Zoom IRC leader Rossetti is not expecting to win against the local talent

Ypres is one of the most popular events within Europe, attracting a wide range of competitors in a variety of different cars. All five registered IRC manufacturers – Abarth, Honda, Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Volkswagen – will be present on an event together for the first time this year, making for a vintage battle.

Abarth have the usual two Grande Puntos for Giandomenico Basso and Anton Alen, while the brand new R3 Diesel Punto will be defending Fiat's honours in the IRC 2WD Cup.

The two-wheel drive category will have a new but experienced competitor in the form of Alessandro Bettega, the son of the legendary Attilio Bettega, who is embarking on a campaign with the Honda Civic R3 Type R.

Mitsubishi will be counting on local specialists Jasper Van der Heuvel and Paul Liater in Group N Lancers to make a difference, while Peugeot Belgium will have Freddy Loix and Nicolas Vouilloz as usual.

A highlight of the rally is sure to be Belgian legend Patrick Snijers, in the BFGoodrich Drivers' Team Peugeot 207 Super 2000, while Italian Luca Betti is also in a Peugeot from Belgium onwards.

Volkswagen – which led in Belgium last year – makes its 2008 IRC debut at Ypres with an all-new line-up of local men Raphael Auquier and Bernd Casier.

"I've surprised myself with the very successful start we've had to the season, but although I am more experienced on asphalt than on gravel, Ypres is not at all a typical asphalt event," said Luca Rossetti, the current IRC series leader.

"We won last year through trying to be consistent and keeping out of trouble, so we will adopt the same tactic," added the Peugeot Italy team member. "The local drivers are going to be very strong, so I don't expect to win again although we'll be aiming to score some useful points."

"I tested my Peugeot 207 last week, and that was actually the first time that I had driven a Super 2000 machine," admitted four-time Ypres winner Patrick Snijers, who will be driving the Kronos Racing-prepared BFGoodrich Drivers Team car.

"It was really easy to find a good feeling with it, and we gradually adopted more aggressive set-ups," he reported.

"As for the actual event," Snijers continued, "it's just down to me to gather together more kilometres in the car – which I'll be doing at shakedown – and hopefully we can aim for a good result."

D.B. © CAPSIS International