With more than 90 entries (all categories combined) a couple of weeks before the start of the South Belgian Rally 2023, organiser DG Sport can be happy! It did not take long before the event based in Vresse-sur-Semois, the second round of the Kroon-Oil Belgian Rally Championship, won over crews with very different profiles. It must be said that the natural stages of the event are well appreciated by plenty of drivers…
As was to be expected, once the Rally van Haspengouw was over, there were plenty of entries in the RC2 category, the one with the R5/Rally2 cars aiming for an overall win. And the fight promises to be exciting too, since Maxime Potty (Citroën), Cédric Cherain (Hyundai) and Cédric De Cecco (Citroën), all in the top 5 overall in Haspengouw, are already on the entry list!
As for Adrian Fernémont (Skoda), who had to retire in the Haspengouw, he will be at the start as well. His goal: gain precious first points in the championship, maybe for a first win…
As the opening round of the new C3 Rally2 Cup, the South Belgian Rally can also count on a handful of experienced drivers at the start. In addition to Potty, star of the BRC season opener, Niels Reynvoet will begin his 2023 season at Vresse-sur-Semois, as will Tobias Brüls and Pierre Hubin. As for Dutchman Richard Pex: he was unlucky in Haspengouw, but he showed he could shine, especially in the BRC Master Cup, the category reserved for drivers over 50 years old.
After a solid top 6 overall at the Haspengouw Rally, Bastien Rouard (Hyundai) will find more familiar roads this time, with Amandine Cornet as his codriver for the first time. The chasing group will also include Thibaud Mazuin (Skoda), Emile Breittmayer (Skoda), Nicola Stampaert (Skoda) and Jimmy D’Hondt (Ford).
The big absentee from this South Belgian Rally 2023 will certainly be Jos Verstappen, who was entered with his brand new – and superb – Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 in the company of codriver Renaud Jamoul. Unfortunately, health problems forced him to postpone his debut in the 2023 BRC.
Be aware that many more names will be added over the next few weeks. But with 13 R5/Rally2 type cars confirmed, DG Sport is already pretty happy. To be continued
