Photo credit: Francesco Rastrelli

The Classic Rally Association and competitors will be setting off for the Poppy Regularity Rally in ten days time. Taking place from 20th- 22nd  March 2015, this event centres around the historic town of Ypres, famous in times past for its cloth and linen products.

The Poppy attracts entries from all over Europe who come to enjoy the Flanders roads  ideal for regularity rallying, and the compact nature of the event means those with work constraints are less impacted. The event emphasis is on accurate navigation and good timekeeping. It’s classified as a red tyre “advanced” event and aimed at crews who already have competed on one day historic road rallies or competed on longer HERO CRA events in the past.

This year CRA are aiming the event at older cars, but in line with FIVA Regulations this year are able to accept entries from vehicles up to 1985. With a class for young timer vehicles from 1985 to 1995.  Since competitors join from many countries, permitted modifications can vary, therefore technical regulations are present, but designed to allow a wide and varied selection of vehicles to compete on this event.

The provisional schedule for the event is the same as events past, vehicles are presented on the Friday night for technical scrutiny, and the start will be from Poperinge on Saturday morning as the traditional market takes precedence in the square at Ypres. Sunday will be an early start, taking in some sections before breakfast, and then rallying right up to the afternoon, finishing back in Ypres. As always, crews are invited to an awards presentation before heading to the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate on Sunday evening, then back to the hotel for the traditional celebration dinner.

The standard entry fee is inclusive of accommodation for Friday, Saturday and Sunday plus meals on Saturday and Sunday. Local crews are able to have an entry at a reduced price without accommodation. For full details of the event click here