strong result!”

Kevin Abbring: “I competed at Ypres in 2011, and even if the stages are not the same this year, I’m nonetheless familiar with the nuances of this rally and its tight, narrow nature. I have participated on the event twice before, but both times in two wheel-drive machinery. It will obviously be an entirely new experience in the four wheel-drive 208 T16. The car is competitive on asphalt, but Ypres is completely different to the other events on the calendar that take place on the same type of surface. Testing at the beginning of the week helped us to determine the best set-up for the car and the 208 is increasingly reliable. Nevertheless, Saturday will be a real challenge, both for the crews and the cars with some 200 timed kilometres to conquer. I’ve never covered so much ground in a single day of stages before.”

Stéphane Lefebvre: “This will be our first time competing on this rally, and we will approach it with the same objective that we had in the Azores – winning the Junior ERC class. It is the first asphalt event of the championship for us, and we are eager to see how we stack up in relation to our Junior ERC rivals. From fourth in the title standings, we are targeting a maximum points haul at Ypres to gain ground in the classification.”

The 208 Rally Trophy: Peugeot’s flagship series in Belgium

As part of the hotly-contested FIA European Rally Championship round at Ypres, no fewer than 12 crews will participate in the 208 Rally Trophy – the third outing of the campaign for Peugeot’s flagship series in Belgium. Current leader Guillaume Dilley will also feature in the FIA ERC itself, competing in the Juniors class in his 208 R2. It will mark his second FIA ERC appearance this year after the Azores last month.

Supported by Automobiles Peugeot Belux, the winner of the Belgian event in 2001 and 2005, Pieter Tjoens, will take the start of the FIA ERC rally in a 208 T16.

Breen ready for Belgian Battle.

Posted: June 16, 2014 2:23 PM

The town of Ypres in Belgium is no stranger to battles as is well documented in history and this week Peugeot Rally Academy’s Craig Breen along with Europe’s other top drivers roll into town to do battle of a different kind at Round 6 of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) ,The Geko Ypres Rally” June 19th-21st. Celebrating its 50th year the all asphalt Ypres Rally is a favourite event for rallying fans the world over and the organisers of this year’s event have promised a very special rally for drivers and spectators alike with twenty special stages totalling almost 300kms using farmland roads around the historic town that are typically slippy, narrow and lined by drainage ditches.

Although Craig announced in recent weeks of his intentions to compete in the World Championship on two further events this year he is very focused on his ERC championship ambitions and what he along with the Peugeot Rally Academy team have to achieve as they head to Belgium on a quest for their second win in this year’s FIA ERC, saying
“there is no denying that the last two outings had very disappointing conclusions and its vital that we take away good points from Ypres.” Leaving nothing to chance Craig and his Peugeot Rally Academy team-mate Kevin Abbring took part in a two day development test recently for Peugeot Sport in an effort to get the maximum from their 208 T16’s on this very specialist event. Organised by their Saintéloc Racing run team the Peugeot pair will also have a one day set-up test on a road similar to that of the rally this week where final adjustments can be made.

Then as usual the action gets underway on Thursday with a 4.9km qualifying stage at 8pm local time where the fastest driver in Qualifying will earn the right to select their starting position for Friday’s opening leg and it’s a gentle start to Friday as the start order selections won’t be made until lunch time on the podium. The first of the day’s seven stages goes live just before 5pm of which those stages only account for just over 100km of the rally’s competitive mileage for the real sting in the tail will be Saturday (Leg2) with almost double the distance and stages to tackle.

Having finished 3rd in mixed weather conditions last year in the old Peugeot 207 S2000, Craig is naturally feeling confident this time using 208T16 which although still in the development had its public unveiling here last year when it ran as a zero car ahead of the rally. Apart from Craig’s own Peugeot Rally Academy team-mate there will be plenty of opposition for the win from not only his ERC regular rivals but a whole host of previous winners including former eight times local winner Freddy Loix who will be sure to be on a mission to repeat his winning performance of last year.

EVENT PREVIEW: Ypres is still nifty at 50 as ERC stars head to Belgium

Posted: June 16, 2014 2:21 PM

From the gravel of the Açores to the asphalt of Belgium, the all-action FIA European Rally Championship continues apace with the Geko Ypres Rally from 19-21 June. But this year’s running of the Tarmac showcase will be extra special as the event celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2014.

To mark the occasion, the Ypres organisers are hosting a major exhibition charting the first five decades of one of Europe’s most famous events. And there will be plenty of star names hoping to write the next chapter of Ypres Rally history when the 20-stage contest gets underway on Friday afternoon (20 June). They include the record eight-time Ypres winner Freddy Loix, current ERC leader Esapekka Lappi, triple European champion Luca Rossetti, Super 2000 world champions Craig Breen and Xevi Pons, plus multiple Belgian title winner Pieter Tsjoen, one of several drivers competing in a new-generation R5 car.

In keeping with Ypres tradition, the rapid-fire format remains with the competitive action contained within a 30-hour window. While that adds to the challenge facing car and crew, for the thousands of fans that flock to the historic market town and the surrounding countryside in northwest Belgium, it means virtually continuous entertainment with the event running late into the night on Friday and Saturday – and only a few hours of rest in between.

With a competitive distance of 294.79 kilometres, the Ypres Rally is set to be the longest of the ERC season, while the bulging entry list of 101 cars is a measure of the event’s huge popularity. Following two days of reconnaissance, the FIA and ERC priority drivers will undertake two runs of Free Practice before they tackle the Qualifying Stage on Thursday evening. The start selection ceremony begins at 13:00hrs on Friday after which the running order of leg one will be finalised.

Belgium’s WRC ace Neuville in town with Eurosport Events

Although his commitments with the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team in the WRC rule out an Ypres start for Thierry Neuville, the home hero will be attending all three days of the rally as a guest of ERC promoter Eurosport Events and will provide expert commentary and analysis on Eurosport’s coverage. He will also meet the fans during the traditional autograph signing session.

A big weekend in Belgium?

In addition to the Geko Ypres Rally, the FIA World Touring Car Championship is heading to Belgium and to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the east of the country from 20-22 June. As well as promoting the ERC, Eurosport Events also promotes the WTCC.

Celebrating the past…
The first Ypres Rally took place in 1965 when it was known as the Ypres 6 Hours. It included the Hollebeke and Kemmelberg runs, which exist to this day, plus the famous Reninge stage, which returns to the itinerary for the first time in 25 years. Meanwhile, the Ypres Rally Expo is open to the public from 13-22 June in the Vleeshuis in Ypres’ Neermarkt.

...and looking to the future with ERC Junior
New for 2014, the Michelin-supported FIA ERC Junior Championship boasts 15 entrants in Ypres with all six cars built to the FIA’s R2 regulations represented. Jan ?erný tops the standings after winning two of the opening three rounds but he’ll face strong opposition from two rising Belgian stars, Gino Bux and Guillaume Dilley. Bux is competing on five ERC Junior events this season as his prize for winning a driver shootout organised by his country’s motorsport federation, the RACB. Indeed, Bux is one of several ERC Juniors competing with support from their national ASN.

Ypres: where cutting corners is encouraged

The practice of corner ‘cutting’ to maximise speed through the tight junctions is commonplace and vital to success in Ypres, but it creates a slippery surface as mud and debris are dragged onto the road. Hidden obstacles can also prove to be a menace, particularly when the stages are run after dark, while the drainage ditches and telegraph poles that line large chunks of the route wait to catch out the unwary.

The ERC goes border hopping
As in recent years, the Ypres Rally will include a stage just across the French border in Lincelles. Measuring 9.76 kilometres, the Lille-Eurométropole test will be used once on Saturday afternoon. But although the French stage remains, there won’t be a return to Wasquehal for the town centre test, which has resulted in a significantly more compact route.

Big interest in the ERC support championships
Belgians Melissa Debackere and Julie Devalet, plus current leader Ekaterina Stratieva, will chase ERC Ladies’ Trophy honours with Debackere the favourite in her Peugeot 207 Super 2000 as she looks to build on the seventh-place overall finish she recorded last season. The ERC Production Car Cup looks set to be a straight fight between title rivals Vitaliy Pushkar and Martin Hudec, although local ace Andy Lefebvre and Hungarian András Hadik will also be in contention. Elsewhere, more than 40 crews will chase ERC 2WD Championship honours, with former European champion and double Ypres winner Bruno Thiry among them.

ERC Asphalt Master honours up for grabs in Ypres too
It’s not just the title lead that will be up for grabs in Ypres. The 2014 ERC Asphalt Masters is currently a straight fight between overall championship chasers Esapekka Lappi and Craig Breen with the Finn 51 points ahead of his Irish rival. New for this season, the ERC Asphalt, Gravel and Ice Master awards recognise the performances of surface specialists competing in the ERC. The ERC Asphalt Master will be contested over six events, including this week’s visit to Ypres. After scoring opportunities on leg one of the Acropolis Rally and both days of the Discover Northern Ireland Circuit of Ireland Rally, ŠKODA Motorsport’s Lappi has 156 points with Breen on 105 for Peugeot Rally Academy. ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland’s Sepp Wiegand is third with 83 points, 23 clear of Breen’s team-mate Kevin Abbring. Points are awarded to the fastest five drivers on each stage on the basis 10-6-4-2-1.

Q&A: Freddy Loix

The eight-time Ypres Rally winner and Belgian hero is returning to try to make it win number nine on round six of the FIA European Rally Championship.

You’re an eight-time winner in Ypres. Can you make it win number nine this year?
“I think so but I know it’s not going to be easy. I have the experience but you can see how quick the R5 cars are driving – they’re very quick so that could be a problem.”

How prepared are you for what will be your 17th Ypres start?
“I feel better prepared this year than last year because I drove with the Ford Focus World Rally Car in Belgium and just for one rally I had to swap to the Super 2000 [because of the regulations]. This was not easy but this year I did already four rallies in Belgium with the ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 so it’s a much better situation than last year.”

But you’re no longer part of the factory ŠKODA line-up. Will that be a problem?
“It’s not a factory car, it’s a car of Bernard Munster but we still have the latest evolution on it and that’s the most important thing.”

It’s the 50th anniversary of the Ypres Rally this year. What does that mean to you?
“It means the organisation have been working already 50 years on a very good level. You always see some fantastic cars and fantastic drivers on the start and this year they also have a museum. This will bring people to Ypres who want to see the pictures and the history from the last 50 years.”

In terms of a favourite Ypres moment, what stands out for you?
“For me the best moment was in 1996, the first time I won with the Toyota Celica and my first victory in Ypres. Of course I had been following the Ypres Rally since I was young and always looked at the names of the winners, like Henri Toivonen, these kinds of boys. But the first time I went there in a Group A car and won it straight away, from that moment on I knew if I can do it the first time I can do it again.”

Thierry Neuville says you can’t be beaten in Ypres. How good does that make you feel?
“It means something when drivers doing the world championship tell you I’m the favourite. I have the feeling that every year I go back, even if I have not been driving the Super 2000 car, everyone is saying Freddy is the quickest in Ypres. That gives me a good feeling.”

What keeps you coming back to Ypres each year?
“It’s always extra motivation every year that pushes me a little bit to go back to Ypres to try to win it again the next year.”

Given your experience and level of success in Ypres, is there still room for improvement or is it a case that you’re driving better than ever?
“I’m driving a bit on a different way now, more relaxed of course. Every year is a bonus and every moment I am coming back to Ypres is a bonus. I know where I can go quick and where I have to watch out sometimes. That gives me the extra power to stay calm but still fight on the right moment in the right stage.”

FIVE FACTS

*No driver has won in Ypres more times than Freddy Loix. The 43-year-old has taken victory on his home round of the ERC on eight occasions *It’s rare for drivers to win in Ypres at their first attempt. However, Luca Rossetti and Kris Meeke broke the mould when they triumphed first time out in 2007 and 2009 respectively. Rossetti, a triple European champion, is back this season

*Don’t be confused by signs to Ieper: it’s how Flemish-speaking Belgians spell Ypres

*The town of Ypres’ history dates back to Roman times but it’s not always been a happy place: during World War I it was the centre of a number of battles between German and Allied Forces

*As well as hosting a round of the ERC, Ypres is home of the Kattenstoet, or Cat Parade, a tri-annual event that involves a colourful parade of cats and witches no less

Entry List

Posted: June 16, 2014 2:19 PM

Ypres Rally (Belgium) (J) - 19-21 Jun 14 - ENTRY LIST

Simpson heads to Ypres for the first time in last year’s rally winning ŠKODA Fabia S2000

Posted: June 16, 2014 2:12 PM

Neil Simpson will contest the Ypres Rally (19-21 June) for the first time – in the same ŠKODA Fabia S2000 that Freddy Loix won the 2013 event in.

The 41-year old dealer principal from Clitheroe in Lancashire bought the ex-factory Fabia S2000 last year. After a 12-year absence from rallying, Neil has made a fantastically successful comeback, winning his class three times on his four outings so far this year.

Neil’s last event in his Simpsons ŠKODA Fabia S2000 was on the Circuit of Ireland, where he and co-driver Claire Mole finished 5th overall to score points in the FIA European Rally Championship.

Neil’s privately-entered ŠKODA is one of seven Fabia S2000s on this year’s Ypres Rally entry list, as the Czech manufacturer aims to continue its unbroken four-year winning run on the legendary asphalt event. The other drivers include ŠKODA Motorsport’s Esapekka Lappi (current ERC leader), ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland’s Sepp Wiegand and former Ypres Rally winner Luca Rossetti.

Neil said: “Ypres is the biggest rally in Europe outside the World Rally Championship – it’s a classic event, and one I’ve been looking forward to doing for many years. It’s very technical, with long fast straights, tight corners and deep ditches – and much of the stages cross flat farmland, so there are very few landmarks to help guide you, meaning we’ll need very good pace notes. It’s going to be like no other rally I’ve ever contested, but I’m really looking forward to the challenge. And this year, as the event celebrates fifty years, the atmosphere is going to be electric. We really can’t wait to get out there.”

For the 50th running of the Ypres Rally, the event will contain a compact route with 20 special stages totalling 202 miles (325kms) held within an 18 mile (30km) radius of the host town. Starting on Friday 20 June, Leg 1 will contain seven stages (four different stages – three tackled twice and one that will be driven once), while the following day’s Leg 2 will have 13 stages (six different stages that will be done twice, plus a stage across the border in Lille Métropole in France that will be done once). In keeping with tradition, the finish podium will be in Ypres town square late on Saturday (21 June) night.

Immediately after Ypres, Neil will transform his asphalt Fabia S2000 into gravel specification for the Goodwood Festival of Speed – where fans will be able to see him drive the car on the ŠKODA UK-supported Goodwood Forest Rally Stage (26-29 June).

TRIPLE EUROPEAN CHAMPION ROSSETTI TO MAKE ERC RETURN

Posted: June 5, 2014 12:24 PM

Luca Rossetti, a three-time winner of the FIA European Rally Championship, will be back on ERC duty when he contests the Geko Ypres Rally.

Rossetti, from Italy, won his first European title in 2008 (pictured) before claiming back-to-back accolades in 2010 and 2011. He visited the Belgian asphalt showcase last season and said then that he would relish the chance to make his ERC return in the future.

Known as ROX by his fans and followers, the 38-year-old hasn’t competed regularly since taking the Turkish title in 2012. However, the former Ypres winner will be one to watch when he takes part in his ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 alongside former long-term co-driver Matteo Chiarcossi.

Geko Ypres Rally organisers said news of Rossetti’s entry was a “huge but very pleasant surprise”, adding:
“He is always very fast in Ypres and it’s really great to have Luca with us when we have our 50th anniversary.”

ERC ACES BREEN AND ABBRING TEST FOR GEKO YPRES RALLY

Posted: June 5, 2014 11:50 AM

Peugeot Rally Academy’s bid to make it two wins in this year’s FIA European Rally Championship on the Geko Ypres Rally stepped up a gear earlier this week when Kevin Abbring and Craig Breen took part in a two-day development test for Peugeot Sport.

Irishman Breen and British co-driver Scott Martin were in action in their Peugeot 208T16 in Belgium on Tuesday 3 June with Dutchman Abbring and Briton Sebastian Marshall taking over driving duties yesterday (Wednesday 4 June).

Breen, who gave the 208T16 a debut ERC win on the Acropolis Rally in March, will link up with team-mate Abbring for a one-day set-up test, organised by their Saintéloc Racing team on Tuesday 17 June at a location 25 kilometres from Ypres, where round six of the ERC will take place from 19-21 June.

Entries Received

Posted: May 20, 2014 7:36 PM

Available at:

• Ypres Rally

ENTRIES NOW OPEN

Posted: April 24, 2014 11:04 AM

Countdown to the Geko Ypres Rally has officially started now that entries have been opened for the fiftieth anniversary of the event. Interested crews better not wait too long to complete their registration form, given the massive interest from teams to take on Europe's rallying aces on the narrow and bumpy Ypres roads.

On 7 June 1965 thirty-four crews lined up for the first ever Ypres "inter-team" challenge, predecessor to the current Geko Ypres Rally. This year organizers expect a multifold of that number of competitors, given the popularity of the European Rally Championship and the huge commercial success of the R5 models, the new top class in the Belgian and European championships.

M-Sport has more than 50 Fiesta R5 cars running, and also Peugeot and Citroen have homologated their R5 cars. The Peugeot 208 T16 made a very impressive debut at the Acropolis rally a few weeks ago. Peugeot Rally Academy youngsters Kevin Abbring and Craig breed dominated the event. Dutchman Abbring was quickest on the tarmac stages, and after he abandoned Breen duly secured the first victory for the T16. Both Peugeot drivers are expected on the starting grid in Ypres, along with Portuguese star Bruno Magelhaes. Belgian rally team DG Sport has also ordered a Peugeot R5 for Ypres, most likely to be driven by eight times Belgian champion Pieter Tsjoen.

The Ford Fiesta R5 has proven its worth at many occasions already since its launch. Kajetan Kajetanowicz wants to do the full European Championship with a Fiesta, and we also expect in Ypres end of June. Local hero Bernd Casier, who shared a Skoda with Tsjoen last year, is looking for a strong result in Ypres with a Fiesta R5, just like young gun Cédric Cherain, who took on the WRCs in the latest Condroz Rally. Cherain will drive the Fiesta of the J-Motorsport team, the same car driven by team manager Jourdan Serderidis in the Acropolis Rally.

More R5 cars can be expected from Citroen, who have readied their DS3 R5. Bryan Bouffier could well take the wheel of the new DS3 R5 in Ypres,whereas also twofold Belgian S2000 champion Vincent Verschueren and the Symtech racing team are expected to line up DS3 R5 cars for Ypres.

One thing for sure, Freddy Loix will be in for a tough fight to secure his ninth victory. The Belgian champion will try and repeat the victory he took at the wheel of the Skoda Fabia last year, with more Fabias lined up for Skoda Motorsport factory drivers Esapekka Lappi en Sepp Wiegand.

More Details:

• Ypres Rally
• Ypres Historic Rally

50th Geko Ypres Rally: 20 thrilling special stages in a compact format

Posted: March 7, 2014 12:12 PM

The 2014 rallying season went off to a promising start. Ice master Robert Kubica took victory in the Austrian Jänner Rally, while reigning world champion Sébastien Ogier kicked off his campaign in style at the Monte Carlo rally. The heroes of the European Rally Championship will be in action at the Geko Ypres Rally from 19 till 21 June. For the 50th anniversary edition of this Belgian round of the championship, organizers have prepared one of their most challenging routes ever.

"We wanted to make our 50th edition very special and attractive, both for drivers and fans," explains Rally Manager Alain Penasse."We have opted for a compact rally with 20 special stages totaling 325 kilometers. On a total distance of 610 kilometers, 53% of the rally will be run against the clock, something participants will like as it makes for a high-paced event."

Full details on the 2014 itinerary can be found in Rallyguide 1, available for download from our website www.ypresrally.com. Just like last year, the 50th edition of the Geko Ypres Rally will be an international event, with at least one special stage across the French border.

Celebrating five decades of rallying is more than just looking back for rally organizers. To the contrary, for many young drivers the ERC events present the ideal stage to showcase their talent, something that was recently echoed by former world champion Marcus Grönholm at the Jänner: "Many world championship drivers have earned their marks in the European Championship and used it as a stepping stone to an international career."

The Geko Ypres Rally is one of seven rallies of the new Junior Championship witin the ERC. Participants have to be younger than 25, line up an R2 car, and can bring in the best four results. No less than 15 drivers, from 10 different countries, have registered for the first round: Fabrizio Andolfi (IT), Jan Cerny (CZ), Andrea Crugnola (IT), Marijan Griebel (DE), Risto Immonen (FIN), Chris Ingram (UK), Petter Kristiansen (N), Jean-Mathieu Leandri (F), Stéphane Lefebvre (F), Mattias Olsson (SE), Tomas Pospisilik (CZ), Steve Rokland (N), Florin Tinescu (RO), Kevin van Deijne (NL) and Aleks Zawada (UK). They can of course expect tough opposition from Belgium's young guns at the Geko Ypres Rally!

"To help tomorrow's top drivers we want to do something extra," continues Alain Penasse. "The entry fee for participants to the FIA ERC Junior Championship has been capped at 1.000 euro, as long as they have participated in at least one round of the Junior Championship before Ypres."

One thing for sure: the Geko Ypres Rally is gearing up for a memorable 50th edition!

Rally Guide 1 Available / Event Website

Posted: March 7, 2014 12:11 PM

• Ypres Rally
• Ypres Historic Rally