The 2022 World Rally Championship season continues this weekend with the ninth round, Ypres Rally Belgium.
Championship Rundown
Kalle Rovanperä has a hold on the Championship lead heading into Ypres Rally Belgium with a 94-point lead over Ott Tänak. Tänak moved into second place in the championship standings after a win at Secto Rally Finland earlier this month and sits one point ahead of teammate Thierry Neuville. Neuville hasn’t won a rally so far this year but could take his first win of the season on home soil. Elfyn Evans sits in fourth place with nine points separating him and Neuville. Takamoto Katsuta sits in fifth, 13 points behind teammate Evans.
Ypres Rally Belgium Rundown
Ypres Rally Belgium spans 281.58 km over 20 stages, with all stages being asphalt. Rally Belgium is one of the few rallies on the WRC schedule that features asphalt. It is also a rally that has little room for error, like any other rally, but one mistake and your rally could be over. Day one of the rally will feature a 7.34 km shakedown. Day two will feature eight stages spanning 97.02 km. The third day will feature eight stages spanning 133.22 km. Day four will feature the final four stages spanning 51.34 km.
A Look Back At 2021
The 2021 running of Ypres Rally Belgium was the first running of the event on the WRC schedule. It was largely dominated by Hyundai drivers with Neuville, Breen, and Tänak winning 15 out of 19 stages. Neuville would win the rally with a 30.7-second lead over teammate Craig Breen. Ott Tänak would fall to sixth after a puncture but would win the power stage. Kalle Rovanperä would place third.
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team has only won one rally so far this year, which was Rally Monte-Carlo. The M-Sport WRT hasn’t been on the podium since Rally Italia Sardegna where Craig Breen placed second, their best finish since came at Safari Rally Kenya where Breen placed sixth. Breen was given the all-clear to put caution to the wind at Secto Rally Finland, which nearly worked as he was in fifth most of the rally until he hit something hard in an overgrowth which ended his rally. There are no drivers in the top five of the championship standings, with the highest being Craig Breen who sits in sixth 17 points behind Takamoto Katusa who sits in fifth.
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team drivers attending Ypres Rally Belgium
Craig Breen
Gus Greensmith
Adrien Fourmaux
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team
The Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team couldn’t ask for a better season thus far, as they hold three spots in the top five of the championship, holding the first, fourth, and fifth spots. The Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT also sits in first place in the manufacturer championship, with an 88-point lead over the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team.
Toyota Gazoo Racing Drivers attending Ypres Rally Belgium
Kalle Rovanperä
Elfyn Evans
Takamoto Katsuta
Esapekka Lappi
Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team
The Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team has won two rallies so far this year, with the most recent being Secto Rally Finland. Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville sit second and third respectively in the championship standings with only a point separating the two. The Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT drivers haven’t had the easiest time this year as the Hyundai i20 Rally1 Hybrid hasn’t been the greatest, but nonetheless, the drivers have been able to make the best out of a bad situation.
Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team Drivers attending Ypres Rally Belgium
Thierry Neuville
Ott Tänak
Oliver Solberg
The Experience Factor
Ypres Rally Belgium is a rally that requires experience to be able to push the limits. That experience is something few drivers have, but for those that do it may be an advantage heading into the event. Craig Breen and Thierry Neuville have both won at this rally, with Breen winning in 2019 before the event was added to the WRC calendar, and Neuville winning last year in the first year as a WRC event. Neuville is hoping to take home his first win of the year on home soil. While Craig Breen who placed second last year will be looking to set his season back on track.
To Gain Experience
Oliver Solberg hasn’t had the best season so far, having only placed in the top ten twice, most recently at Safari Rally Kenya. Solberg’s highest finish this year came at Rally Sweden where he placed eighth. Solberg’s first run at Secto Rally Finland is one he would likely like to forget after he was forced to retire just 300 m into the second stage of the rally. Oliver’s main objective heading into Ypres Rally Belgium is to gain as much experience as possible, while also finishing the rally.
My name is Joe Moore, I am a writer for Belly Up Hockey, Belly Up Racing, and Belly Up Sports. You can find me on Twitter.
