There may still be news on the Ypres Rally entry list, the ninth scoring event on the World Rally Championship calendar this season. With everything and beyond the cocks of the championship and the usual actors of the series, the Belgian round already has at least one illustrious participant, since Jos Verstappen has announced that he will compete in the Ypres Rally at the wheel of a Citroën C3 Rally2. It is not a small thing, since the father of Max Verstappen will make his debut in the WRC with his presence on the Belgian asphalt stages.
Since the middle of last year Jos Verstappen has approached the world of rallies in a much more intense way. In fact, the father of the current Formula 1 World Champion has participated in up to four regional and national rallies in Belgium, also signing a more than interesting performance, by the way. In fact, Verstappen Sr. managed to finish second in the Station Le Seau Monteberg Rally and he was also hovering around the podium positions at the Van Wervik Rally until he had to retire due to an accident.
The ingredients of Jos Verstappen’s WRC debut are all too familiar to the driver, as they are the same ones that have defined his last two rallies. This means that he will compete with a Citroën C3 Rally2 under management of DG Sport Compétitionspecifically with the same unit that he has used in each of his four previous rallies. At his right will be Harm Van Koopenco-driver who has accompanied him in the last two events held, since in his first two rallies he was accompanied by Kris Botson.
The challenge for Verstappen and Van Hoppen is huge, since the competition between the ‘Rally2’ in the World Cup has nothing to do with what Max’s father has found in the events held so far, both in those that had a National category and in those that belonged to the regional championship from Flanders. Yes indeed, Verstappen will coincide with some of the drivers he has competed against in these tests in Belgiumsince the volume of local riders on the entry list is very high.
Beyond the debut of Jos Verstappen, the Ypres Rally will have another illustrious name among its entries, although with a much more ‘humble’ car. And it is that among the participants is the name of Mitchel Van den Brinkknown for his role as Dakar driver in the truck category. The young Dutchman trades his IVECO from Gerard De Rooy’s team for a Renault Clio Rally5. For the occasion, he debuts co-pilot, since he will be co-piloted by Lisette Bakker. It will be his fourth rally of the season after competing between three tests of the National of his country.
Photos: DG Sport Competition