Peugeot out to resume its winning ways in Ypres

Peugeot’s Ypres record includes five wins, two of which were the work of Bruno Thiry driving a 206 WRC, in 2002 and 2003, while the three others were notched up by 207 S2000 runners who scored back-to-back successes in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

This year, Peugeot will be out in force once again in Belgium where it will have just one objective: a sixth victory.

One of the things that have set the Ypres Rally apart is the status it has enjoyed for many, many years as one of the sport’s leading European fixtures. With the exception of the Mont Kemmel test (which culminates at an altitude of 210 metres!), its uniformly flat, narrow, ultra-fast stages and countless 90-degree junctions leave little scope for flamboyant driving styles.

Yet the event continues to stand out as a huge crowd-puller, with spectators drawn by the promise of an invariably close fight and by the unique atmosphere which prevails in the so-called City of Cats through rally week.

“The roads in this part of western Belgium are unique,” notes Bertrand Vallat, the engineer in charge of the Peugeot 207 S2000’s development. “The amount of available grip varies considerably, although it is always at a premium. Corner-cutting is rife, but those who indulge in it run a real risk of puncturing. On top of that, it can cause the car to ricochet from one side of the road to the other, and there is frequently an awaiting ditch. The ideal set-up for this rally is very different to that employed for the recent IRC asphalt rounds. We run a higher ride height and softer suspension. Outright performance is traded for a car which is easy to drive and which gives the drivers the confidence in its reactions.”

Set-ups are one thing, but the art of sensing the available grip is another, especially under the sort of repeated heavy braking for which Ypres is renowned, making experience especially crucial. In 2010, Thierry Neuville profited from his home event to steer the Peugeot Belgium-Luxemburg 207 S2000 to his first IRC podium.

“I think I have made quite a lot of progress since last June,” says the recent Tour de Corse winner who is this year co-driven by Nicolas Gilsoul. “That’s why I am targeting this weekend’s victory. If I see a chance, I will pounce on it. Deep down, I feel very confident, but I don’t intend to take any unwarranted risks if things don’t work out that way. This is my home event but that’s no reason to go overboard. My number one priority is Peugeot’s 2011 IRC bid.”

Although he counts as one of the favourites, the Belgian youngster will face stiff opposition from several other drivers, including the six-time Ypres winner Freddy Loix.

Peugeot Belux is extremely committed to the IRC and is looking forward to its home round event and to supporting its star crew which is currently fourth in the championship.

The best-placed Peugeot driver in the provisional IRC Drivers’ standings is Bryan Bouffier (3rd).

“I have only been to Ypres once before,” points out the Peugeot France driver who is co-driven by Xavier Panseri. “The main thing will be to make sure we take good pace notes because these stages are very complex. They are very fast and it isn’t easy to find the ideal rhythm. My aim will be to have fun and hopefully finish in the big points to boost my IRC chances.”

In addition to winning January’s Rallye Monte-Carlo, the French pair is enjoying a good run of success in Poland.

Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh, too, have only been to Ypres on one other occasion.

“More than anything else, I want to make up for my woes in Ukraine where I was eliminated from the fight for victory by a run of punctures,” says the Peugeot UK driver. “My recent two days of testing were very fruitful. I think my 207 S2000 will be competitive and my objective is to get back into the fight for the IRC title.”