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.”
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.
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.
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.
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