Just like in 2024, no one could compete with Filip Pyck’s supremacy in the Ardeca Ypres Rally Division 2. He won every stage, and so the Poperinge coffee roaster had a lead of more than 3 minutes when reaching the final podium.
“Apart from a hot moment on the Kemmel, everything went perfectly. In the 29 years that I have participated in the Ypres rally, it has never gone so well. Now I’ll enjoy this victory, and maybe we’ll think about participating again in the winter months,” Pyck said.
Benoit Cornette’s run to a podium was complicated by the fact he could not turn off his BMW M3 E46. The reason was due to clutch problems, ensuring that he was surprised to still finish in second.
Turbo Trouble meant that Bram Fonteyne and the Volvo 240 turbo just missed out on the podium, to the benefit of a happy Bert Swerts (Opel Manta). “The lowest step on the podium and also the winner of the Histo Cup, it couldn’t be better. The clutch seemed to throw a spanner in the works on the penultimate stage, but the spoils are ours,” Swerts said.
Bjorn Deruyter lost power in the Subaru Impreza throughout the day and ultimately had to be satisfied that he still finished in 5th place.
In the 2WD Trophy, one competitor crossed the finish line and was lucky to do so. Stefaan Tjoens had to drive into the service park early due to a broken throttle cable. “Luckily we were able to help ourselves with a shoelace to drive to Ypres. And look, now we are taking the full points here. And so I was in both last and first place today!”
Christiaan Spelmans, long-time leader in the 2WD Trophy, pulled his Renault Clio off the road due to bad luck, while Valentin Dozot and Patrick Gaethofs retired due to technical problems.
