Verstappen ruled out of Belgian rally through illness

Former F1 driver had been set to contest the opening round of the Belgian championship in a Škoda

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Jos Verstappen has been ruled out of this weekend’s Belgian Rally Championship season opener for medical reasons.

Verstappen, who tested the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for the first time last week alongside co-driver Renaud Jamoul, had intended to enter Rally van Haspengauw but recently experienced what the official Verstappen website called “migraine-like symptoms”.

The ex Formula 1 driver is said to be in “good health again” but because further medical examinations are required, he was advised not to take part in the two-day event.

Instead, Verstappen has travelled to Bahrain to follow his son Max in F1 pre-season testing, which began on Thursday.

Erik Wevers, whose Wevers Sport team will run Verstappen this season, told DirtFish: “He had some migraine, and it was quite a heavy one, so he had to skip this rally.

“But I guess for the next rally he will be there.

“We’ve done a lot of testing with him and things in the workshop and he’s very professional,” Wevers added.

“I think he will be doing some nice results this year – he’s not afraid to drive on Tarmac roads between trees!”

Words:Luke Barry

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