Scheduled for 27 and 28 June, the 60th edition of the Ardeca Ypres Rally promises to be a spectacular event, featuring several top international competitors. World-class drivers will also be present, as Dani Sordo has entered this jubilee edition of the rally. The Spanish WRC driver will experience the Ypres stages behind the wheel of the brand-new 911 Rally GT, entered by Motorsport Activities, the team led by Lionel Hansen and Yves Matton. This participation comes as the result of a collaboration between Motorsport Activities and the rally organizer, Club Superstage.
Dani Sordo’s Career
Dani Sordo, Junior World Champion in 2005 ahead of Guy Wilks and Kris Meeke, went on to enjoy a distinguished WRC career. He first competed with the Citroën team and, after his maiden WRC victory in Germany in 2013, joined Hyundai in 2014, immediately becoming part of the manufacturer’s lead driver line-up alongside Thierry Neuville. Sordo later won the Italian WRC round in Sardinia twice, in 2019 and 2020. At Ypres, he will tackle the fast Westhoek stages for the first time—an added challenge as he drives the powerful 911 Rally GT.
Motorsport Activities’ Perspective
For Yves Matton, who, together with Lionel Hansen, is one of the driving forces behind the 911 Rally GT project, Dani Sordo is the perfect driver to showcase the car’s potential:
“In Belgium, with Cédric Cherain, we already have a fantastic ambassador for the 911 Rally GT. Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen has also tested the car. Now, with Dani from southern Europe, we aim to demonstrate that drivers from different backgrounds can be competitive in the Porsche. A test session is scheduled, after which Dani will continue familiarizing himself with the car during shakedowns. Our goal is to show that the 911 Rally GT is suitable for all types of drivers, regardless of experience. The basic setup has been designed with this in mind. We are very pleased to have four examples of the new 911 Rally GT at the start of the Ypres Rally, an event with significant international prestige.”
Alain Penasse, president of the organizing club Club Superstage, is also delighted to welcome the driver he previously worked with at Hyundai:
“I’ve tried several times to bring Dani—who has since become a friend—to Ypres, but a small obstacle always arose, usually a scheduling conflict. This time, we are offering Dani a fantastic challenge in collaboration with Motorsport Activities. I’m convinced the fans will love watching him in action.”
