Jos Verstappen eighth after the primary day in Rally Ypres: ‘The victory is gone’
Revealed on June 21, 2024 by Johan Peeters
On Friday, Jos Verstappen and his co-driver Renaud Jamoul have been at first of the Ypres Rally, a part of the Belgian Rally Championship (BRC). The Dutch-Belgian crew began very nicely, however a flat tire within the fourth particular stage set them again far. After eight particular levels, Stéphane Lefebvre is the chief within the basic classification with Jos in P8. The race continues on Saturday with ten particular levels to go.
The Verstappen-Jamoul duo drove the second quickest time of their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 automobile on Thursday in the course of the Qualifying Stage (decisive for the beginning order on Friday) and might subsequently begin the levels in second place. Given the changeable climate, the beginning order can play a decisive function.
Jos stated in the course of the press convention previous to the primary particular levels: “We are going to see, we’ve to see how rapidly we will grasp the levels. Beginning second might not be good on a dry course, it could be higher to begin fourth or fifth, however we’ll see. It is all pretty new and we’ve Maxime Potty in entrance of us and if we will maintain on to that then we’ll be wonderful. It’s a lengthy race and you need to end first.”
The primary Vleteren particular stage is scheduled for late within the afternoon. The drivers should make a selection of tires that shall be used in the course of the first 4 particular levels. The primary take a look at is a prey for Stéphane Lefebvre who’s 0.2 seconds quicker than Jos who finishes second. The Dutchman, in flip, has a lead of 0.6 seconds over Niels Reynvoet, who ends the primary take a look at in P3. “It was tough, the automobile strikes quite a bit, however we are going to see if we will modify it a bit. I am pleased with the dry situations, I feel it is higher for everybody and for the entire rally. I’m glad with that,” stated Jos after his first take a look at.
Westouter is the second take a look at and it’s once more received by Lefebvre. P2 goes to Gilles Pyck who’s 0.3 seconds forward of Jos. The quick Limburger ends the take a look at in P3, however continues to be second within the basic classification.
Particular stage quantity three is Mesen-Wijtschate and the variations on this stage are additionally small: Jos, identical to within the first stage, comes second, 0.2 seconds behind Lefebvre, who now additionally comes out on high. The hole to the French classification chief will increase to three.3 seconds for Jos, whereas the result in quantity three Reynvoet will increase to six.6 seconds.
Zonnebeke is the fourth take a look at of the primary spherical on Friday, and the take a look at the place Jos encounters his first setback. On account of a puncture, he loses virtually 56 seconds to Reynvoet, who finishes this take a look at quickest forward of Lefebvre in P2. Within the basic classification, Jos drops from P2 to P15, that means he could have a tricky time to catch up within the the rest of the rally. Underneath regular circumstances, the deficit he has incurred can’t be made up for. “I hit a giant rock on the within of a quick left alongside a hedge. We rode greater than 5 miles on the rim. The victory is gone, however the race continues to be lengthy,” is Jos’s down-to-earth remark after the take a look at.
After a brief break, the beginning of the second spherical and the fifth particular stage is scheduled with Vleteren. Jos has regained the velocity he already confirmed within the first three checks and ends the take a look at as quickest forward of Potty. Chief Lefebvre comes fourth, however the variations are once more small. Due to the win within the fifth take a look at, Jos climbs from P15 to P12 within the basic classification, however the hole to Lefebvre is barely regularly shrinking. Chief within the BRC Reynvoet has withdrawn because of a technical drawback.
Westouter is take a look at six. At 7.32 km. lengthy particular stage, Potty once more units the quickest time, whereas Jos finishes fourth behind Lefebvre. Lefebvre stays the chief whereas Jos stays twelfth within the basic classification.
The second detour Mesen-Wijtschate is take a look at seven and is received by Jos who goes as the fireplace brigade. After the take a look at, his rivals extensively expressed disbelief and appreciation concerning the velocity that Jos confirmed on this take a look at. Jos climbs to P10 within the basic classification. His deficit is just below 50 seconds on the head of the sphere.
The primary day in Ypres ends with the second spherical of Zonnebeke, the eighth particular stage. Jos finishes the ten.18 kilometer lengthy stage second behind Potty however forward of Lefebvre. Within the basic classification, Jos ends the day in eighth place after eight checks. This concludes the primary day in Ypres.
