Ypres Rally, let the party begin again

For 2^e consecutive year, the Ardeca Ypres Rally Belgium (August 18-21) will host the WRC, in addition to counting towards the conquest of the national title. Adrian Fernémont will not be part of the party in the Westhoek. On the other hand, Sébastien Bedoret, unfortunate hero of the 2021 edition, will drive a Skoda Fabia Evo identical to that of Gino Bux, the revelation of the season.

Le rally of Finland barely finished, all eyes turn to Ypres. We will regret, of course, that neither Sébastien Loeb ni Sébastien Ogier have not checked the Westhoek bitumen in their agenda. But the presence of the usual tenors should attract thousands of spectators from Hauts-de-France and Belgium.

Yohan Rossel at the Ypres Rally

On the French side, we can count on Yohan Rossel and Stéphane Lefèbvre (Citroën C3) to take on Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda Fabia Evo) in WRC2. Some Belgians hope to make their voice heard in this contested category. We obviously think of Gino Bux (Skoda Fabia Evo), Grégoire Munster (Hyundai i20), Vincent Verschueren (VW Polo GTI), Pieter-Jan Michiel Cracco (Hyundai i20). But these fast regional riders will be joined by Sébastien Bedoret who, like Bux, will drive a Fabia Evo from the SXM team.

« This was not at all planned, explains the fastest gardener in the Flat Country. I even thought I had mourned the Belgian championship. Without a budget and after having encountered a lot of problems with the Ford Fiesta, I couldn't imagine being at the start of the most publicized race (and the most expensive. Ed.) of the year. A few days before the closing of the entries, Jourdan Serderidis offered me the 2^e Skoda Fabia Evo from his team. »

« I remember that, last year, Sébastien got involved in the fight, explains the businessman. He occupied a very nice 7^e place before being delayed by transmission problems at the start of the last stage. We must support young people. So, I decided to give it a boost. »Won't the lack of competition constitute a handicap for Bedoret, who hasn't ridden at this level since May? “ I'm going to compete in the Rally van Staden on the Fabia this weekend, retorts the future dad. The roads are similar to what you encounter in Ypres. I'm not playing a championship, or even a future program. I consider this participation as an unexpected gift and I want to try to take my revenge on the fate that delayed me twelve months ago. This is my favorite course of the season. I have enough experience there to know that you have to ride there at 99%. It is essential to keep a very small margin because an error often results in abandonment. » For the occasion, Sébastien Bedoret will be supported, like last year, by Lille's François Gilbert.

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