The iconic Ypres Rally took place over the weekend in West Flanders. Verstappen, 52, who got into rallying a couple of years ago, had a good start to the competition, as after the third special stage he was in second place, just 3.3 seconds behind the Frenchman Stephane Lefebvre in the tarmac race.
On the fourth stage, Verstappen suffered a puncture, which dropped him to 15th place in the rally, a minute behind the leader. However, Verstappen did not throw in the towel but recorded two fastest times during the rest of the day and climbed to eighth place overall.
The Dutch veteran was within striking distance of a podium place before the second day of driving. But the fierce attack ended immediately in the morning when he crashed with his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 car.
The car was damaged enough that he had to retire.
Watch the video of Verstappen’s crash below.
Verstappen has now experienced retirements in three consecutive Belgian Rally Championship events. This year, he has only finished the opening rally of the series, the Rally van Haspengouw.
Hyundai Rally2 driver Lefebvre eventually took the Ypres Rally win with a 40-second margin over Belgian Maxime Potty. Cedric Cherain, who finished third, was over a minute behind the leader.
Jos Verstappen’s son Max Verstappen had a more successful weekend, as he won the Spanish GP, strengthening his lead in the F1 series.
