The 2021 Ypres Rally (also known as the Renties Ypres Rally Belgium 2021) was a motor racing event for rally cars that was held over three days between 13 and 15 August 2021. It marked the fifty-seventh running of the Ypres Rally. The event was the eighth round of the 2021 World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2 and World Rally Championship-3. It was also the fourth round of the 2021 Junior World Rally Championship. The 2021 event was based in Ypres in West Flanders and was contested over twenty-four special stages totalling in competitive distance.
Local heroes Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe won their home rally. Their team, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, were the manufacturer's winners. Jari Huttunen and Mikko Lukka won the World Rally Championship-2 category, while Yohan Rossel and Alexandre Coria won the World Rally Championship-3 category. The British crew of Jon Armstrong and Phil Hall was the winner in the junior class.
Background Championship standings prior to the event Reigning World Champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia entered the round with a thirty-seven-point lead over Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin. Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe were third, a further fifteen points behind. In the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT held massive a fifty-nine-point lead over defending manufacturers' champions Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, followed by M-Sport Ford WRT.
In the World Rally Championship-2 standings, Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene held an eleven-point lead ahead of Mads Østberg and Torstein Eriksen in the drivers' and co-drivers' standings respectively, with Marco Bulacia Wilkinson and Marcelo Der Ohannesian in third. In the teams' championship, Toksport WRT led Movisport by thirty-seven points, with M-Sport Ford WRT in third.
In the World Rally Championship-3 standings, Yohan Rossel led Kajetan Kajetanowicz by sixteen points in the drivers' championship, with Nicolas Ciamin in third. In the co-drivers' championship Maciek Szczepaniak held a twelve-point lead over Alexandre Coria, with Yannick Roche in third.
In the junior championship, Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen led Mārtiņš Sesks and Renars Francis by four points. Jon Armstrong and Phil Hall were third, eleven points further back. In the Nations' standings, Latvia and Finland co-lead United Kingdom by fifteen points.
Entry list The following crews entered the rally. The event was open to crews competing in the World Rally Championship, its support categories, the World Rally Championship-2 and World Rally Championship-3, Junior World Rally Championship and privateer entries that were not registered to score points in any championship. Ten entries for the World Rally Championship were received, as were five in the World Rally Championship-2 and nineteen in the World Rally Championship-3. A further six crews entered the Junior World Rally Championship in Ford Fiesta Rally4s.
+ No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Tyre 1 Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 7 Pierre-Louis Loubet Florian Haut-Labourdette Hyundai 2C Competition Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 8 Ott Tänak Martin Järveoja Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 11 Thierry Neuville Martijn Wydaeghe Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 16 Adrien Fourmaux Renaud Jamoul M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 18 Takamoto Katsuta Keaton Williams Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 33 Elfyn Evans Scott Martin Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 42 Craig Breen Paul Nagle Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 44 Gus Greensmith Chris Patterson M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 69 Kalle Rovanperä Jonne Halttunen Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC Source:
+ No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Tyre 20 Teemu Suninen Mikko Markkula M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta Rally2 21 Jari Huttunen Mikko Lukka Hyundai Motorsport N Hyundai i20 N Rally2 22 Nikolay Gryazin Konstantin Aleksandrov Movisport Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 23 Tom Kristensson David Arhusiander M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta Rally2 24 Oliver Solberg Aaron Johnston Hyundai Motorsport N Hyundai i20 N Rally2 Source:
+ No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Tyre 25 Yohan Rossel Alexandre Coria Yohan Rossel Citroën C3 Rally2 26 Pepe López Borja Odriozola Pepe López Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo 27 Cédric De Cecco Jérôme Humblet Cédric De Cecco Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo 28 Josh McErlean James Fulton Josh McErlean Hyundai i20 R5 29 Davy Vanneste Kris D'alleine Davy Vanneste Citroën C3 Rally2 30 Sébastien Bedoret François Gilbert Sébastien Bedoret Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo 31 Pieter Tsjoen Eddy Chevaillier Pieter Tsjoen Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 32 Ghislain de Mevius Johan Jalet Ghislain de Mevius Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo 34 Adrian Fernémont Samuel Maillen Adrian Fernémont Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo 35 Kris Princen Peter Kaspers Kris Princen Citroën C3 Rally2 36 Grégoire Munster Louis Louka Grégoire Munster Hyundai i20 R5 37 Vincent Verschueren Filip Cuvelier Vincent Verschueren Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 38 Bernd Casier Pieter Vyncke Bernd Casier Ford Fiesta Rally2 39 Pieter Jan Michiel Cracco Jasper Vermeulen Pieter Jan Michiel Cracco Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo 40 Maxime Potty Loïc Dumont Maxime Potty Ford Fiesta Rally2 41 Filip Pyck Peter Dehouck Filip Pyck Škoda Fabia R5 43 Harry Bouillon Gregory Antoine Harry Bouillon Škoda Fabia R5 45 Kevin Hommes Marco Hommes Kevin Hommes Škoda Fabia R5 46 Kurt Dujardyn Jeannick Breyne Kurt Dujardyn Škoda Fabia R5 Source:
+ No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Tyre 54 Sami Pajari Marko Salminen Porvoon Autopalvelu Ford Fiesta Rally4 55 Mārtiņš Sesks Renārs Francis LMT Autosporta Akademija Ford Fiesta Rally4 56 Jon Armstrong Phil Hall Jon Armstrong Ford Fiesta Rally4 57 Lauri Joona Mikael Korhonen Team Flying Finn Ford Fiesta Rally4 58 William Creighton Liam Regan Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy Ford Fiesta Rally4 59 Robert Virves Aleks Lesk Autosport Team Estonia Ford Fiesta Rally4 Source:
Route Itinerary All dates and times are CEST (UTC+2). Leg Date Time No. Stage name Distance 13 August 08:01 — Langemark [Shakedown] 9.81 km 1 13 August 13:36 SS1 Reninge — Vleteren 1 15.00 km 14:25 SS2 Westouter — Boeschepe 1 19.60 km 15:15 SS3 Kemmelberg 1 23.62 km 16:09 SS4 Zonnebeke 1 9.45 km 18:15 SS5 Reninge — Vleteren 2 15.00 km 19:04 SS6 Westouter — Boeschepe 2 19.60 km 19:54 SS7 Kemmelberg 2 23.62 km 20:48 SS8 Zonnebeke 2 9.45 km 2 14 August 09:11 SS9 Hollebeke 1 25.86 km 10:08 SS10 Dikkebus 1 12.49 km 11:01 SS11 Watou 1 13.62 km 11:51 SS12 Mesen — Middelhoek 1 7.99 km 14:11 SS13 Hollebeke 2 25.86 km 15:08 SS14 Dikkebus 2 12.49 km 16:01 SS15 Watou 2 13.62 km 16:51 SS16 Mesen — Middelhoek 2 7.99 km 3 15 August 08:30 SS17 Stavelot 1 9.05 km 09:08 SS18 Francorchamps 1 11.21 km 10:40 SS19 Stavelot 2 9.05 km 12:18 SS20 Francorchamps 2 [Power Stage] 11.21 km Source:
Report World Rally Cars Classification Position Driver Entrant Car Time Points Event Class Event Stage 1 1 11 Thierry Neuville Martijn Wydaeghe Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 2:30.24.2 0.0 25 3 2 2 42 Craig Breen Paul Nagle Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 2:30:54.9 +30.7 18 0 3 3 69 Kalle Rovanperä Jonne Halttunen Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 2:31:07.3 +43.1 15 2 4 4 33 Elfyn Evans Scott Martin Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 2:31:13.8 +49.6 12 1 5 5 1 Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 2:31:20.0 +55.8 10 4 6 6 8 Ott Tänak Martin Järveoja Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 2:34:10.7 +3:46.5 8 5 47 7 44 Gus Greensmith Chris Patterson M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 3:14:22.7 +43:58.5 0 0 68 8 68 Pierre-Louis Loubet Florian Haut-Labourdette Hyundai 2C Competition Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3:56:26.7 +1:26.02.5 0 0 Retired SS10 18 Takamoto Katsuta Keaton Williams Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC Crash 0 0 Retired SS3 16 Adrien Fourmaux Renaud Jamoul M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC Crash 0 0
Special stages Day Stage Stage name Length Winners Car Time Class leaders 13 August — Langemark [Shakedown] 9.81 km Neuville / Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 4:22.5 SS1 Reninge — Vleteren 1 15.00 km Tänak / Järveoja Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 7:49.1 Tänak / Järveoja SS2 Westouter — Boeschepe 1 19.60 km Breen / Nagle Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 10:35.3 Breen / Nagle SS3 Kemmelberg 1 23.62 km Breen / Nagle Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 11:39.7 SS4 Zonnebeke 1 9.45 km Neuville / Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 4:34.0 Neuville / Wydaeghe SS5 Reninge — Vleteren 2 15.00 km Neuville / Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 7:49.0 SS6 Westouter — Boeschepe 2 19.60 km Neuville / Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 10:27.0 SS7 Kemmelberg 2 23.62 km Neuville / Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 11:28.8 SS8 Zonnebeke 2 9.45 km Stage cancelled 14 August SS9 Hollebeke 1 25.86 km Breen / Nagle Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 13:30.7 Neuville / Wydaeghe SS10 Dikkebus 1 12.49 km Breen / Nagle Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 6:23.9 SS11 Watou 1 13.62 km Evans / Martin Toyota Yaris WRC 6:42.0 SS12 Mesen — Middelhoek 1 7.99 km Neuville / Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 4:23.8 SS13 Hollebeke 2 25.86 km Ogier / Ingrassia Toyota Yaris WRC 13:23.7 SS14 Dikkebus 2 12.49 km Neuville / Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 6:19.1 SS15 Watou 2 13.62 km Ogier / Ingrassia Toyota Yaris WRC 6:37.1 SS16 Mesen — Middelhoek 2 7.99 km Neuville / Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 4:21.2 15 August SS17 Stavelot 1 9.05 km Rovanperä / Halttunen Toyota Yaris WRC 5:06.2 SS18 Francorchamps 1 11.21 km Tänak / Järveoja Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 6:56.9 SS19 Stavelot 2 9.05 km Tänak / Järveoja Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 5:04.0 SS20 Francorchamps 2 [Power Stage] 11.21 km Tänak / Järveoja Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 6:48.3
Championship standings Drivers' championships Co-drivers' championships Manufacturers' championshipsMoveDriverPointsMoveCo-driverPointsMoveManufacturerPoints 1 Sébastien Ogier 162 Julien Ingrassia 162 Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT 348 2 Elfyn Evans 124 Scott Martin 124 Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT 307 3 Thierry Neuville 124 Martijn Wydaeghe 124 M-Sport Ford WRT 135 4 Kalle Rovanperä 99 Jonne Halttunen 99 Hyundai 2C Competition 44 5 Ott Tänak 87 Martin Järveoja 87
World Rally Championship-2 Classification Position Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Points Event Class Class Stage Event 19 1 21 Jari Huttunen Mikko Lukka Hyundai Motorsport N Hyundai i20 N Rally2 2:51:32.9 +21:08.7 25 5 0 59 2 24 Nikolay Gryazin Konstantin Aleksandrov Movisport Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 3:35:32.2 +1:05:08.0 18 4 0 Retired SS17 24 Oliver Solberg Aaron Johnston Hyundai Motorsport N Hyundai i20 N Rally2 Electrical 0 0 0 Retired SS13 20 Teemu Suninen Mikko Markkula M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta Rally2 Engine 0 0 0 Retired SS7 23 Tom Kristensson David Arhusiander M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta Rally2 Suspension 0 0 0
Special stages