The legendary Westhoek Ypres Rally, qualifier for the IRC series and the FIA's European championship takes place this weekend, this year quite the most important rally held anywhere in the central countries of Europe this year. It continues a great heritage. Belgian rally specialist journalist Michel Lizin explained: "the rally was started by Frans Thevelin who organised firstly as the 12 Hours of Ypres, then this became the 24 Horus of Ypres. Rallying in Belgium has always been very popular, especially so in some specific areas, like at Huy for the Condroz Rally, like the Boucles de Spa at Verviers, like in the western Flemish parts of the country which means Ypres. From the start the Ypres Rally was very successful. They were the first rally in Belgium to be really professional and offer financial conditions to entice foreign competitors to take part, which means they have always had very interesting entries. They also developed factors like the service park in the middle of the city which was then followed at Huy and also by the Spa Rally. The whole town lives with the rally."

From the competition point of view it is a different challenge. It is not easy. The roads are narrow and very quick. It is difficult to be quick when it is so narrow, and very difficult to control the car if you stray from your lines. Nicolas Vouilloz has said: "This is one of the rallies I like the best, now I have done it a couple of times before. Now I realise how difficult is the challenge to go well here. It is so very different to anywhere else where we go." Most drivers say the same, which made Luca Rossetti’s first-time win in 2007 so special. Freddy Loix is the event’s most successful driver, last year gaining a record fifth outright win.

This year the 45h Ypres Rally breaks from traditional in many ways. The layout of rally functions in the Market place in Ypres has been rearranged and for the first time there are stages actually the other side of the French borders. Considerable attention has be en paid to optimising spectator facilities. This year the entry switches from quantity to quality. The smooth roads which demand ultimate driving precision are good for Super 2000, and this rally has attracted an all-time record of 20 entries in these cars. And for the first time, no fewer than six types of S2000 are present on the same event. Under IRC and ERC rules World Rally Cars, which traditionally dominate Belgian championship events, cannot take part, and under FIA rules there is sure to be a debate on the most appropriate starting order for the opening stages on the Friday evening. Several top Belgian drivers, for example the reigning champion Hubert Deferm will not be present and others driver different cars to normal. Melisa Debacxkere drives an Evo X instead of a World Rally Car. Young driver Thierry Neuville was voted the most suitable driver for the Kronos team’s celebrity Peugeot 207 S2000. Kronos is to run no fewer than five of these cars and their usual resonsibilty to the Belux team drivers Loix and Vouilloz is expanded to include Pieter Tsjoen as well.

3mmm

Eurosport LIVE

Friday 19th of June
20:15-21:15 LIVE SS 3 / Lille-Eurométropole1 (9,78 km) Eurosport
24:00-01:00 LIVE SS 6 / Lille-Eurométropole2 (9,78 km) Eurosport

Saturday 20th of June
17:00-18:00 LIVE SS 11 / Heuvelland1 (32,75 km) Eurosport 2
22:15-23:15 LIVE SS 16 / Heuvelland2 (32,75 km) last stage Eurosport