The 60th edition of the Ardeca Ypres Rally was probably one of the most high-profile editions in its rich history. With many world-class drivers at the start, the level of skill and speed were exceptionally high. Stéphane Lefebvre, last year’s winner, took the lead from New Zealander Hayden Paddon on Saturday afternoon and never looked back. The former French WRC ace was driving at the limit to secure his second victory in a row. He had to push to win by just 10.3 seconds from Paddon.
“I have a lot of praise for Hayden Paddon, who started in Ypres 12 years again after his first start. Without any knowledge of the roads, he went exceptionally fast. Our Toyota Yaris lacked top speed, which meant I really had to dig deep and take a lot of risks to beat him. I have never driven faster in Ypres, not even when I won the round in WRC2. It even got more exciting when we broke a front shock absorber on the penultimate stage. Fortunately, it held up,” Lefebvre said. It was even more incredible as he was not even able to test with the Toyota this week.
Hayden Paddon surprised many followers with a great second place in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 from BMA. “I will have to come back to win,” Paddon laughed. The two-time European champion drove in the WRC for Hyundai for five years. “I knew Lefebvre would be the man to beat. In recent years I have gained a lot of experience on tarmac, but Stéphane was still a fraction too fast. I got everything out of the Hyundai,” Paddon said. He undoubtedly enjoyed the atmosphere on the Grote Markt in Ypres, where a crowd of spectators admired the thoroughbred machines.
Behind the two former WRC drivers, Jos Verstappen took the maximum points for the Belgian Championship. The Skoda driver was genuinely proud. “We drove exceptionally hard today and I am quite proud to be here among some of the very best rally drivers in the world. A podium in Ypres, that is an achievement I am proud of. However, things did not start ideally on Friday, because I had brake problems in the first loop,” said Verstappen said. He further consolidated his points lead in the championship.
Dani Sordo showed why he has 20 years of WRC experience as a factory driver on his way to 5th place. The Spanish driver, at the wheel of the Porsche 992 Rally GT took the win in RGT. Sordo did not need much time to get the best out of the Porsche, and his pace and comfort were already clear on Friday evening’s opening loop. There he took two outright stage wins.
“The Porsche quickly gave me confidence in the fast areas. It was only on the cobblestones of the Kemmelberg that we lost a lot of time due to a lack of traction,” Sordo said.
Sordo was in a duel with Belgian champion Cédric Cherain on Friday evening, but the latter made a mistake in Langemark, losing 54 seconds in the process. “It was a half spin without damage, but we were on a narrow track between two ditches. It took a while before we could continue. Too bad, but I’m happy that we showed that we can match the times of a world-class driver like Sordo,” Cherain said.
In the end, he was able to beat Bernd Casier to 6th place, swapping positions on the last stage.
Fifth place went to Davy Vanneste, who was able to compete with the fastest drivers despite an unfortunate qualifying mistake on Thursday when he had a small off. Another hot moment in Dikkebus cost him 17 seconds, but it did not detract from his great performance. Vanneste was the fastest Belgian ahead of Cherain and Casier and confirmed that he is a true specialist of the Ypres classic.
Ypres record holder Freddy Loix showed his skills in his Skoda Fabia RS. On Friday evening he was the only one who could put Paddon under pressure. On Saturday morning he started too cautiously, losing time in Dikkebus but his result was ultimately ruined by a flat tyre.
“I am really disappointed about the result and that flat tyre, but on the other hand I am proud, because this weekend I had the speed to win again.”
Vincent Verschueren finished a consistent rally in 9th place, ahead of the young Estonian Romet Jürgenson. The Junior World Champion drove very strongly during his introduction to the difficult tarmac tests in Ypres. Charles Munster came home 11th, ahead of Bjorn Syx, Gilles Pyck and Jonas Dewilde.
It was a fight to the last stage between Dewilde and Patrick Snijers, with Dewilde snatching 14th on the last stage from his mentor.
Although the pace at the front was scorching high, Niels Reynvoet suffered an unfortunate accident in his Citroën. He went off the track on the Kemmelberg test, followed shortly afterwards by Lander Depotter, who lost his leading position in the Stellantis Cup due to a series of somersaults. The crews were ok.
The youngsters in the Stellantis Cup had a lot to fight for, and the victory went to Maxim Decock, who narrowly beat Ypres resident Lander Dhaene after an exciting cat-and-mouse battle.
In the Rally3s, the victory went to Christophe Merlevede, while Joachim Dequeker was the fastest in the RC5 class and the BRC Trophy.
With four top international drivers, three former WRC factory drivers and an ex-F1 driver, the top 4 of the 60th Ardeca Ypres Rally, it is clear that Ypres is back on the international rally map.
