Britain has been dropped from this year’s WRC calendar after uncertainty over funding and the Coronavirus pandemic.
Belgium will stage a round of the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time after Renties Ypres Rally Belgium was last week added to the 2021 calendar in August on a date to be confirmed.
It will replace the UK’s proposed fixture in Northern Ireland, which has unfortunately been deferred for this year due to uncertainty over public funding relative to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Wales declined to host the event after two decades due to rising costs and a view that motorsport clashes with its green agenda and low carbon drive.
Belgium will become the 35th nation to stage a WRC round – at the second time of asking – since the series started in 1973.
Last November’s round in Ypres was called off due to Covid-19.
Ypres was first held in 1965 and has become established as one of Europe’s most demanding rallies. Previous winners include current Hyundai Motorsport driver and home hero Thierry Neuville in 2018 and team-mate Craig Breen the following year and it’s become a qualifying event for the British National Rally Championship.
The rally will feature three days of competition with an atmospheric service park in Ypres’ historic Grote Markt.
