Let’s Go!
Only three more sleeps! The official start of the Ostbelgien Classic 2022 is this Friday 02 December, the long-awaited final of the FIA Historic Regularity Rally Trophy! The countdown has begun in the heart of Eupen and in the ranks of the organisation, the ‘The Event’ team around Michael Bartholemy everyone is ready for the big event…
As in the previous, very popular, editions, the the Ostbegien Classic, the international event that puts the east of Belgium in the spotlight, will start on the Klötzerbahn, which will already have a Christmassy feel to it. “The Eupen Klötzerbahn will be the focal point of the 2022 edition and will be the settings for new memorable moments”, says Michael Bartolemy. On the Friday evening, the end of the first stage, the atmosphere will be clearly festive, while on Sunday afternoon the winners and champions will be celebrated. In short, no one will be bored…”.
And the first stage, scheduled for Friday in the early evening, is likely to please all the competitors. As the icing on the cake of the Ostbelgien Classic 2022, there will be a race on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit! “It is difficult to imagine an FIA final without including this international motorsport mecca in the programme”, Michael Bartholemy continues, “and, in the heart of autumn, it will be everything but simple.”
The first stage will take place between Eupen and Stavelot, but on Saturday, the competitors of the Classic and Classic+ categories will have to cover a lot of kilometres, RTs and private grounds before heading for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The finish of the longest stage will take place in Weiswampach, at the Massen Shopping Centre, where the competitors will enjoy a night of rest. The Sunday programme, albeit lighter, could nevertheless bring its share of changes to the classification, because the route will run along the border with Germany for a long time, before turning towards Malmedy and Stavelot, and then heading back to Eupen and its Klötzerbahn.
The Poles Stanislaw and Anna Postawka, FIA champions in 2021, will start first with their FSO Polski Fiat… followed by a number of Belgian teams who hope to succeed them in the international prize list, with Reuter-Vandervorst (Porsche 944 S2), first winners of the Ostbelgien Classic, Martens-Pyck (Volvo PV444), Van Remoortel-Dupont (APAL Coupé), Lambert-Noelanders (BMW 2022 Ti), Deflandre-Hugo (Porsche 911), Van Rompuy-Smeets (Porsche 914/6), Kevers-Gathy (Porsche 911) and De Jaeger-De Jaeger (Porsche 911), while in the general classification of the event, we will also have to count on Vanderspinnen-Vanoverschelde (Lea Francis Hyper), Letocart-Gengoux (Opel Manta), Blaise-Lienne (Porsche 911), Vandeputte-Delincé (Lancia Fulvia), etc. In short, the beautiful people.
The Lancia Fulvia Monte-Carlo of the Venier-Lys duo will open the road in the Classic category, at least on the first day.
In total, about sixty teams will compete throughout the weekend. It is hard to tell who will win considering the very intense character of the Ostbelgien Classic 2022.
See you in Eupen on Friday to celebrate the kick-off of this FIA final in the east of Belgium, which is set to be simply explosive!