Three weeks after the Omloop van Vlaanderen, the fourth round of the Kroon-Oil Belgian Rally Championship is scheduled for Saturday 25 September. The East Belgian Rally, held in and around Sant-Vith in the East Cantons, offers a completely different profile than the previous races. Ghislain de Mevius, with two victories the strong man at the start of the season, logically starts as the favourite, but five top drivers are looking to break his winning streak. Game on!
All rally drivers agree: the special stages of the East Belgian Rally are among the most beautiful chrono stages in the country. The natural curves, often blind, the asphalt with a lot of grip and the high speeds make this course a challenge for man and machine. That is why it is a pity that only 45 teams will start in the Kroon-Oil BRC, in addition to 29 teams in the Criterium.
However, the level of the leading group once again guarantees a very exciting match. Ghislain de Mevius, winner of the Omloop van Vlaanderen and the South Belgian Rally, will open the course with his Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. Ghislain de Mevius has not yet won the competition, but in 2019 he was on the second scaffold on the podium.
Kris Princen has already won the East Belgian Rally twice. The Limburger is chasing a first victory with his Citroën C3 Rally2, just like Adrian Fernémont, the winner of 2019. And with Cédric Cherain there is another specialist who comes to Sankt-Vith, because the Skoda driver has shown his speed before. on these special stages. The only question is whether Cédric Cherain will have enough rhythm, because it is his first race of the Kroon-Oil BRC this season.
Pieter-Jan Michiel Cracco is not there, but Vincent Verschueren, second in Roeselare and Ypres, is present with his VW Polo Rally2. Verschueren would like to take a step higher on the podium. That is also what Sébastien Bedoret, the official driver of Skoda Belgium, wants. Bedoret was in full battle for victory in both Ypres and Roeselare when things went wrong. He certainly has the speed to compete. We should certainly not doubt that at Grégoire Munster. The Hyundai driver finally wants to be spared bad luck to take a shot at his first podium place, and why not win, in the Belgian championship. These natural trials must lie to the two-time Junior Champion.
With 14 Rally2’s the starting field looks very strong. Regional drivers Tobias Brüls (Skoda Fabia) and the brothers Kevin and Marco Hommes (Skoda Fabia) are of course also keen on a good result, as are Harry Bouillon and Jimmy D’hondt with their Ford Fiestas. We are also curious how high Nicola Stampaert can aim at his introduction to the fast course in the East Cantons. His 8th place in Roeselare was already promising. Tommy Rollinger (Peugeot 208 T16) and Henri Schmelcher (Hyundai i20) complete the field in the top class.
Among the GTs, Timothy Van Parijs will be present for the 13th time in the 15th East Belgian Rally. The Porsche driver will receive resistance from Romain Delhez’s 997 GT3 and Chris Vandamme’s Alpine A110 RGT.
Tom Ceuppens won the Omloop van Vlaanderen in the M-Cup. He wants to confirm, but Franky Boulat wants to confirm his dominance with his proven M3. Philip Lommers and Loïc Pirot, strong in the South Belgian Rally, lie in wait to punish every mistake.
The East Belgian Rally, the fourth round of the Kroon-Oil Belgian Rally Championship, once again guarantees an exciting race course. See you on Saturday 25 September from 9h00 in Sankt-Vith or on the Facebook page of the Kroon-Oil BRC for the live broadcasts from the East Belgian Rally.
