Countdown to Geko Ypres Rally has started

With less than two months to go before the 47th edition of the Geko Ypres Rally, preparations are almost flat out from now on. The Ypres Rally, by most people considered the top event on the Belgian rally calendar and one of the classics of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and European rally Championship, will take place from 23 until 25 June.

Biggest and most exciting news is that in the 2011 edition, GT cars will be allowed to participate. Rally organisers set up a separate competition for GT class rallycars during the Geko Ypres Rally. This means that all GT cars with a Belgian homologation can enter the event and score points for the BFO Belgian Rally Championship. Foreign teams can also participate if their GT car is conform with Belgian regulations. The GT crews will tackle the stages between regular rally participants and the historic rally, and will do exactly the same stages and distance as all other cars in the IRC event.

The special stages and itinerary for the 2011 event have also been finalized. On Friday 24 June there will be 6 stages among which the new stage of Dikkebus Westouter. These two popular stages have been linked to one another and now form a new spectacular and challenging special stage. The two other stages on Friday are the classics of Langemark and Mesen-Sauvegarde.

On Saturday 25 June, the Geko Ypres Rally will have its usual popular stages such as Kemmel, Watou, Proven-Vleteren, Hollebeke and Heuvelland. The famous and very demanding special stage of Heuvelland has been slightly modified towards the end of the stage. The Geko Ypres Rally will also cross the French border in this year’s edition, with two special stages in the North of France. The all-new special stage of Lille Métropole will be held in the vicinity of Linselles, whereas the show special stage in the centre of Wasquehal remains.

The entry list for the 2011 Geko Ypres Rally has opened 22 April. A maximum of 100 teams will be accepted.