Jos Verstappenâs Rallye de Wallonie ends in heavy crash
Jos Verstappenâs campaign at the Rallye de Wallonie came to a premature and dramatic end on Sunday morning. The reigning Belgian rally champion, who had been mounting a formidable recovery drive throughout the weekend, saw his event halted following a heavy crash during the Loyers special stage.
The incident occurred when his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 slid into a tree, resulting in the car rolling. While the vehicle sustained extensive damage, both Verstappen and his stand-in co-driver, Jasper Vermeulen, were able to walk away from the wreckage unharmed.
An aggressive comeback
Verstappenâs weekend was defined by a series of challenges that tested his resolve. His rally began on the back foot after a 40-second time penalty for speeding on a liaison section relegated him to seventeenth overall on Saturday. Despite this significant deficit and damage sustained during the fourth stage, the father of the four-time Formula 1 Champion launched an aggressive comeback.
By the end of Saturday, Verstappen had clawed his way back to third overall, bolstered by stage wins on the ninth test and the final run in Marche Les Dames. He sat behind Adrian Fernémont and Maxime Potty, poised for a final push on Sunday.
The event also marked a change in the cockpit, as regular co-driver Renaud Jamoul was sidelined with a serious ankle injury. âI had to undergo surgery because my ankle was broken in two places,â Jamoul explained prior to the event. Jasper Vermeulen stepped in to fill the void, and despite the lack of familiarity, Verstappen was pleased with their initial progress. âFor Jasper, it is the first time doing English notes because we are just using the notes we already have. But it went well and the car feels good too,â Verstappen noted on Saturday.
Heading into Sunday, the mood remained optimistic. âIt is incredibly exciting, but we are not giving up. There is another day tomorrow and anything can still happen,â he said. Unfortunately, that final day proved decisive in the most unfortunate manner, ending his rally in the opening stages.
For more on the intense training and dedication behind the Verstappen family's success, read our recent coverage on Helmut Markoâs insights into Max Verstappenâs training.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.