Belgian Rally News

Kevin Demaerschalk in a Citroën C3 R5 in the last four rounds of the Belgian rally championship (Ypres, Omlppo Vlaanderen, East Belgian and Condroz).

http://www.speed-magazine.be/wp-cont...3/Kevin-02.png

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Originally Posted by PLuto

Last weekend I was on Herock Spa Rally, for first time on rally in Belgium out of Ypres (where I was 10x or 11x, I think). I would like to share my opinions about that rally. As I was there with young czech driver, first step was communication with organiser. Despite everything was only in french and dutch, everything worked well, communication with organiser was great. With this I would like to thank Dupanton for big help, especially with translations.

Base of the rally was on the parking next to Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Nice place, only quite muddy with water due to the weather, but thats the situation. Especially first day evening the access to service area from north was closed by special stage, so only chance to leave that area was through small tunnel, so bigger cars like vans had no chance. And people also as this tunnel was only for cars... Special stages around Spa are really beautiful and demanding. There was lot of special stages going on circuit or small service roads - from my point of view it was too much, most of them were for more laps and there were some problems with catching slower cars etc. Fernemont was very fast on that stages and that was key success (together with punctures of Princen and De Mevius) to win.

I was really disappointed with the situation regarding recce. Originally there is recce on Saturday and Sunday one weekend before. As we were going so far, we have asked for excuse to do it on Wednesday instead. I was very surprised how many crews were doing illegal recce during that day, we have seen many cars on both ways going through the stages many, many times. And they were not covering it, they were using regular pacenotes, same car for recce etc. As I dont know so many belgian drivers, I have recognized Melissa, but there was much more crews. And organisers were in same time preparing the stages and this drivers were going normally around them...

Interesting situation was also, that parc ferme (also for each regouping) and podium was in Spa, 11 km from service. So crews were going many times to Spa, I think 7-8 times they were going through podium. There were very short times for liaison, so lot of crews were going faster on liaison than on stages. Also when SS 3 was cancelled and crews should go alternative route, roadbook was not so precise and showed only a map, so most of the crews were lost and was forced to use GPS in their mobiles to reach the service.

I was also surprised how time controls were working, especially around regrouping, but also in some other parts. You can arrive few minutes earlier or few minuters later, they will write you "correct" time to your time control and you have no penalty...

Also starting to circuit stages was crazy, there was one timekeeper showing on hands one minute intervals and another marshall close to the road with RED FLAG noticing, if the road is clear. How this can happen? Red flag in rallying actually means cancelled stage, so it should be easy for the crews to see that flag and stop the stage. But crews were used to this and absolutely ignore him. But this two marshalls were not so much synchronised, few times I have seen it was close to crash. I was quite surprised that there is no GPS tracking mandatory in Belgium, which is standard in most of the championships this year. I have also didnt found official noticeboard, only on internet. So for digging starting times to first leg I have used usual step - was going to TC 0 and waited when timekeeper will receive his start list. Funny was in second leg, when my crew started earlier than was on start list, timekeeper asked them to go earlier as some of cars in front of them didnt started...

Safety is usual problem in Belgium, as I have heard. I know that Ypres is different, more strict. Here people can be almost everywhere, marshalls quiet and working precisely only on some places. I have seen many photographers making pictures of playing with mobile than watching what is happening on stage. In lot of situations people were standing on very bad places.

Regarding the crews, the best one was Kris Princen, quite slower on circuit stages, but he should win without problems (if no puncture). Then there was Ghislain de Mevius and Fernemont, who was biggest surprise for me. He was really fast, especially on circuit stages, but also fast on normal stages. Other from the top didnt impressed so much. Patrick Snijers with Porsche was great, sound of his car on the circuit stages was amazing and he did exactly what is necessary with that car. I was quite disappointed by the R2 drivers. The best was without any doubts Gregoire Munster, with almost no experience with R2 car he was really good, precise in driving, not so many mistakes. Another noticeable was younger Dilley with Fiesta R2T, he was fast, but all the time too much aggressive and making so many mistakes, especially when the event was going to the finish. Rest of R2 was nothing special... Special notice should be for Daco with historic Escort, nice to watch and also setting good times.

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Welcome to Wallonie Pluto

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https://s17.postimg.org/c0w5kjzpr/sf2_shake.jpg

https://s17.postimg.org/sv8pbq1xr/sf2_tac_2018.jpg

Yesterday the TAC Rally in Tielt was being held, 3rd round of the Belgian championship. Quite good startlist, 12 R5 cars (of which 8 were Fabia), 10 Porsche GT3's and quite a lot of variety further in the field with R2's, N4's, historic cars and the BMW M-Cup. Dry weather which meant good conditions for the GT cars. Overall most drivers seemed to be pushing hard, which resulted in quite a lot of crashes. Results can be found here: http://www.tac-results.be/ Overall the battle for the first 2 places wasn't very interesting. Princen had the updated engine on his Fabia R5, and was much quicker than Verschueren, especially in the first loop when Verschueren didn't seem as confident as Princen was. Behind those two there was a big gap... Bédoret finished third on his first outing with a Skoda Fabia R5, his times were improving a lot throughout the day, he certainly is a driver to keep an eye on in the future. In GT there was a nice competition between Timothy Vanparijs, Gunther Monnens and Kevin Abbring. After the first loop of 4 stages, all 3 were within 4 seconds. After that Vanparijs got a puncture and Abbring had mechanical issues (clutch, but replacement took too long so he was out of the rally), and Monnens won the category. Van Woensel had issues very early, and Snijers crashed on the third stage already. In R2 Reynvoet was the quickest all day, but he crashed on the penultimate stage. Gilles Pyck, a young driver who did his first national event, won the class then. Historic class was won by Paul Lietaer, who was driving a Manta 400 Gr.B for the first time in many years, it is the same car he was driving more than 30 years ago.

A few photos I made:

Princen - Eelbode, winners
https://scontent.fbru2-1.fna.fbcdn.n...a3&oe=5B72618F

Snijers - Bouchat, crash on SS3
https://scontent.fbru2-1.fna.fbcdn.n...b3&oe=5B710596

Abbring - Vandeputte, retired
https://scontent.fbru2-1.fna.fbcdn.n...e9&oe=5B317F3F

Pyck - Mourisse, winners in R2 and Junior category
https://scontent.fbru2-1.fna.fbcdn.n...1e&oe=5B62B41D

Monnens - Debyser, winners in RGT
https://scontent.fbru2-1.fna.fbcdn.n...71&oe=5B74A0B3

A few more photos for those who are interested: https://www.facebook.com/pg/rallyima...37543579590849

https://s17.postimg.cc/60gilibov/sf2...ander_2018.jpg

Good entry list in Rallye de Wallonie, which will be held on April 27/28/29. 16 R5 cars and 7 RGT machines look quite impressive. I think that from top drivers only Kris Princen is missing:
https://www.rallye054.be/wp-content/...-rallye054.pdf

Verschueren has to win this one to stay in the fight for the title. Princen already won 2 rallies and had a 2nd place in Spa, where Verschueren did not start. Although only the best 6 results count towards the championship, this rally is an ideal opportunity for Verschueren to take back a bunch of point.
Hi main rivals should be Cherain (if he is back at his old form), Fernémont (lot of confidence after his Spa victory but lacks experience) and Bouche (but he has no rythme and is getting older.
Other contenders for top 5 will be Bedoret, De Mevius (needs to find his confidence back after crashing in Spa and Corsica PET), Canal-Robles with the Fabia WRC etc.
Also the field in R2 is quite good, with Belgian youngsters Delhez, Munster, Reynvoet and Dilley against Dutch reference Timo Van der Marel.

On Friday there is a show stage that is run twice. On Saturday there are 3x4 different stages (first one of the loop is a largely new 23km stage), on Sunday they end with 2x4 different stages.

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Originally Posted by dupanton

, De Mevius (needs to find his confidence back after crashing in Spa and Corsica PET).

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http://www.rallylovers.be/live/5/92#92

Video Rallye de Wallonie day 2:

http://www.rallysupport.nl/fileadmin...lonie-2018.jpg

Click on the photo or here --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb9IBnruIGU

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dupanton

Verschueren has to win this one to stay in the fight for the title. Princen already won 2 rallies and had a 2nd place in Spa, where Verschueren did not start. Although only the best 6 results count towards the championship, this rally is an ideal opportunity for Verschueren to take back a bunch of point.
His main rivals should be Cherain (if he is back at his old form), Fernémont (lot of confidence after his Spa victory but lacks experience) and Bouche (but he has no rythme and is getting older.
Other contenders for top 5 will be Bedoret, De Mevius (needs to find his confidence back after crashing in Spa and Corsica PET), Canal-Robles with the Fabia WRC etc.

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Your predictions were very good. Verschueren wins the rally, Cherain is second and Fernémont third :)
This time it's 1-2-3-4-5 for Skoda :)

Final results:
http://wallonie.liverally.be:8080/wa...t.jsp?r=1&s=22

http://www.automobileclubnamur.be/ad...5df3c46fee.jpg

It was a nice event. Good battle in front, all in equal machinery, apart from the tyres they were using. Verschueren on Michelin, Cherain on DMack and Fernémont on Pirelli. In the wet this morning, Fernémont managed to set all fastest times. Few photos from the event:

https://scontent.fbru1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...3b&oe=5B92AABD

https://scontent.fbru1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...00&oe=5B502CBC

https://scontent.fbru1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...0e&oe=5B98D3BB

https://scontent.fbru1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...6b&oe=5B9751DE

https://scontent.fbru1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...07&oe=5B525967

Few more: https://www.facebook.com/pg/rallyima...68457049832835

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dimviii

http://www.rallylovers.be/live/5/92#92

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And what happened to De Mevius?

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Originally Posted by Ucci

And what happened to De Mevius?

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-09_635WjnI Went off. By seeing the number of crashes, and the way they happen, I'm not so sure he's ready for what he is trying to do (fight with quickest R5 drivers). It wouldn't be surprising if they stop the program after Ypres, if he doesn't set a great result there.

Video Rallye de wallonie (crash & mistakes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKfFGp3EcBM

https://s17.postimg.cc/k7p90wrbj/sf2_wallo_2018.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/belgianrall...0160796829538/ - De Mevius onboard, with the mistake that caused him to retire.

https://s17.postimg.cc/c6jfp9txr/sf2_monte_2018.jpg

it's that time of year again, where i start sniffing through this forum trying to work out which of the local guys are going to be doing Ypres this year. Entry last year was a bit special, so fingers crossed for one nearly as good this year. Veiby is a nice addition and glad to see Neuville back - any word on Abbring after last year? I saw Demaerschalk is supposedly entering a new C3 R5; fingers crossed they send another driver to promote it too.

Would be good if Basso and Cronin would be back too, but I won't count on either chicken until they hatch.

Bouffier should come, Abbring also should be there, in Fiesta this time.

This is for now the R5 list. Some are not sure yet..

Davy Vanneste - Skoda Fabia R5
Marty McCormack - Skoda Fabia R5
Giandomenico Basso - Skoda Fabia R5 not 100%
Sebastien Bedoret - Skoda Fabia R5
Didier Duquesne - Skoda Fabia R5
Kris Princen - Skoda Fabia R5
Cedric Cherain - Skoda Fabia R5
Vincent Verschueren - Skoda Fabia R5
Robin Maes - Skoda Fabia R5
OC Veiby - Skoda Fabia R5
Rhys Yates - Skoda Fabia R5
David Bogie - Skoda Fabia R5
Hermen Kobus - Skoda Fabia R5
Steve Fernandes - Skoda Fabia R5???

Kevin Abbring - Ford Fiesta R5
PJM Cracco - Ford Fiesta R5
Achiel Boxoen - Ford Fiesta R5
Sam Moffett - Ford Fiesta R5
Matt Edwards - Ford Fiesta R5
Alex Laffey - Ford Fiesta R5
Lawrence Whyte - Ford Fiesta R5
Bruno Parmentier - Ford Fiesta R5
Kevin van Deijne - Ford Fiesta R5
Tuur van den Abeele - Ford Fiesta R5
Bruno Parmentier - Ford Fiesta R5???
Philip Cracco - Ford Fiesta R5

Keith Cronin - Hyundai i20 R5
Thierry Neuville - Hyundai i20 R5
Bryan Bouffier - Hyundai i20 R5

Kevin Demaerschalk - C3 R5 our DS3 R5
Steven Dolfen - Citroën DS3 R5
Hugues Lapouille - Citroën DS3 R5

Guillaume de Mevius - Peugeot 208 t16 R5

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Before Ypres, this weekend there is the 5th round of the Belgian Championship, the Sezoens Rally. The only mixed surface event in Belgium. 22% gravel, the rest is on tarmac, so the cars stay in tarmac configuration with tarmac tyres. Verschueren, Princen and Fernémont, the 3 main contenders for the title, will all start with their Fabia R5. Besides that, there is local driver Matterne, young Skoda BE driver Bedoret, Duquesne and Dutchman Van Loon with Fabia R5s, Irish driver Wright and Cracco Jr with a Fiesta R5 and Dutchman Van Iersel with an i20 R5. Also 5 Porsches, fastest should be Snijers and Monnens. There is also the M-Cup (for BMW), Historic and Junior championship.
I'm codriving in the regional "Criterium" rally in a Citroën Saxo.

Sezoens Rally - 2018 (HD)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSaHEPVBuHQ

https://s7.postimg.cc/9jzmwvptn/sf2_boc_2018.jpg

Cherain in a C3 for Ypres apparently.

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Originally Posted by dodge33cymru

Cherain in a C3 for Ypres apparently.

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possibly, but not sure yet... De Maerschalk will have difficulties having his C3 in time too.

I've just realised I havent seen any BRC on TV this year so far. :(

In the UK they used to show the highlights of each round on Motors TV. Is it not shown on MotorsportTV, or have I missed it ?

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Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC

I've just realised I havent seen any BRC on TV this year so far. :(

In the UK they used to show the highlights of each round on Motors TV. Is it not shown on MotorsportTV, or have I missed it ?

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You can watch them still on Youtube :)

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Entrylist for Ypres is updated every day:
https://www.ypresrally.com/nl/conten...srally-entries

Already +-20 R5 cars on the list. There should be over 30. Still a couple of top entries to come.

Another contender for the win, Bryan Bouffier has entered. Like last year, he will drive a Fabia R5 from BMA. List starts to look good. After the R5 drivers it will be the first time we'll see such a big number of Porsche GT3's in Ypres, probably 10 cars or more, among them a good number of fast drivers. :)

Still waiting for the entries of Bogie, Duquesne (if car gets repaired), Princen and Yates with Fabia, Cronin with i20, Abbring, Boxoen, Cracco Sr and Cracco Jr with Fiesta.
Then there are a couple of other possible entries too, like Preston, Kakad, Casier, Parmentier and maybe some suprises.

https://s15.postimg.cc/lfmsb0h0b/sf2_orc_2018.jpg

26 R5s for Ypres so far by my count, just hoping on Abbring and maybe Basso and Bogie as potential big hitters now. When do entries close?

6 Porsches will be plenty of fun to watch and hear too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dodge33cymru

26 R5s for Ypres so far by my count, just hoping on Abbring and maybe Basso and Bogie as potential big hitters now. When do entries close?

6 Porsches will be plenty of fun to watch and hear too.

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Probably no Basso.
Abbring and Bogie will come for sure. And a few other possible surprises in the making, if you can believe de rumours...

Abbring with Citroen C3 R5

https://scontent.fbru3-1.fna.fbcdn.n...c0&oe=5B80434C

Interesting indeed, Fords are suddenly looking very outclassed...

The first 30 of seeded list of Wervik. Besides MSport all the R5 pilots doing a full MSA BRC are present!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...81112608634555

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So entries for Ypres have closed and the Facebook feed seems to have saved Abbring's presence for it's usual 'last big reveal'.

So Parmentier, McCormack and Fernemont have snuck in, that's all good for a bit of mid-pack depth of competition, but I'm curious to know who they were chasing that didn't come off? Who were some of those 'rumours' around?

Either way, may be a couple of top class cars down on last year but no-one too significant and looking forward to getting there in a couple of weeks today.

BTW, does anyone know if tickets bought early bird need to be swapped for physical tickets? Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dodge33cymru

So entries for Ypres have closed and the Facebook feed seems to have saved Abbring's presence for it's usual 'last big reveal'.

So Parmentier, McCormack and Fernemont have snuck in, that's all good for a bit of mid-pack depth of competition, but I'm curious to know who they were chasing that didn't come off? Who were some of those 'rumours' around?

Either way, may be a couple of top class cars down on last year but no-one too significant and looking forward to getting there in a couple of weeks today.

BTW, does anyone know if tickets bought early bird need to be swapped for physical tickets? Thanks

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Yes, tickets must be swapped in the rally shop.