Garry Pearson is relishing the chance to compete at Ypres Rally

The Ypres Rally (June 22-24) is a real cornerstone of European rallying, with its famously challenging stages and vibrant atmosphere regularly experienced by some of the best rally drivers in the world.

READ MORE: Sir John and Lady Campbell officially open Thorburn Group HQ

As round three of the 2023 British championship, this year Pearson will add his name to the long list of drivers to have sampled all the Flanders region has to offer – competing once again in his Melvyn Evans Motorsport-prepared Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.

"I'm really excited to do the event," Pearson said. "It's the first time I've been there and the stages look mega.

"There's obviously a lot of challenges – there's certainly places that can catch you out and it's a long enough rally for it to pose a problem for everybody. The atmosphere is famous and I'm relishing the prospect of being a part of that."

Pearson was due to travel to Belgium on Tuesday (June 20) to complete his pre-event reconnaissance alongside co-driver Daniel Barritt, before the competitive action gets under way on Thursday evening with a qualifying stage which sets the road order for Friday's stages.

READ MORE: Record numbers attend this year's Borders Book Festival

Eight stages – famed for their technical nature and ditches which can be cut – will be tackled on the opening day before a further 10 on the second leg, making Ypres one of the longest and most difficult rallies Pearson has ever started.

The driver from Duns has therefore devised a sensible battle plan – aware that simply making it to the end should ensure a strong result for his championship.

"Ultimately points make prizes so we want to get a finish, we need to get a finish," he said.

READ MORE: Police appeal for information following theft in Hawick

"We enter every rally with that objective. It'll be a long and tough rally but ultimately I think we can conjure up a good plan with a good level of attack that hopefully allows us to get a strong finish and strong points for the championship.

"I've got limited experience on tarmac but I think our pace on the right day and in the right conditions is good, and if we can continue to work on it on such a big and long event like this then that'll also help me in the future for the upcoming tarmac rallies."

Pearson is supported by Billie Bowie Special Projects, Hankook UK, Asset Alliance Group, George Anderson General Builders, Solid Fuel Hub, Husqvarna, R.L Smith & Sons, Brick & Steel Construction and Morris Lubricants.