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 Tlusťák (Tlusťák 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. Łukasz Pieniążek (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 Chuchała 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.