The WRC returns to action with a totally different record. After competing on the fast gravel stages of Rally Finland, the protagonists of the championship will fight for success on the narrow asphalt roads of the Ypres Rally Belgium. Plagued with intersections, one of the keys to the event is the confidence you can have with the car under heavy braking. Yes indeed, the rain can be a traveling companion during the three days of competitionso we will have to be very attentive to how it affects the World Cup roosters.
It seemed to be written that an event with the history of the Ypres Rally would have a place in the WRC, since its beginnings are linked to the Monte Carlo Rally. The Belgian event has become one of the reference events of the discipline in Europe and this is demonstrated the 56 editions that have been played to date in its iconic stretches. It has been a scoring event for the ERC and the IRC, which has allowed great drivers to achieve victory in their stages. Freddy Loix with 11 wins is the most successful driver. Last year the victory went to the also local Thierry Neuville.
The ninth round of the championship has a total of 281.58 kilometers divided into twenty sections. The test will start with the usual shakedown on Thursday at a somewhat peculiar time, since it will be held in the afternoon as there is no opening super special of the rally. Thus, the real action kicks off on Friday with a day made up of two loops of four sections around Ypres, which allows for a compact format, since 41% of the total route is made up of the specials themselves. This first stage has 97.02 kilometers against the clock.
Saturday’s stage is even more compact, with eight stages totaling 133.22 kilometers in a route of just 270. The fourth stage of the morning and evening loop is the longest of the rally, as ‘Hollebeke’ is 22.32 kilometres. The final stage on Sunday changes radically compared to 2021as the rally moves away from the Spa circuit to shape a day with four stages and 51.34 timed kilometers to close the event. The ‘Kemmelberg’ stage will serve as the Power Stage.
Starting position is a key factor. If it doesn’t rain, the leader can suffer somewhat from the dust on the roads, although he also kicks up dirt on his rivals in the ditches that are cut. If it rains, the situation can be even more favorable, since the mud becomes part of the asphalt roads and annoys the leader less. As always, tire management will be key and, in this regard, each driver will have to choose 28 tires from a batch of 28 units of the P Zero RA WRC HA rubber (hard), 22 of the P Zero RA WRC SA clincher (soft) and 12 of the Cinturato RWB rain compound.
Kalle Rovanperä he will look for a good result that allows him to continue with the firm step with which he walks towards the title. In fact, the suomi driver has the first chance to be champion in the Ypres Rallysomething that happens by winning the event, adding the five points of the Power Stage and that his immediate pursuers do not score, since you must have an advantage greater than 120 points at the end of the event. Elfyn Evans and Esapekka Lappi complete Toyota’s bet, apart from Takamoto Katsuta who always feels comfortable in this type of event.
Ott Tänak is coming off a victory in Finland, while Thierry Neuville was the winner of the Ypres Rally in 2021. Short and long-term background that invites optimism within Hyundai when it comes to standing up to Toyota. For his part, Oliver Solberg will seek to vindicate himself after his disastrous performance in Finland. For its part, M-Sport competes with three units of the Ford Puma Rally1a smaller deployment than on other occasions that places Craig Breen as the great hope of the British preparation. Adrien Fourmaux, on tarmac, should also step up.
The silver class boasts the return of leader Andreas Mikkelsen, as well as Frenchman Yohan Rossel. The Rally of Finland allowed Emil Lindholm to get into the battle for the title by achieving a victory that had originally gone to Teemu Suninen, but which he lost due to a technical irregularity. The Finnish driver has 64 points with four rallies contested, although it is true that he will not be in the Ypres Rally, nor will Kajetan Kajetanowicz. Yes, the Spanish Miguel Díaz-Aboitiz will be in the WRC2 category, not Alejandro Cachón who will compete outside of it, like Jos Verstappen.
Stages and schedules of the 57th edition of the Ypres Rally
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Friday, August 19, 2022
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Sunday, August 21, 2022
Photos: M-Sport / Toyota Gazoo Racing / Oliver Solberg