Ypres joins the 2020 calendar to replace Japan

The long Japanese trip, which was to conclude the World Rally Championship WRC 2020, will not happen this year to the great dismay of fans of rally nippons et des supporters de Toyota.

The FIA ​​confirmed this Wednesday morning the replacement of the asphalt round, planned from November 19 to 22, with a trip to Belgium, on the legendary roads of the Ypres Rally. Entry restrictions into Japanese territory due to the coronavirus pandemic got the better of Japan's return to the World Cup.

Entered several times in the European Rally Championship ERC, the round will join the world calendar for the first time (just like Belgium) and will offer a particular challenge for the drivers, with its ultra-fast course, which could prove to be very delicate if the autumn weather were to change. mix.

“It was a great honor to receive this request and we immediately got to work, explains Jan Huyghe, member of the board of directors of the Club Superstage, in charge of organizing the rally.

We have adapted the well-known special stages in Ypres held on Friday and Saturday to the format and schedule of the World Championship. We will perform two loops of 5 specials on both days.

On the last day of racing, we will go to another iconic place in Belgian motorsport: the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with its legendary Raidillon. The final day will include two special stages around the circuit, in Ster and Malmedy, as well as a special using the circuit of F1.

This stage will also serve as a PowerStage. In total, the Ypres Rally Belgium route will have around 300 km to compete against the clock. As we now hold the race in November, many stages will be run at night, reliving a tradition from the glorious past of the Ypres Rally.

That said, we will focus completely on the WRC race; the Ypres Rally Masters and Ypres Historic Rally will not be organized this year. »

“We are very disappointed that Rally Japan will not take place this year due to the pandemic, given all the hard work of the Japanese authorities, the Japanese Automobile Federation and the organizing team, comments Yves Matton, head of rallying at the FIA. I thank them for that.

Belgium has a great tradition and passion for rallying, as evidenced by the number of Belgians in different roles – drivers, mechanics, team leaders, journalists – in the WRC. The route will highlight the DNA of rallying as it crosses the country, linking Ypres to Spa-Francorchamps, two emblematic places of Belgian motorsport. »

A test which will necessarily be special for Thierry Neuville et Nicolas Gilsoul, représentants belges en WRC, et qui auront à coeur de briller sur leurs terres, d’autant plus si l’équipage Hyundai demeure en course pour un titre mondial qui aurait une saveur toute particulière à domicile.