Rovanpera heads to Belgium with a commanding 94-point lead over nearest rival Ott Tanak, after finishing second behind the Hyundai driver at Rally Finland two weeks ago, which lifted the 2019 world champion into second in the drivers’ standings.
However, if Rovanpera is to become the youngest ever world rally champion in Belgium he will need to win the rally and for the Hyundai pair of Tanak and hot rally favourite Thierry Neuville to hit trouble.
If Rovanpera can extend his championship lead to 121 points, the 21-year-old will secure the championship with four rounds remaining.
For example, should Rovanpera win the rally and the power stage, he would need Tanak to finish ninth overall and fifth on the power stage, while Neuville, who is a point behind Tanak in the championship, would have to finish eighth and fifth on the power stage.
Rovanpera finished last year’s Ypres Rally in third, some 43.1s behind eventual winner Neuville. Rovanpera has however already enjoyed success on tarmac this year with victory at Rally Croatia in April.
Neuville is expected to lead the running on local roads he has conquered twice before in 2018 and 2021. Breen is tipped to lead M-Sport’s charge having won the event in 2019 before finishing second behind Neuville, while driving for Hyundai last year.
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai Motorsport Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC
Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images
What is Rally Belgium?
Ypres Rally Belgium has become a revered European tarmac rally steeped in history since its inaugural event in 1965.
The rally comprises fast, narrow and twisty asphalt country roads punctuated by tight junctions that are lined by treacherous drainage ditches.
The event has become a mainstay in the European Rally Championship, while also becoming a fixture in the Belgian and British national championships, and the now defunct Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Last year the rally joined the WRC for the first time with the round acting as a replacement for Rally Northern Ireland, after organisers were unable to secure the required funding.
Rally Belgium winners
Ypres Rally Belgium has been dominated by local drivers over the years with 39 of the 56 editions being won by a Belgian driver.
Former factory WRC driver Freddy Loix has been the most prolific, scoring a record 11 wins (1996-1999, 2008, 2010-2011, 2013-2016).
Previous winners include two-time world champion Walter Rohrl in 1976 and the late Henri…
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