24 – 26 January 2025

Press/media

The Belgian VW Club is heading towards 
Sweden, and twice rather than once! 

Following their remarkable success in the E-Rallye Monte-Carlo three months ago, the Belgian VW Club is embarking on a new season of eco-friendly rallying. On the snowy roads of the Östersund Winter Eco Rally, the two Belgian Volkswagen ID.3s will be driven by the teams Bernard Heine-Valérie Piette and Éric Cunin-Virginie Palizeul. 

With its vast landscapes and snowy conditions at this time of year, Sweden is a prime location for rallying. Traditionally known for speed rallies, Sweden is now embracing regularity rallies in electric cars. As in previous years, the Belgian VW Club is thrilled to participate in the Östersund Winter Eco Rally, scheduled for January 24 and 25 in Jämtland County. 
 
“We discovered this rally last year and absolutely loved it,” says Valérie. “The scenery is breathtaking, and the snow presents a true sporting challenge. We were leading the regularity classification until a late incident cost us the victory. As soon as this year’s calendar was announced, we marked the date, determined to make a comeback. We’re also excited to be joined by Éric and Virginie for their first Swedish adventure, fully embracing the team spirit of the Belgian VW Club!”

With fresh snow expected and temperatures well below freezing, the Belgian VW Club crews are eagerly anticipating the challenging grip conditions. “Both Bernard and I have experience in speed rallying, and we relish events that test driving skills,” smiles Éric, who boasts ten victories at the Semois Rally. “I discovered regularity rallies in electric cars during the Ardenne Roads ecoRally and continued with the legendary E-Rally Monte-Carlo. It’s a different kind of adrenaline but equally thrilling. This time, supported by Llorens by Autosphère and Rent Speed Racing, I’m excited to share this Swedish adventure with my wife, Virginie.”

The journey to Östersund is an adventure in itself, covering more than 2,200 km through Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. “Traveling with Bernard and Valérie has been a pleasant surprise, especially for such a long trip in an electric car,” says Virginie Palizeul. “The navigation system efficiently guided us to charging stations, and we enjoyed the beautiful landscapes and the ferry crossing from Denmark to Norway. This week, we’ll be practicing with Bernard and Valérie to refine my role as a regularity co-pilot and master the crisartech system, which is crucial for managing average speeds. After that, it’s administrative and technical checks before we hit the road on Friday for two intense days!”

While Éric and Virginie have brought studded tires, Bernard and Valérie will have theirs fitted at the Volkswagen Berners dealership in Östersund, emphasizing the friendly and accessible nature of the eco rally. “These studded tires will be essential,” laughs Bernard. “We’ll be competing against crews from all over Europe. Among them are last year’s champions Michal Zdarsky-Jakub Nabelek, and former winners Guido Guerrini and Artur Prusak, as well as seasoned competitors like Didier Malga and Anne-Valérie Bonnel. Volkswagen will be one of the nine represented brands, and we aim for a spot on the podium. It’s going to be a thrilling competition!”