Ypres Rally (Belgium) (J) - 23-25 Jun 16

Desi & Liam's “Fabiaous” Moonraker Magic!

Posted: June 24, 2016 1:00 PM

Round two of the 2016 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship, the Moonraker Forest Rally, run by the Munster Motor Club saw a magnificent eight-two cars start from Ballyvourney, for this eight stage event. It was an event very much enjoyed by the crews, with the fast, flowing stages in fabulous shape.

From the outset, it was County Antrim’s Desi Henry, with Cork co-driver Liam Moynihan who set the pace in their Skoda Fabia R5. The car hasn’t been the luckiest for Desi so far, with retirements in Galway and on the Circuit of Ireland, but the Moonraker was to witness a change in fortune. Initially just 0.6 of a second behind on stage one, reigning Valvoline Champion- Josh Moffett in his Evo 9 was the big challenge, but on stage two he dropped a minute, sliding off the road, and then running into mechanical trouble, his challenge soon over. Ger Lucey in his Evo 8 then slotted into an impressive second, despite losing time behind Josh, and another in trouble was Liam Ryan, fifth in stage one, but falling victim to the second test. Former forestry champion Pat O’Connell was a fine third at this point, with Brendan Cumiskey in his R5 Fiesta close behind, and Cathan McCourt fifth. Back in ninth was championship leader Patrick O’Brien who was struggling for gears in his Evo 9, and was soon to be struggling for brakes with the pedal going to the floor. Indeed the championship situation is now completely altered as the Tyrone driver pulled into retirement on stage six.

At the front Desi Henry streaked away, fastest on all eight stages to take a landmark victory.
“We got a new set up from Skoda for the gravel and it worked well from the offset” said the Portglenone driver.” The car never missed a beat all day and the stages were smooth, fast and very enjoyable. It was one of the best rallies you would get in Ireland. It was a good test also for the BRC Pirelli Rally, and if we come home from that in one piece we will contest the Tour of the Sperrins, which is a local event to us. The Irish Forest series is a great championship, and we will see rally by rally how we get on with the other series as to whether we can contest the remaining rounds. Hopefully the Moonraker is the start of a change of fortune this year after a mixed start to the rally season.”

The battle for second was really one to watch as Tipperary’s Pat O’Connell moved ahead of Ger Lucey after increasing the pace on stages four and five. Another driver upping the pace was Brendan Cumiskey, revelling in the handling of his new R5 Fiesta, moving into third after stage six, and just five seconds back from O’Connell. Despite a last ditch attempt for second, it was third for Brendan just an incredible 0.1 of a second back! This forest rallying is close, and Ger Lucey’s fine run in the older car netted fourth, moving into the Valvoline series lead. County Tyrone’s Darren McKelvey had an excellent showing in fifth, with Niall Henry less than two seconds behind, making it a great success for the team. Seventh after a steady start was Adrian Hetherington getting used to his newly acquired Toyota Corolla WRC. There was still a Moffett in the top ten as Josh’s father Robert claimed eighth on his enjoyable return to rallying after many years absence. Tenth after a few early issues was Michael Carbin in his venerable Evo 4. Group N was won by Stephen Cullen’s Impreza in nineteenth overall from a delighted Ed Muldoon in his Evo, twentieth and Ashley Dickson, twenty-first, and third in the category.

The two-wheel drive race was expected to be waged between the Escort’s and the Starlet of Shane McGirr, but the Starlet was a non-starter and Killarney’s Rob Duggan in his front wheel drive Peugeot 208 R2 was to really put the cat amongst the pigeons. Using the event partly as a gravel test before the BRC Pirelli Rally, he finished a fantastic ninth overall and first two-wheel drive in the 1600cc machine. Over half a minute behind in twelfth place was reigning Valvoline two wheel drive champion- Micky Conlon. “I felt that I wasn’t quite on it all day” explained the Escort driver “even after I recharged with a cup of tea at service! Nevertheless it was a good finish and fair play to Rob in front and John behind us.” Indeed first in class 12 again was John Gordon in his MK2, coming in thirteenth overall, twenty one seconds behind Conlon. Damien McGauran in his rear wheel drive Corolla was next of the rear wheel drive runners, just 0.3 of a second ahead of the Escort of David Crossen who recovered from a stage four spin.

David Condell had been third in the two wheel drive race behind Conlon, until he went off in stage six losing over a minute, damaging the front and rear corners of the MK2. Another top two wheel drive casualty was Hugh McQuaid who ended up on the back of a tow rope on the first loop.

Winner of the rallytrader.ie/ Kumho tyres Junior category, collecting two tyres from Ears Motorsport Ireland was Alan Moran with his Peugeot 206 Cup Car. Alan was in fine form, just one second behind round one winner Derek Mackeral on stage one, before Mackeral’s Nova succumbed to cam-belt failure on stage the second test. Shane Kenneally, second on round one also hit trouble, his MK2 Escort breaking a throttle cable in stage four. A dominant Moran took a fine win from Stephen Dickson who was loving his Fiesta in the Cork forests and getting faster with every mile. James Driver in his Ka just piped Aaron Watters in his Civic to claim third.

Other important class winners were: Class 3-Emmett Lyons (Honda Integra), Class 4-Stephen Cullen- (Subaru Impreza), Class 6- Danny Creedon- (Subaru Impreza) Class 9- Colm Kearns (MK2 Escort), Class 10-David Beamish (Opel Corsa), Class 11F-James Lucey- (Honda Civic), Class 11R- Jason Walsh (Ford Escort). The championship race is now very open and interesting and on round three on May 7th, the crews will join the Northern Ireland Championship runners for the Tour of the Sperrins, which is back on gravel again.

Posted: June 24, 2016 1:00 PM

EVENT PREVIEW: BELGIAN ASPHALT CLASSIC PROVIDES YET ANOTHER BIG ERC CHALLENGE

Posted: June 22, 2016 8:48 AM

The 2016 FIA European Rally Championship moves on to another of the continent’s most famous and challenging events with the Kenotek by CID LINES Ypres Rally next week (23-25 June).

A number of big names have signed up for the Belgian classic, meaning that local legend Freddy Loix faces a fight to claim his 11th Ypres Rally win, and fourth in a row. There could well be an important twist in the exciting ERC title fight, with Alexey Lukyanuk aiming to steal a march on Kajetan Kajetanwicz, who hasn’t included Ypres in his 2016 campaign. The ERC Junior battle is also finely poised, with two different winners and five different podium finishers in the two rounds held so far.

The challenge
First run in 1965, the legendary Ypres Rally has been a permanent and popular fixture in the ERC since 1974. The start, finish and service area are located in Grote Markt in the centre of the historic town of Ypres, and the 17 special stages take place on fast, flat and narrow farmland roads around West Flanders. Drainage ditches and tight junctions are among the hazards that can catch the drivers out.

After a 4.79-kilometre Qualifying Stage at 19h30 on Thursday – from which the fastest 15 drivers will pick their starting positions for leg one – the 250 competitive kilometres are packed into just 30 hours, starting at 16h54 on Friday. Seven stages make up the opening day’s action before 10 more take place on Saturday, split into four loops.

The contenders
Stéphane Lefebvre (Citroën DS3 R5):
In the 12 months since his last appearance, the 2014 ERC Junior champion has become a top-level WRC competitor with Citroën. Restricted to fifth last year by a puncture, he’ll look to replicate his WRC team mate Craig Breen’s Circuit of Ireland win two months ago.

Alexey Lukyanuk (Ford Fiesta R5):
Unlike many others, the Russian lacks any past Ypres experience, but he’s won on his past two asphalt starts in the ERC. Just 15 points off the standings lead, he might be tempted to play for points, but that’s simply not his style. Expect thrills.

Freddy Loix (ŠKODA Fabia R5):
Even against such top-class competition, Loix starts as favourite with his 10 Ypres victories, including three on the bounce. He’s unbeaten in Belgium so far in 2016, with five wins from five starts. ‘Fast Freddy’ has been a contender for years, but his speed is undiminished.

Bryan Bouffier (Gemini Clinic Rally Team Citroën DS3 R5):
The proven Frenchman returns both to the ERC and to Ypres, having finished second there in 2015. Pipped to the post on that occasion by Loix, can he go one better this time?

Jaromír Tarabus (T&T Czech National Team ŠKODA Fabia R5):
Seventh on his first trip to Ypres last year, he’s shown strong pace so far this year after upgrading to R5 machinery, finishing third on the Acropolis Rally on his less favoured surface.

The challengers
A number of drivers will go to Belgium after confidence-boosting results in the Azores: Dávid Botka (Botka Rally Team Citroën DS3 R5) took fourth, one place ahead Jaroslav Orsák (Kimi Racing Ford Fiesta R5). Antonín Tlus?ák (Tlus?ák Racing Fabia R5) made the top 10, while Tomasz Kasperczyk (Tiger Energy Drink Rally Team Fiesta R5) will hope to get back there. Dutchman Hermen Kobus (Fabia R5) was fourth at Ypres in 2014: a position he also held on Rally Islas Canarias earlier this year. Marty McCormack showed there’s still speed in his older Fabia S2000 with his pace on April’s Circuit of Ireland and also went well in Belgium last year. Petter Kristiansen returns in another Fabia S2000. There’s a large and well-equipped Belgian contingent, led by past Ypres winners Kris Princen (Peugeot Belgium Luxembourg 208 T16), Pieter Tsjoen (Fiesta R5) and Patrick Snijers (208 T16). Third in 2015, Vincent Verschueren will be quick in a Fabia R5, as will Melissa Debackere, Ghislain De Mevius and Didier Duquesne, while Bernd Casier, Cédric Cherain, Claudie Tanghe and Davy Vanneste have Fiesta R5s. Youngsters Kevin Demaerschalk and Guillaume Dilley drive DS3 R5s, as does Belgian-based Greek Jourdan Serderidis.

The reward
A total prize fund of 200,000 Euros is on offer to competitors in the ERC again this year. A sum of 20,000 Euros is available at each of the 10 events on the calendar, shared between the seven highest-placed eligible drivers in the final rally classification regardless of category. This year, all drivers that have registered for the ERC will be eligible as long as they are using tyres from one of the championship’s partner suppliers (Michelin and Pirelli). In 2015, 38 ERC drivers earned prize money.

The class acts
The ERC is split into three categories: ERC1 for top-of-the-range R5 machinery, ERC2 for production-based models and ERC3 for two-wheel-drive cars. The ERC Junior Championship takes place on six rounds for drivers born in 1989 or later, competing in R2 machinery on Pirelli tyres.

ERC Junior: Ingram leads highly competitive youngsters
The ERC Junior Championship has been closely fought over the first two rounds, and a pair of second-places has been enough for Chris Ingram to lead the standings, but he’ll face tough competition in Belgium from ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team Adam R2 counterparts Marijan Griebel and Julius Tannert, second and third in Ypres last year. ?ukasz Pieni??ek (Adam R2) and Diogo Gago (Peugeot 208 R2) will look to add second wins to their tally, while Steve Røkland enjoyed a promising first event in his M-Sport-run Ford Fiesta R2T in the Azores. Nikolay Gryazin and Joonas Tokee (both 208 R2) have both shown good speed, while Marco Cid (208 R2) and Dominik Brož (Fiesta R2) are gaining in experience and confidence. The field expands again for Ypres with British drivers Callum Devine (Adam R2) and Catie Munnings (208 R2) making debuts and Hungarian Kristóf Klausz (208 R2) returning.

Érdi bids for an ERC2 repeat
With Wojciech Chucha?a taking a summer break after winning the ERC2 category on the first four events, there’s a good chance for Tibor Érdi Jr (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) to repeat his victory from 12 months ago. However, he’ll have to see off the challenge of young Italian Giacomo Scattolon (Evo IX).

Bostanci goes for the ERC3 lead
After winning ERC3 on the Acropolis Rally, a top result against the ERC Junior drivers could give Murat Bostanci (Castrol Ford Team Turkiye Fiesta R2T) the category lead. Multiple Slovenian champion Aleks Humar switches to a Renault Clio R3T, Hungarians László Némét and Gergely Fogasy drive 208 R2s, and Belgian Polle Geusens enters a Fiesta R2T.

New Hyundai R5 challenger to make public debut
The brand new Hyundai i20 R5 will make its public debut as a zero car on the Ypres Rally. ERC graduates Kevin Abbring and his co-driver Seb Marshall will drive the car, having been instrumental in its development in their roles as Hyundai Motorsport test drivers. It will feature a new livery designed by a fan from New Zealand. Andrea Adamo, who manages Hyundai’s Customer Racing department, said: “The Ypres Rally is a pivotal weekend in the New Generation i20 R5 project. This rally is the perfect place for the car to make its public debut. The ERC is a key championship for R5 teams, where we obviously hope that our customers will be competing in future.”

New ERC Junior Experience to begin in Ypres
The brand new ERC Junior Experience training programme for young drivers will begin at the Ypres Rally. Created as a collaboration between Eurosport Events and the Future Stars Rally Academy based in Belgium, the training programme – open to drivers current competing at national level as well as current ERC Junior drivers – will take place alongside three rounds of this year’s ERC Junior Championship. In Ypres there will be workshops covering pacenotes, engineering and media.

Driver quotes

Freddy Loix (ŠKODA Fabia R5):
“Rallying isn't mathematics but of course I will do anything to take that 11th victory at home. This year the level in the Belgian Championship is very high and I have no idea how the top ERC drivers who are in Ypres for the first time will drive. The atmosphere in the service area in the big square is incredible, as are the high speeds and the deep, deep cutting of the corners!”

Dávid Botka (Botka Rally Team Citroën DS3 R5):
“We’ve heard a lot about the Ypres Rally as many other Hungarian drivers were there in the past few years. They talked about quick thin roads, about good organisation, and about a wonderful country. So we can’t wait to be there. The list of entrants suggests a very hard rally, and we know it is a very long rally too. So we will push not on the limit, but close to it.”

Marijan Griebel (Opel Adam R2):
“Last year I was leading in Ypres until a puncture in the very last stage. So I know that my speed should be good enough to do one place better this time. Despite some bad luck again this season I’m quite confident because I was leading both ERC Junior rallies this season for many stages and I’m absolutely willing to get it to the finish now. All the ERC Junior Rallies have a really different character. Ypres is the longest of them with 250km of stages: the main challenge for me is going through the famous "cuts" without suffering a puncture this time. For me it is the nearest of all the ERC rallies, so there will also be some fans from Germany coming to Belgium. This is why I even more want to win there.”

On this event in 2015…
Freddy Loix came from almost 30 seconds behind to score a sensational 10th win on the Kenotek by CID LINES Ypres Rally, and in doing so gave the new ŠKODA Fabia R5 a victory on its FIA European Rally Championship debut. Loix was fifth and 25.8 seconds behind the leader after day one but closed the gap to the cars ahead. Victory was assured when Craig Breen retired after SS12, Stéphane Lefebvre picked up a puncture on the same stage, and erstwhile leader Bryan Bouffier had to change a puncture on SS15. Bouffier’s pace was such that even though he lost two minutes he still finished second ahead of Vincent Verschueren and Bruno Magalhães. Lefebvre lost over three minutes but finished fifth ahead of Jaroslav Orsák and Jaromír Tarabus. Tibor Érdi led from start to finish to claim an ERC2 victory in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. Aleks Zawada jumped from third in ERC Junior to score his maiden class victory on a dramatic final stage, when Marijan Griebel had a puncture and Diogo Gago’s Peugeot 208 stopped.

McCormack & Tanak non-startes

Posted: June 22, 2016 7:39 AM

Marty Cormack has a hand injury
Tanak withdrawn by DMACK due to car availability issues.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: June 22, 2016 7:38 AM

Ypres Rally (Belgium) (J) - 23-25 Jun 16 - SEEDED ENTRY LIST

Tänak to compete in ERC in Ypres

Posted: June 10, 2016 3:54 AM

Ott Tänak will make a third FIA European Rally Championship appearance when he takes part in the Kenotek by CID Lines Ypres Rally later this month.

The 28-year-old is a regular in the World Rally Championship, currently driving for the Dmack World Rally Team which has entered him for Ypres (23-25 June) in a Ford Fiesta R5.

While more accustomed to its WRC bigger brother, Tänak knows the R5-specification Fiesta well having campaigned one in 2014, when he made ERC appearances on home soil on auto24 Rally Estonia, which he won, and Barum Czech Rally Zlín, which he finished in seventh place.

Tänak won’t be the first driver from the top level of the WRC to appear in the ERC this season. Mads Østberg took part in the season-opening Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés and led before crashing out, while Craig Breen returned to the series for the Circuit of Ireland and won.

The present count: 25 R5 cars

Posted: June 6, 2016 4:52 PM

The registrations for the Kenotek Ypres Rally are still open, but it is already clear that the R5 brigade will be offering up a fantastic spectacle. The only question in everyone’s mind is who can keep Freddy Loix from claiming an 11th victory in de Westhoek, because the reigning Belgian Champion will be at the start fully confident, having already won five consecutive events in the Belgian rally championship. ?The foreigners are presently not showing their hand.

Next to the Czech Skoda Fabia R5 cars of Jaromir Tarabus and Antonin Tlustak, the Ford Fiesta R5 machines of Jaroslav Orsak and Tomasz Kasperczyk as also the Citroën DS 3 R5 of David Botka, it is more a question of keeping an eye on the times of the Dutchman Hermen Kobus with his Skoda Fabia R5. Kobus has already shown that he can produce a Top 5 in Ypres, but following his serious crash on the Canary Islands, the Lichtenvoorde based driver will undoubtedly take a more sedate start.

Following his five successive wins in the Belgian championship Freddy Loix has already claimed a serious option on the title. The Skoda top driver appears to be inaccessible, however last year Kris Princen proved to be a dangerous rival with his Peugeot 208 T16. In addition, the Skoda camp is well represented with Vincent Verschueren, who appeared on the podium last year in the Westhoek, Melissa Debackere, who is celebrating her comeback with a brand new Fabia R5, Ghislain de Mevius, who showed his pace in Portugal where he took 6th place in WRC2, and Didier Duquesne, who finished in the Top 10 last year.

Ford is counting on the evolution of the Fiesta R5 to battle it out for victory. Bernd Casier and Pieter Tsjoen, the 8 times Belgian champion who last year read the pace notes for Kevin Abbring, both now each definitely have a new Fiesta R5 Evo at disposal. Claudie Tanghe and Davie Vanneste, two fast regional drivers, have also opted for the R5 with the blue oval. And Cédric Cherain is returning to Ypres with a Fiesta R5 Evo. In the first instance Bruno Parmentier is out to have fun with his Fiesta R5?Apart from the sole 208 T16 of Kris Princen, the majority of cars are the Citroën DS 3 machines.

Guillaume Dilley starts as official representative of DS Belux with an R5 entered by Burton Racing, while his DS Belux colleague Kevin Demaerschalk will drive a DS 3 R5 entered by J-Motorsport, the team of the Belgian-Greek Jourdan Serderidis, who will also be present with a DS 3 R5. Tom Van Rompuy, Frédéricq Delplace and Yves Bruneel have also opted for an R5 from the PSA group. ?22 top cars of the modern generation, on top of which we have not counted on the fast Super 2000 beasts, such as the Skoda Fabia Super 2000 manned by Martin McCormack.
Curious who else might still be joining?

Entries Received

Posted: May 11, 2016 8:35 AM

Available on the competitors page at:

Ypres Rally

Marty McCormack return to Ypres

Posted: May 6, 2016 8:43 AM

Martin Mc Cormack has entered the 2016 Kenotek Ypres Rally in his Skoda S2000.

Rally Guide/Event Website/Details

Posted: April 7, 2016 6:17 AM

Ypres Rally