2020 Ypres Rally
# 2020 Ypres Rally

The 2020 Rally Belgium (also known as Renties Ypres Rally Belgium 2020) was a motor racing event for rally cars that was scheduled to hold between 20 and 22 November 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was set to mark the fifty-sixth running of Ypres Rally and was planned to be the seventh round of the 2020 World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2 and World Rally Championship-3. It was also going to be the final round of the Junior World Rally Championship. The 2020 event was set to be based in Ypres in West Flanders and was scheduled to be contested over twenty-three special stages. The rally was planned to cover a total competitive distance of 265.69 km (165.09 mi).

## Background

### Schedule changes and event inclusion

Following the cancellation of 2020 Rally Japan, the Ypres Rally of Belgium replaced Rally Japan to hold the seventh round of the championship. This would mark the Ypres Rally run as a WRC event for the first time. The country was set to become the thirty-fourth nation to stage a championship round in the WRC. Unfortunately, the rally was eventually announced to be called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Route

The first two days of action would take place in the area around Ypres, while Sunday's final leg would be focused on the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, with the rally-closing Power Stage featuring the famous Eau Rouge-Raidillon section of the track. This meant the Sunday's route would run alongside the 2020 World RX of Benelux of the World Rallycross Championship.

**Itinerary**

All dates and times are BET (UTC+1).

| Date | Time | No. | Stage name | Distance |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| N/A | 08:31 | — | Langemark [Shakedown] | 9.81 km |
| Leg 1 — 104.71 km |||||
| N/A | 13:38 | SS1 | Zonnebeke 1 | 9.48 km |
| N/A | 14:31 | SS2 | Wijtschate 1 | 12.49 km |
| N/A | 15:09 | SS3 | Kemmelberg 1 | 13.13 km |
| N/A | 15:59 | SS4 | Reninge 1 | 11.82 km |
| N/A | 16:36 | SS5 | Vieteren | 10.87 km |
| N/A | 19:08 | SS6 | Zonnebeke 2 | 9.48 km |
| N/A | 20:01 | SS7 | Wijtschate 2 | 12.49 km |
| N/A | 20:39 | SS8 | Kemmelberg 2 | 13.13 km |
| N/A | 21:27 | SS9 | Reninge 2 | 11.82 km |
| Leg 2 — 114.06 km |||||
| N/A | 09:38 | SS10 | Watou 1 | 14.02 km |
| N/A | 10:39 | SS11 | Dikkebus 1 | 12.53 km |
| N/A | 11:20 | SS12 | Westouter 1 | 8.16 km |
| N/A | 12:08 | SS13 | Middelhoek-Mesen 1 | 7.95 km |
| N/A | 12:46 | SS14 | Zillebeke 1 | 14.37 km |
| N/A | 15:08 | SS15 | Watou 2 | 14.02 km |
| N/A | 16:09 | SS16 | Dikkebus 2 | 12.53 km |
| N/A | 16:50 | SS17 | Westouter 2 | 8.16 km |
| N/A | 17:38 | SS18 | Middelhoek-Mesen 2 | 7.95 km |
| N/A | 18:16 | SS19 | Zillebeke 2 | 14.37 km |
| Leg 3 — 46.92 km |||||
| N/A | 09:08 | SS20 | Circuit de Spa 1 | 10.43 km |
| N/A | 10:04 | SS21 | Ster | 9.25 km |
| N/A | 10:49 | SS22 | Bellevaux | 14.62 km |
| N/A | 12:18 | SS23 | Circuit de Spa 2 [Power Stage] | 12.62 km |
| Source: |||||
