This coming Saturday the Kroon-Oil Belgian Rally Championship 2022 will kick-off in the region of Saint-Trond with the Rally van Haspengouw. The first round out of a total of ten, which will see DG Sport Compétition present with no less than four models of the Citroën C3 Rally2, and clearly out to lay claim to victory
Our team continues to build on its momentum, following its victories in the second part of the 2021 season at the Rallye du Condroz-Huy and at the Spa Rally, Alain Georges, the man in charge of DG Sport Compétition commented. Nowadays it is risky to fix a decisive programme at the dawn of a season. We competed in the Rallye de Monte-Carlo, where Stéphane Lefebvre was leading the rankings in WRC2 prior to his retirement, and we will be at the start of the Croatia Rally. Initially the Rally van Haspengouw and the South Belgian Rally were to act as preparation for the Croatian event, but together with our partners, of which Citroën Racing Shop, we have also decided to tackle the Rallye de Wallonie, the Omloop van Vlaanderen, the East Belgian Rally, the Rallye du Condroz-Huy and the Spa Rally, as well as the Ypres Rally in WRC2, with a view to claiming the title of Belgian Champion. The entire team is now at the dawn of an intense season, during which we will make every effort to realise the Citroën C3 Rally2’s high potential …”
If on the one hand Andy Malfoy will be Stéphane Lefebvre’s co-driver in the Westhoek, it will be Xavier Portier who will be in the right-hand bucket seat during all the other rounds of the strongly contested Belgian competition. “I grew up with the Belgian Rally Championship, which has now reached an incredible level, the northern France driver and former Junior World Champion remarked. I know and appreciate the Belgian culture when it comes to rallies, where each event is a great folk festival. My career is undergoing a new lease of life, and I intend taking full advantage of it under the colours of Citroën and DG Sport Compétition
The young Maxime Potty, co-driven by Renaud Herman, will also be taming a C3 Rally2 breathed on by the Theux based team. “We had many discussions with Maxime and his entourage during the offseason, and now at the beginning of his career the objective is clearly to offer a helping hand, Alain Georges clarified. We will assist him and set guidelines, so that he can progress quickly, and who knows clock up his first scratch times. We want him to be in a position to aim for victory in 2023, which implies a methodical and professional approach …”
One of the new season’s major attractions on the Kroon-Oil BRC front will be the presence of a certain Jos Verstappen, former F1 driver, father of Max, the reigning Formula One World Champion! Teamed up with Kris Botson, ‘Jos The Boss’ is embarking on a new chapter in his well-filled career, and the least one can say is that his enthusiasm is bursting its banks.. … “It’s the fulfilment of getting to grips with the Citroën C3 Rally2 over many sessions, during which the urge to simply have fun and let off steam gave way to the attraction of making an official debut in the rally world, Alain Georges explained. What is certain is that Jos has no trepidation of speed … but remains a novice in the discipline! He is fast, for sure, but the parameters to be mastered during an event are numerous. It goes without saying that DG Sport Compétition are proud to be in a position to support him in this new adventure. At the present time it is foreseen that he will be at the start of the Rally van Haspengouw and the South Belgian Rally… »
A second Citroën C3 Rally2 entered by the Theux based team will be entrusted to a friend of Jos Verstappen, Richard Pex, who will have Johan Findhammer as his co-driver.
With no less than four seasoned drivers at the start of the Rally van Haspengouw, DG Sport Compétition is setting the scene! Rendezvous on the roads and tracks of Hesbaye for the highly awaited national first round of 2022 …
