The Ypres Rally Belgium shakedown took place on a slightly different schedule than usual, on Thursday afternoon. And although this may mean that the attention of the general public has dispersed slightly, the Belgian fans have thrown in the rest to fill what is only a training stretch with heat. A first contact with the Belgian asphalt in which the great local hero has shown the best version of himself. In fact, Thierry Neuville has finished with the best shakedown time after completing four passes of the stage.
Months after the last contact of the WRC with asphalt in Croatia, the World Championship returns to compete on black tar. More than ever, shakedown has become essential to make the final adjustments to the car before actual competition, more so as previous rallies have been on high-speed gravel stages. A scenario of pure adaptation to the peculiarities of Ypres in which Thierry Neuville has started brilliantly. Four passes through the stage and a 3:44.4 to set the tone are Neuville’s letter of introduction.
Kalle Rovanperä has stayed six tenths behind the local rider, although it is true that the leader of the World Cup has completed one pass less. In fact, the Finnish rider was the only rider in the premier class to have made three attempts to the 7.34-kilometre section that served as shakedown. For this reason, Kalle’s time is somewhat misleading, as even Rovanperä had been quickest after the first three runs. Be that as it may, the leader has been the ham of the sandwich formed by Thierry Neuville and Oliver Solberg.
Oliver Solberg is perhaps one of the drivers who arrives most in demand at this rally for everything that has happened in recent times. The Swede finished 1.3 seconds off the lead, with the same time as Elfyn Evans who was fourth. For its part, Craig Breen has sneaked the first of the Ford Puma Rally1 in fifth place, although it is true that the Irish driver has completed five passes. Same as his partner Adrien Fourmaux has done to be seventh, leaving between them Esapekka Lappi.
no surprises, the last three positions of the ‘top 10’ have been completed by Ott Tänak, Takamoto Katsuta and Gus Greensmith, so perhaps it has been more notable that the fastest ‘Rally2’ has not been one of those driven by the great roosters of the silver category. In fact, Belgian Sébastien Bedoret has emulated Thierry Neuville to command in the WRC2 category ahead of Stéphane Lefebvre and Andreas Mikkelsen. Yes, it is true that Bedoret has made up to five passes, while other pilots have chosen to make only two.
Shakedown qualifying for the 57th Ypres Rally Belgium
The Ypres Rally officially starts this Friday (10:16 a.m.) with the dispute of the first stage of the test. Pilots and co-pilots will dispute 97.02 kilometers against the clock in this competitive start.
Photos: Red Bull Content Pool