Jos impresses with podium in Ypres Rally 'Very happy'

Published on 28 June 2025 by Stefan Meens

Jos Verstappen clinched a deserved podium at the Ypres Rally. Piloting their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, Verstappen and navigator Renaud Jamoul finished third in the event and scored important points for the Belgian Rally Championship (BRC). Frenchman Stéphane Lefebvre took the win ahead of Hayden Paddon from New Zealand.

“I’m so glad I was able to keep up with Lefebvre and Paddon”, said Jos, referring to the impressive CVs of the drivers that finished ahead of him. Lefebvre competed in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and Paddon is the European Rally Champion of 2023 and 2024.

As Lefebvre and Haddon both do not contest the BRC, it means Jos, despite finishing third, takes home the full points for the BRC championship. “I’m really happy with this result. It’s good for the championship and I never thought we would be able to compete with the likes of Lefebvre and Paddon”, concluded a delighted Jos.

After completing eight stages on Friday, Saturday features ten timed stages across four sections: Dikkebus (13,65km), Watou (13,57km), Kemmelberg (12,42km) and Zillebeke (17,31km). Jos and Renaud start strong with P2 (+0,3s), P3 (+2,4s), P2 (+4,8s) and P6 (+8,0s). With six stages to go, the duo sits in fourth place, only 22 seconds from the lead.

In the following four stages, Jos and Renaud remain among the front runners clocking in at P3 (+2,0s), P4 (+2,7s), P2 (+3,3s) and P6 (+8,0s), climbing up into third place overall. Jos ends the rally strongly by setting the fastest time on the penultimate stage, before finishing the final stage in second, 23.9 seconds behind Ypres Rally winner Lefebvre.