Roald Leemans (26) was close to a huge stunt during the GTC Rally at the beginning of July. He drove a rented Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 with which he had never competed before and was heading for a huge victory. But due to a flat tire, Roald and his navigator Chris van Waardenburg ultimately had to settle for second place. Next Friday 15 and Saturday 16 September a new opportunity awaits with the same rental car during the Eurol Hellendoorn Rally.
It was a big surprise that Roald won eight of the twelve parts during the GTC Rally. He had only rented the Volkswagen from the Belgian team SXM shortly before the competition. “I initially had a Skoda Fabia Rally2 in mind, but it was put together by a boy. Then the Polo came into the picture, and I was allowed to take it for a test drive on the industrial estate. I didn’t drive like crazy at high speeds, but I did briefly see what the car is like.”
“I don’t think other teams took me into account.”
Roald was certainly not a favorite in the race, as he had no experience with the car. But also because he had not competed in any other competition last year. “I last participated in the GTC Rally, also known as De Nacht van Achtmaal, in 2022. Then in a less good car. But I was only two or three seconds off the top on the parts with many bends. I believed that I with a good car, could compete at the top. It is difficult to gauge other teams, but I think many teams did not take me into account.”
The borrowed Volkswagen turned out to be a lottery ticket. “I drove normally and I didn’t have to push for a moment. In the end we didn’t win due to a flat tire. That was very sad. I cursed a lot in the car. And it was already so hot, I thought I had touched my heart,” he remembers the match.
“You can’t train a rally.”
But now Roald wants to show himself again, in Hellendoorn. With that rented Volkswagen. Although the field of participants will be a lot tougher there. For example, Jos Verstappen is at the start. “I choose the same car again. I would prefer to drive for a number of test days, but that is too expensive. I want to prepare as best as possible by, for example, obtaining a lot of information from other drivers. But then again, you can’t train a rally, surprising things always happen.”
The difference with previous years is that Roald now receives help from his Belgian team from whom he rents the car. “I used to do everything myself together with my father. Now the car is adjusted to my wishes. However, there is a lot of arranging involved to get the whole financial picture together. It costs many thousands of euros and everything has been spent down to the last euro. However, if things go well in Hellendoorn, there may be opportunities to participate in more rallies next year.”