Three-time World Rally Championship event winner Dani Sordo will enter Ypres Rally for the first time later this month, piloting a Porsche 992 Rally GT.
For the 60th anniversary of the fabled Belgian event, Sordo will get behind the wheel of an RGT-specification vehicle in competition for the first time in his career, piloting the recently-developed 992 developed by Motorsport Activities – which has experienced WRC engineer Lionel Hansen and former Citroën team principal Yves Matton at the helm.
“I was in Ypres in 2021 when the event was part of the World Championship for the first time, but then I only did the recce,” said Sordo. “This time it will be a nice challenge with the new Porsche 992 Rally GT that I have heard a lot about.
“I’m very curious. We will test the car beforehand and in preparation we will also drive the two shakedowns in Boezinge and Nieuwkerke.”
Sordo was a happy man when he received the call to tackle Ypres in a special car
For rally organizer Alain Penasse, who worked extensively with Sordo at Hyundai during his tenure as team manager, Sordo’s Ypres entry is the realization of a long-held ambition.
“I tried several times to get Danito the start in Ypres,” said Penasse. “He is now a good friend but each time something came up, usually a clash of dates with his program. This time we offer Dani, in collaboration with Motorsport Activities, a very nice challenge. I am convinced that the fans will enjoy his style.”
The recently developed 992 Rally GT has already shown potential rally-winning pace in Belgium, leading the way for much of Rally de Wallonie in the hands of Cédric Cherain until electrical issues late in the rally cost him the win. It has also won in the French second division in Anthony Cosson’s hands.
“With Cédric Cherain, we have a great ambassador for the 992 Rally GT in Belgium,” said Matton. “Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen has also tested our car and now there will be a southern driver at the wheel. In this way, we prove that drivers from every region are competitive with this Porsche.”
Ypres Rally takes place on June 27-28. A total of four 992 RGTs are on the entry list, including one driven by seven-time Belgian champion Patrick Snijers. Other high-profile entrants include Hayden Paddon in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, reigning Junior world champion Romet Jürgenson in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 and Jos Verstappen in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
