ERC
Verstappen to bounce back from ERC roll
Jos Verstappen is already looking ahead to the next chapter of his FIA European Rally Championship adventure after he posted his first DNF of the season in Sweden yesterday.
The ex-Formula One racer was leading the Master ERC classification in 18th overall on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia when he rolled into retirement 2.1 kilometres from the finish of the day-closing Collins stage.
While Verstappen and co-driver Renaud Jamoul were uninjured and their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 repairable onsite, they elected not to restart on day two of the high-speed gravel event, preferring instead to focus on their preparations for ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland, round four of the ERC season from 13 - 15 June.
“I think I went a little bit too quick into the corner and then I missed the apex, the inside of the corner, I was in the loose gravel, on full grass and I couldn’t make the corner,” said Verstappen, who was making only his third start on gravel and his first on a high-speed loose-surface event. “The rear wheels went into the ditch and the car rolled. Very easy to happen in this kind of rally. It happens, from what I have seen on the videos, a lot. It was a typical Sweden roll.”
The rear wheels went into the ditch and the car rolled
Dutchman topped the Master ERC order when he retired
© ERC
Verstappen, whose son Max is a four-time Formula One world champion, explained his Wevers Sport-run car rolled once and landed on its wheels.
“I flipped it and I was back on the four wheels,” the 53-year-old said. “The roll cage is all fine but the front was a little bit damaged, there was some rear damage and one damper was broken. Because Poland is coming so quickly and my feeling wasn’t that good in the car in this particular rally so we want to check everything instead of keep going. Every crash should be a lesson but it’s a typical thing for here.”
Ex-Formula One racer is a van of the Swedish stages.jpeg
© ERC
Of his first experience of the fast-paced gravel roads of Sweden’s Värmland, Verstappen said: “I must say I really enjoyed it, the way of driving. Obviously these people from these countries they used to that, the only driving they do is on these kind of stages. For sure, and definitely at my age, if I have to change the style after 45 years of racing it’s not so easy. It’s a completely different thing and of course the age doesn’t help. But I really enjoy it, I can also enjoy from the people in front how they’re pushing and things like that. I’m happy what I see and hopefully I can improve a little bit more.”
