IRC news before Ypres Rally

Ypres Rally car switch for IRC star Arzeno

Mathieu Arzeno will switch to the IRC 2WD Cup on this week’s Geko Ypres Rally.

The rising French star had been due to drive a Super 2000-specification Peugeot 207 for Saintéloc Racing on round six of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

However, he will now switch to a Saintéloc-run Citroën DS3 R3, in which he is leading the Citroën Racing Trophy in his homeland.

“I was supposed to take part in this event in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000, but the car wasn’t available,” said Arzeno. “So we’re going to race the Citroën and the aim’s the same – gather experience for the future. We’re going to be up against some very good Belgian drivers in this category. I know the car well, but it’ll be my first time on the Geko Rally. I’ll have to find the right set-up quickly to be in with a chance. The roads are very quick with a lot of hidden apexes and direction changes.”

While Arzeno is an Ypres novice, his co-driver, Renaud Jamoul is from Belgium and has considerable experience of the asphalt event.

Remembering when: Loix last drove a Peugeot in Ypres

Freddy Loix, who will be chasing his eighth victory on the Geko Ypres Rally in Belgium this week in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000, is no stranger to driving the French built cars on the event as this picture from 2009 proves.

Loix was in his second season driving for the Kronos Racing-run Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg operation back in 2009. However, not even a change of car livery, designed by local school children, could inspire him to victory after a puncture slowed him in the closing stages and ensured top spot for British driver Kris Meeke in a Peugeot UK-backed entry.

Hanninen back in the IRC and eager for success

Juho Hänninen, the most successful driver in the history of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, will return to the series on the Geko Ypres Rally this week determined to score a strong result.

The 2010 IRC champion, a winner of nine IRC rounds, hasn’t always enjoyed the same level of success in Belgium as he has on other events but hopes that will change when the rally begins on Friday afternoon.

“It is an event where Mikko [Markkula] and I did not do really well in the past, so we want to be more successful this year,” said the Finn, who won on his last appearance in the IRC on April’s Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally. “Our ambition is to win as many points as possible.”

Hänninen, who will also be chasing points in the combined European championship section of the event, will pilot the sole ŠKODA Motorsport Fabia Super 2000 in Ypres: team-mate Jan Kopecký is contesting a clashing Czech championship round instead.

Co-driver Roberts to be remembered in Ypres

The Intercontinental Rally Challenge community will pay tribute to Gareth Roberts during this week’s Geko Ypres Rally.

Cars will carry a tribute sticker in memory of Roberts, who lost his life competing on Targa Florio-Rally Internazionale Di Sicilia last Saturday, while drivers and co-drivers will assemble for a group photograph where they will hold up a board with words of remembrance to Roberts.

The photoshoot will take place in the market square at 13:00hrs tomorrow.

Lotus rally car set for Ypres course car run

The Lotus Exige R-GT rally car will be in action on the Geko Ypres Rally, round six of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Running as a course car, the machine will be eligible for the IRC 2WD Cup when it’s homologated for competition use. It’s the first time it has been used on a competitive event. Bernardo Sousa, who has taken part on selected rounds of the IRC in the past, will drive the car.

“I am very pleased to be at the Geko Ypres Rally, even if I’m only driving the Exige as a course car,” said Sousa. “This presence will certainly help us to start having some stage time comparisons against those who will be our next opponents. During the tests the car has improved continuously and I am discovering its great potential day after day.”

More spectator arenas for Ypres Rally

Fans attending this week’s Geko Ypres Rally, round six of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, will be able to take advantage of an increased number of Spectator Arenas.

Thousands of fans traditionally descend on the historic Belgian town and the surrounding countryside to watch the thrilling action unfold and organisers have made a number of arrangements to enable them to do so in a safe and comfortable environment.

“The arenas are easy to reach where you can keep an overview of the cars as these arenas are most often elevated viewpoints,” said Ypres Rally Manager Alain Penasse. “Every Spectator Arena is branded by its sponsor and features catering, live radio and toilets.”