Belgium will host a round of the FIA ​​World Rally Championship for the first time in history since the Rentes Yepras rally was added to the calendar this Friday.

The asphalt event will compete in August with a confirmation date. It will replace the meeting proposed by the United Kingdom in Northern Ireland, which was unfortunately postponed due to uncertainties over public assistance in the wake of the epidemic.

Belgium in the WRC calendar

Belgium will become the 35th country to host a round of the WRC since the championship was created in 1973. The event, scheduled for November in Yepras, had to be canceled due to Kovid-19.

The Ypres Rally, first held in 1965, became one of the most difficult rallies in Europe. Belgian Theory Newville (2018) and his teammate Craig Breen (2019) at Hyundai Motorsport are on the list. The rally will include a three-day competition with a service park in the heart of Grand Place in Yipres.

Jonah Siebel, general manager of WRC Promoter, said Ypres presents a challenge to teams, drivers and co-drivers.

Yepres has been one of the cornerstones of the European Rally for more than half a century, ”he said. “The world has made one of the strongest challenges of its promotion season and I will not be tired of heading to Belgium after the events of last year’s championship at the end.

Jonah Siebel also spoke about the difficulties of Rally Northern Ireland in gaining the necessary government support during these difficult times.

“We are saddened by the neglect of the beauty of Northern Ireland this year, but the epidemic is affecting the global economy,” he added. “We are still very excited to host a WRC round there and we want our discussions to continue until 2022.”

The agreement in principle between the WRC promoter and the Rentes Yepres Rally Belgium is subject to an agreement between FIA and ASN (National Sports Authority).