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 Černý 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.
Source: Federation Internationale de l’Automobile