MI Rally Academy co-driver Grace O’Brien will contest her second Belgian rally this weekend

The Cork-based -navigator is contesting the Stellantis Cup Belux championship alongside Clare man Niall O’Sullivan. Saturday’s Sezoens Rally near the Dutch border, will be the duos first outing in the new Peugeot 208 Rally4.

Earlier this season they competed in the South Belgium Rally in an Opel Corsa Rally 4 as their Peugeot was not ready in time. O’Sullivan did get the chance to test the new Peugeot at the recent Monteberg Rally in Flanders where he had Rally Academy co-driver Ronan Comeford on board. The O’Sullivan-O’Brien crew’s season starts afresh on Saturday morning, with the new car, where they will face 15 stages over a 143km course.

“It will be non-stop for three days, with shakedown on day one, recce on day two and a long day’s rallying on the third day. But it's a challenge we are relishing,” said O’Brien.

“It's the first time we will have the new Peugeot 208 Rally 4 car for the Stellantis Cup Belux so hopefully we will settle in a bit quicker and increase our pace.”

The one-make Stellantis Cup Belux is open to drivers competing in cars made by the world’s largest automotive manufacturer and the entry list includes Peugeots and Opels. The current series leader is German Marijan Griebel.