Like many Belgians, the competitors in the JobFIXers Belgian Rally Championship (BRC) are currently enjoying a well-deserved holiday. But, they are already starting to think about the next round of the championship, the ConXioN Omloop van Vlaanderen, scheduled for 6 and 7 September.
A regularity competition for electric and hybrid cars
The race with Roeselare as its base of operations takes an important step on an international level this year by joining the Tour European Rally and its 'Historic' variant. Furthermore, the event is also the setting for a future-oriented side race, the Sanicentrum E-Rally.
The organising club KAMV has been innovating with a race for electric cars for several years now, as the E-Rally is already on its third edition. The first steps in that direction may have come a little too early, but this year KAMV wants to get serious about promoting this new type of race.
"Roeselare is one of the main economic centres of East and West Flanders," explain the driving forces of KAMV. "Many entrepreneurs, executives and other workers in the region drive electric cars. This competition is very accessible to them. The regulations are much less strict than for the speed rally. This is a regularity rally, where an average speed has to be respected. The speed is never high: between 45 and 49.99 km/h. As the speed never exceeds 50 km/h, a roll cage or safety harness is not compulsory. The regularity tests are run on the rally's special stages. The roads are closed, so the risks are very limited. For many traders and entrepreneurs, it is a playful way to show the dynamism and at the same time the ecological awareness of their business."
Poland Square transformed into 'ecological village'
Participants in the Sanicentrum E-Rally need not worry about their autonomy. They only drive a total of 93.5 km against the chrono, with ample breaks in between to recharge the batteries (for the "fully electric" cars). Indeed, the race is also open to hybrid and hydrogen-powered cars.
The Sanicentrum E-Rally will be run in one day on Saturday. The participants will have the honour of opening the course half an hour before their colleagues from the ConXioN Omloop van Vlaanderen. They will drive the five tests of the first round and the five of the third round, with several hours in between to recharge. A slight difference compared to the speed rally: they will run only one lap on the Passendale show, limiting the distance to 13 km.
Charging during the 2nd round will take place on the Polenplein, "the place to be" for the E-Rally, in the heart of Roeselare. Indeed, the Polenplein will be completely set up as an "ecological village". The public can test electric bikes there, as well as other alternative means of transport, such as 'scooters', the Segway, etc.
The Sanicentrum E-Rally will have its own press conference on Thursday 5 September at 8pm at the premises of JB Motorsport. Administrative control is scheduled on Friday, September 6. On Saturday 7 September, the starting park will be open from 7h in the morning on the Polenplein, where the E-Rally service park will also be erected. From 8h, the first cars will cross the starting stage, before venturing out on the Passendale, Houthulst, Zilverberg and Rumbeke stages, followed by the Zoning in Roeselare. The first round will conclude around noon. Participants will then leave for a second, identical round at 17h00. The finish is scheduled at 21h, followed by the awards ceremony.
The detailed programme, competition rules and entry form can be found on the website www.omloopvanvlaanderen.be.
When several championships, both rally and track, will be reserved for electric cars within a few years, people will remember that Belgium, and more specifically the Omloop van Vlaanderen, was a pioneer of ecological motorsport with its Sanicentrum E-Rally.
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