Round 5, Belgium

Geko Ypres Rally has made itself a strong reputation to attrack a start studded entry field and an army of spectator. The spectator friendly atmosphere on the stages and in the servicepark guarantees the high numbers of visitors each year. In 1976 the rally became part of the European Championship and since 2006 one of the pioneer events of the International Rally Challenge. Our rally has still an agreement with Eurosport Events until 2013.

The heart of the rally is located in the bustling and historic town center of Ypres, famous for its typical architecture and impressive town square where the servicepark is located throughout from Wednesday on. This year’s event is as usual a very compact asphalt rally full of new developments but above all one that enables us to dwap up a efficient safety plan in order to give accesss to as many spectators as possible to the stages in an orderly controlled manner that does not jeopardize the safety of the rally. As always live images and results are transmitted on the main square and its 22 restaurants.

The success of the „Spectator Arenas” along the stages was again welcomed by the large spectators crowds who got spoiled with rally radio, result service and catering and toilet facilities. It is our ambition to develop this rallyadicted tool to another dimension and host the more than 60.000 spectators in an enjoyable atmosphere.

The starting field counted last year 120 competitors from 16 different countries and with 14 different car brands. Local hero Freddy Loix (Skoda Fabia S2000) gained his seventh overall victory in Ypres. Dutch talent Hans Weijs Jr. came second after a brilliant drive on his first appearance in S2000 machinery, beating Michal Solowow.

Ypres becomes every year the place to be to a significant number of journalists. In 2011 we saw a media attendance of more than 300 accredited journalists from 19 European countries.

The show weekend of „Geko Ypres Rally” starts on Thursday 21th June with the scrutineering followed by the shakedown in Nieuwkerke in the evening. On Friday afternoon we have a drivers gathering with autograph session in the „Rally Village” of our servicepark. The rally will be run on Friday 22th evening and Saturday 23th June including 295 kms of SS on twisty asphalt surface of various qualities.