Flying Finns Jari-Matti Latvala and Janni Hussi will lead the FIA European Historic Rally Championship field away this week in Belgium, as the series arrives at Round 4, the Ardeca Ypres Historic Rally.

Following an agonising final-stage retirement at the previous round in Antibes, the former WRC ace will be looking to secure maximum points in his Toyota Gazoo Racing-supported Toyota Celica GT4. Chasing the Finn will be the returning English ace Seb Perez in his fan-favourite Lancia Stratos HF. With Welshman Dale Bowen alongside, Perez will be aiming to use all of the Lancia's power and performance to take the fight to Latvala in the dry and warm forecast conditions. The tarmac roads of the Flanders region have enjoyed dry and sunny weather in the run-up to the rally, and with no rain forecast, the two-wheel-drive crews will hope this will give them an advantage against the powerful four-wheel-drive cars.

Local hero Pieter-Jan Maeyaert is undoubtedly the man who will want to set the pace on his home roads. With Yves Dewulf on the notes, the Belgians suffered a costly engine failure in their BMW M3 during Round 2. Maeyaert had a successful test at the recent Rallye Wervik and will be ready to make an impression this weekend in FIA Category 4. He starts as the clear favourite for the Class J2C honours.

Reigning FIA EHRC overall champions Tibor Érdi Jr and István Kerék also make a welcome return after missing the last round. Tibor has updated his Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 4x4 to full 1992 specification for this season and will look to get as close to Latvala as possible on an event he has experience of from before.

The Ardeca Historic Ypres Rally boasts a quality entry. Fast local driver Gino Bux will be one to watch in his rapid Ford Escort. Series regular Maciej Lubiak will also be seeking to impress in his stunning Category 2 Porsche 911. But the question is, can he take the fight to Perez’s Stratos?

Category 3 promises some interesting battles this weekend. FIA Wildcard entry Mark Higgins, a former British Rally Champion, factory driver and James Bond stunt driver, will be a driver to watch. Using a TR7 V8, Higgins will take the fight to the likes of Richard Jordan and FIA Category 3 championship leaders Jesús Ferreiro Pérez and Javier Anido. So far, the Spaniards have taken three wins from three. Will they use this event as an opportunity to make it 4/4 and take total control over the category honours?

Eric Guignard also joins the battle in his Renault 5 Turbo Cévennes, with Irishman Gregory McCormack and Welshman John Morgan also in the mix. No driver has more Ypres experience than Morgan, and he'll look to use every single bit of that knowledge over the next few days. Another Ypres stalwart is Tim Jones, with brother Steve alongside as always. Tim, like Morgan, has been a regular visitor to Ypres for decades. Now equipped with a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, can Jones Spring a surprise on stages he knows as well as anyone?

Flexifly Rally Team boss Ernie Graham is using his new Ford Escort 1600 BDA again, as he chases FIA 1600cc Trophy points in Category 2. Son Will Graham is once again entered in the family’s BMW M3. Graham was highly impressive on his return to EHRC action recently, setting some great stage times. With mum Karen alongside, Will could be the dark horse in FIA Category 4. Another Category 4 contender could be Richard Kolle, the French ace switching from Porsche power to a new MATS Racing BMW M3 this weekend.

In FIA Category 1, championship veteran and leader Antonio Parisi starts as the clear favourite. ‘Nello’ will be tough to beat, but lifelong friend Carlo Fiorito will be looking to keep him honest during the rally. The pair will once again aim to score heavy points in the FIA EHRC Teams Trophy.

Elsewhere, James Calvert and James O’Brien have been the model of consistency in their VW 1303s so far this season. The reliable German machine has helped them amass a solid points score in FIA Category 2 and especially in the FIA EHRC 1600cc Trophy.

Finally, the event also allows cars from 1993–2000 to enter. Former WRC driver and Belgian rally legend Bruno Thiry is a very welcome addition to the EHRC field this weekend. The former Škoda and Ford factory driver will use a stunning Subaru Impreza 555 on the event and is certain to be a fans’ favourite in the glorious ex-Prodrive car.