Meeke headlines 25 R5 entries for BRC Condroz Rally

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It has been a regular tradition for years and this year, too, that tradition is respected: the Belgian Rally Championship is closed in a festive way in Huy.

Verschueren Vincent – Broekaert Gert // Škoda Fabia R5 // Aarova Rally Sprint // Sam Tickell // RacerViews

The Condroz Rally will provide a beautiful backdrop for Belgium’s finest and for some big international names. The starting field looks impressive, with some world class players that will be the ideal reference for our compatriots on the 20 special stages of the 45th edition of the Condroz Rally.

With no fewer than 25 R5s on the registration list, it look like it will be a great fight. There are 18 Fabia’s R5, led by Kris Meeke, making his rally return. After an unfortunate first half of the season at Citroën, he was put on non-active for a while, but in 2019 the Brit will defend the colors of Toyota at the WRC.

The course of the Condroz Rally is not unknown for Kris Meeke, who made his first appearance in 2006 in a Citroën C2-R2, before coming 2nd in 2014 with a Citroën DS3 R5 behind the untouchable Subaru Impreza WRC of Kris Princen. Kris Meeke can certainly be counted among the favorites, as is Stéphane Lefebvre, the spearhead of Citroën in Huy. The Frenchman has developed the Citroën C3 R5 and has shown his talent, both in Belgium and in the World Championship. In both 2016 and 2015, the Nordist was in second place in Huy.

However, the two international stars will not be given the victory as the level is the JobFixers Belgian Rally Championship is very high and experience has often proved decisive in the Condroz Rally.

Kris Princen, triple winner and Belgian champion, no longer has to worry about the Championship. Together with Peter Kaspers, he cango full-out for the win, just like his great title rival and outgoing champion Vincent Verschueren, who will be navigated by Stéphane Prévot. Adrian Fernémont and Sébastien Bedoret want to confirm their fastest times of the East Belgian Rally, while Cédric Cherain and Xavier Bouche are also aiming for a top result to end the season. The same applies to Olivier Collard, Cédric De Cecco, Melissa Debackere, Bertrand Grooten, David Bonjean and Steve Matterne, to mention just a few of the clappers in the Skoda camp.

Citroen introduces three C3 R5s, alonside that of Stéphane Lefebvre. Xavier Baugnet will discover the C3 R5 and Kevin Demaerschalk wants to end the season on a positive note. The fourth Citroën R5 is in the hands of Emmanuel Gonay. Ford is counting on Cédric Busin and Alain Litt.

The R5s are currently the top class in the JobFixers Belgian Rally Championship, but of course there are still more jewels at the start. Just think of the Citroën DS3 WRC with which “Mister Rally”, the big boss of the worldwide rally sport, Yves Matton, will open the course in their own region. Bastien Rouard starts in the race with a Skoda Fabia WRC and Guino Kenis gets his Mini JCW RRC once again from the stable.

Kris Meeke (GBR) seen during the FIA World Rally Championship 2017 in Alghero, Italy on june 8, 2017 // Ivo Kivistik / Red Bull Content Pool // P-20170610-00261 // Usage for editorial use only // Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further information. //


The GTs are looking forward to the Abarth 124 of Jean-Pierre Van de Wauwer, who takes on the Porsches of John Wartique and Henri Schmelcher. Another spectacular rear wheel drive is the Ford Escort MK2 from Hubert Deferm and Pieter-Jan Maeyaert. These are historic cars, but with a modern components to provide better handling for more their real-wheel drive 300 horsepower characteristics.

Much is expected from Stéphane Hermann, who in his own region was unlucky with his Fiat Punto S1600. His Italian pioneer is a nice reference for the Clio’s of Jan de Winkel and Florian Jupsin, for the Citroën DS3 R3Ts of Anthony Martin and Manu Canal-Robles and certainly for the fast Opel Astra kit car of Christophe Verstaen.

The Condroz Rally will start on Saturday 3 November at 9h in Huy. The first stage will be closed at 20h after 10 special stages and 116 km against the clock. On Sunday there are 10 more tests on the program from 8h. The winner will drive shortly after 17h on the finish podium in the bustling rally center along the banks of the Maas in Huy.