Simon Jean-Joseph and Jack Boyère’s European campaign makes a port of call in Belgium next weekend for the 43rd Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally. The French crew will be looking for a top result with their Citroën C2 Super 1600 which is built and run by PH Sport in association with staff from Citroën Sport.
Ypres has long been an emblematic round of the European Rally Championship (ERC, Round 5) and this year also counts towards the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) of which it is the third round.
Much of the all-asphalt action is located near the French border, while the event’s main facilities are based in Ypres, including the celebrated, buzzing Market Square service park. The programme features two legs, with very short road sections taking crews out to the nine different stages – all within striking distance of Ypres – which they are scheduled to contest twice each.
Yves Matton, Citroën Sport’s Customer Competition Manager, is himself Belgian and consequently ideally qualified to talk about the event: “Probably more than any other ERC round, Ypres is unique. The stages include lots of junctions and are extremely fast, although the roads are narrow and lined with deep, beckoning ditches that never fail to catch out the over-enthusiastic drivers. The constant changes of grip are another important factor that needs to be taken onboard, especially in wet weather. Experience is vital and few drivers get a top finish the first time they come here. It is only after a few visits that it becomes possible to read the lie of the land properly. “
“Simon Jean-Joseph has done this event twice before, ” continues Yves Matton, “so he should be able put the combination of that prior knowledge, his skill and the speed of the Citroën C2 Super 1600 on sealed surfaces to good effect to perhaps target a topfive finish. With all the junctions, it is essential to have a nicely balanced car, but even then it won’t be easy against all the four-wheel drive cars. However, there is a chance to secure a top finish in ERC terms against other drivers who have less experience of this type of terrain. “
“The pace of this event is just so fast, ” enthuses Simon Jean-Joseph. “You hardly get time to catch your breath and Saturday’s programme features almost 200km of stages. This is a very tough rally and one for the specialists. It is never easy to know exactly how much grip there is, and that can be a real nightmare in the wet. The locals know exactly where they can cut corners so as not to shed too much speed without running the risk of picking up a puncture. I am beginning to feel more and more comfortable with the Citroën C2 Super 1600 but once again we will face stiff opposition from our rivals in four-wheel drive machinery. Even so, I think we have several trump cards in our hand and we could well come away from Ypres with a top result. “
The 2007 Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally in brief…
* This will be the 43rd running of this event which this year counts towards both the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC, Round 3 of 9) and towards the European Rally Championship (ERC, Round 5 of 10).
* The rally is based in Ypres, with the service park on the town centre’s Market Square. The Media Room is in Ypres’ Noodle Hotel. The town itself is situated in the north-west of Belgium very close to the French border. Lillie Airport is just 40km away while Brussels Airport is 135km away.
* The total length of the 2007 event is 559.43km, including 288.82km divided into 18 stages (9 different).
* Recce is scheduled for Tuesday June 19 (from 07.00 until 22.00 – SS1/4, 2/5, 3/6, 8/14 and 12/18) and Wednesday June 20 (from 07.00 until 22.00 – SS9/15, 10/16, 11/17 and 7/13. Three passes are authorised at a maximum speed of 90kph (50kph in built-up areas).
* Shakedown uses a 4.88km stage near the village of Nieuwkerke and runs from 19.00 until 23.00 on Thursday June 21.
* Tyres: There are no quantity restrictions concerning tyres. Crews are authorised to carry two spares if they wish. Mousse run-flat systems are not permitted.
* Just one spare gearbox is permitted for two-wheel drive, naturally-aspirated cars. Engines are sealed.
* Leg 1 (Friday June 22): 177.56km, including 91.68km divided into 6 stages (3 different). Rally starts in Ypres at 18.00. Service A, Ypres (18.00, 20 minutes). SS1 (Dikkebus 1, 11.32km), SS2 (Zonnebeke 1, 12.66km) and SS3 (Langemark 1, 21.86km). Regroup, Ypres (20.15, 10 minutes). Service B, Ypres (20.25, 20 minutes). SS4 (Dikkebus 2), SS5 (Zonnebeke 2) and SS6 (Langemark 2). Podium, Ypres (22.40). Service C, Ypres (22.40, 45 minutes). Last car into parc ferme at 23.35.
* Leg 2 (Saturday June 23): 381.87km, including 197.14km divided into 12 stages (6 different). Cars leave parc ferme in Ypres at 11.10. Service D, Ypres (11.20, 20 minutes). SS7 (Sauvegarde 1, 16.35km), SS8 (Westouter 1, 8.93km), SS9 (Watou 1, 12.33km). SS10 (Krombeke/Vleteren 1, 14.00km). Regroup, Ypres (13.36, 25 minutes). Service E (14.24, 20 minutes). SS11 (Hollebeke 1, 14.42km) and SS12 (Heuvelland 1, 32.54km. Regroup, Ypres (16.35, 20 minutes). Service F (16.55, 20 minutes). SS13 (Sauvegarde 2), SS14 (Westouter 2), SS15 (Watou 2) and SS16 (Krombeke/Vleteren 2). Regroup, Ypres (19.11, 20 minutes). Service G (19.54, 20 minutes). SS17 (Hollebeke 2) and SS18 (Heuvelland 2). Regroup, Ypres (21.35, 6 minutes). Service H (22.10, 20 minutes). Finish ceremony, from 22.30.
* The finish ceremony (Ypres Market Square) starts at 22.30.
* Note: Simon and Jack have contested the event on two previous occasions: in 2004 (2nd) and 2005 (7th).
* Another Citroën C2 Super 1600 has been entered by Britons Daren Gass/Neil Shanks. About ten C2-R2s will also start the event.
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