The 25-year-old Estonian driver will take part in the Ypres Rally at the end of June. The Belgian asphalt event, which has twice featured in the World Rally Championship, is considered a true classic, known for its narrow and technical roads.
Jürgenson is contesting the WRC2 category and the British Rally Championship this season in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, and he will get behind the wheel of a similar car for the Belgian event.
He will be supported not only by M-Sport Ford but also, somewhat unexpectedly, by gentleman driver and businessman Jourdan Serderidis, who occasionally competes in WRC rallies in a Ford Puma Rally1. The Greek-Belgian millionaire is also known for his backing of M-Sport driver Grégoire Munster.
In Ypres, Jürgenson will gain valuable experience on challenging asphalt roads.
“Of course, I know the Ypres Rally. It is a competition with a great international appeal, certainly after the two that were a part of the World Championship. In the past, I was asked a few times by Emilia Abel, the race director at the time, to come to Ypres, but it didn’t work out then. I am happy that I received an interesting proposal again and that I was able to respond positively this time,” Jürgenson said.
“It is very interesting for me to expand my experience on tarmac in Ypres, because in Estonia I mainly drove on gravel. I could still use some more tarmac experience. I am not putting any pressure on myself for my first participation.”
Joining Jürgenson in the car is local co-driver Diederik Pattyn, who has contested the Ypres Rally 15 times. The experienced Belgian will no doubt offer valuable insights to the young Estonian, but there’s also a new element to their collaboration – the pace notes will be read in English for the first time in Jürgenson’s career.
“Notes in English, I am somewhat familiar with that, because I played a lot of rally games in my teenage years,” Jürgenson laughed.
Jürgenson’s next outing comes this weekend at Rally Portugal, the fifth round of the World Rally Championship.
