The Ostbelgien Classic is finally back!
This time, it’s for real! On Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December, the second episode of the Ostbelgien Classic will finally take place after a successful inaugural edition at the end of 2019. Since then, the health crisis has hit but ‘The Event’ team, led by Michael Bartholemy, has done its utmost to offer an event worthy of its status as a Qualifying Event for the FIA Trophy for Historic Regularity Rallies 2022. Clearly, we can expect the best regularity has to offer…
Eupen will once again be the Ostbelgien Classic host city, but the route of the 2021 edition, still designed by Joseph Lambert and Eric Chapa, will showcase the entire German-speaking region… and much more! With highlights in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands, for a total of over 800 kilometres! The region lends itself to such an activity, with vast uninhabited areas limiting the impact on the population…
If we combine the great conviviality that characterises the Ostbelgien Classic, with stages that are split up in such a way as to allow contestants to take a break and fully enjoy the delights of the region, we obtain an event that is likely to attract the best regularity experts in Belgium.
The battle to succeed Daniel Reuter and Robert Vandevorst (Porsche 944 S2) as winners of the Ostbelgien Classic promises to be more exciting than ever during the three days, with a group of favourites including Berteloot-Gengoux (Porsche 911 SC), Decremer-Albert (Opel Ascona B), Lareppe-Lienne (Opel Kadett GT/E), Baugnée-Remion (MG B Roadster), Martens-Pyck (Volvo PV444), Deflandre-Hayez (Porsche 911), Lambert-Noelanders (BMW 2002 Ti), Kevers-Gathy (Porsche 911), Crucifix-Hugo (Ford Anglia Broadspeed), Venier-Lys (Lancia Fulvia Monte Carlo), Letocart-Lutterbeck (Opel Manta GSi), etc. A black-yellow-red wave to which the international delegation will try to respond, with the Germans Heinz-Mohr (Ford Escort MK2), the French Wante-Legenne (Porsche 911 SC), the Luxembourgers Weber-Heirens (Ford Escort MK2) and the Latvians Stanevics-Hmielevskis (Lada 1500S)!
Fans of fine cars will certainly have the opportunity to be impressed, with the presence of the 1931 Hupmobile of Vincent-Vincent, the APAL Coupé of Van Remoortel-Dupont, but also, in a more recent style, the Lancia Delta Integrale Evo1 of Scheck-Kauth and the Ford Escort RS Cosworth of Schröder-Schröder!
However, the Ostbelgien Classic is not the exclusive preserve of regularity specialists. By creating a ‘Light’ category, Michael Bartholemy, assisted by Frank Frankenberg, also wanted to allow beginners or experienced amateurs to enjoy themselves to the fullest by aiming for victory in a second class, which is less demanding on many levels. A very international panel, representing the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland, with a line-up of cars as diverse as the Citroën Traction, the Porsche 911 Type 993, DAF 55 Coupé, Saab V4 and Sonett III, R8 Gordini, etc. Nice!
Let’s also mention the presence at the start of two teams composed of young people under the age of 25 from the Ostbelgien region, who were winners of a U25 operation orchestrated in collaboration with Minister Isabelle Weykmans, in charge of youth affairs. Marek Scholl and Maxime Sproten, on the one hand, and Jan Löbel and Pierre Luca Bartz, on the other, will be entrusted with a Toyota Celica ST and a Ford Fiesta XR2i, respectively.
The Ostbelgien Classic 2021 will take off from the Klötzerbahn in the heart of Eupen at 2.45 pm on Friday, December 3rd and will return shortly before 8 pm. On Saturday, the contestants will start the second stage at 9.00 am and will be back at about 6.30 pm. The final part of the race will take place between 9.00 am and 4.15 pm, when the winners of the Ostbelgien Classic 2021 will be announced. Let the party begin…