Omloop Van Vlaanderen 2025 Report

A rally that was meant to be just for fun, outside of the FIRC championship, turned into an emotional rollercoaster, with an unfortunate ending, but shortly followed by some great news of new beginnings.

Omloop Van Vlaanderen (The Tour of Flanders) was the first event that brought Scott Barnes and Andy Hall to Belgium, 9 years ago. Despite not having the best of luck on the event over the years, it still holds fond memories. This year it was added to Scott’s already packed FIRC calendar, as an additional event for experience and enjoyment.

In the lead up to the event we had unfortunate news that our regular service crew couldn’t make the event, so with a slimline crew consisting of Kerry (Mrs Barnes), Kelly (Andy’s better half), Adam (Scott’s brother, a musician with no mechanical knowledge), Bill (who was only available partially whilst glued to his phone, expecting his second child any day), and new to the team Keith (who has limited knowledge of the car and rallying) it would be a test for the whole team over the weekend.

Thursday started with recce, a limited amount of time allowed to get through all 7 stages, ideally twice each to get the notes sorted and checked. Recce concluded on the Friday morning with another run through the Friday evening stages.

At lunchtime on Friday was scrutineering, as usual a stressful time and it felt as if they really wanted to pick apart the 106. With some minor amendments to the car the Peugeot gained sign off and the crew headed on to set up service.

The rally then started on Friday evening, seeded at car 41, the 106 Rallye headed over the start ramp and then out for the first loop of stages.

Stage 1 started with 500 meters of fast, flat out corners, slowing into a square right junction. Scott and Andy slowed for the junction and then the car stopped, the engine cut out and they sat in the middle of the road with no engine.

They tried to fix it by checking connections under the bonnet but there was nothing obvious. The team were out before they even had a chance to get started. The course closing vehicles came through and Scott was able to limp the car out of the stage with a major mis-fire. Adam then towed the car back to service to investigate further. The team set about changing the crank position sensor, which seemed to work, and the Peugeot was allowed to start for the second evening leg.

Now dark and with the lamp pod on, unfortunately it didn’t last long, on the road section out to the first stage of the loop the issue re-appeared.

Having retired from both evening loops, it was a horrible feeling for the crew, feeling emotionally beaten by the car, not knowing how or why we couldn’t get the car running right at this point. A real low point for the guys where every decision was questioned.

Thankfully the service crew again came to the rescue, towing the car back to service where we were joined by a Belgian local who also competes in a Peugeot 106, who was able to help locate the parts required to fix the car.

A throttle position sensor fault was diagnosed, with the team working very late into the night, eventually downing tools with the car now working and ready to go at 1am.After a short nap the guys were back up at 6am to be able to get the car into parc ferme before a 7am deadline, to have the car checked and approved to start Saturday’s stages.

With many penalties applied the team were sat dead last, 30 minutes behind the car in front, so a result was gone, and the crew set out with nothing to gain other than enjoyment.

A steady pace was found in the morning loop of 5 stages, with the car back on song, setting times consistently within the top 30. Into service and the team bolted on medium tyres to the front and filled the camelbak’s and sent the car out for another loop.

On the way to the next stage, a noise from the exhaust was noticed as if the exhaust was blowing. A quick stop on the road section and it was noticed that the lambda bung had fallen out. Not to worry, it just made the 106 sound more aggressive, with the occasional backfire on deceleration, perfect!

The guys picked up the pace further as they set 26th time on the next stage, even with the rally plate on the bonnet lifting up, threatening departure, and preventing Scott from seeing turn in points for most of the stage. Not easy when you’re aiming at a one wheel width cut. The issue was swiftly addressed after the stage.

Onto the next test, Passendale, a very fast stage with big cuts and bumpy tarmac, no room for error here. The 106 Rallye had a storming run, setting 24th time overall, an incredible effort considering the competition.

Next up was SS13, Zilverberg. The guys accommodation was just off this staged and they had used it in previous events, so they were looking forward to it. Scott and Andy were pressing on, feeling really good in the car, even on the sections of shiny tarmac. Around 1km before the end of the stage, they approached a 90 right, with a very shear deep cut around a lamppost. The Peugeot 106 attacked the corner, but the cut wasn’t deep enough. The car exited the cut too soon and ended up sliding towards a ditch on the outside. With determination, the throttle was pinned, perhaps not early enough. The rear got pulled into the deep outside ditch dragging the front in with it. Bang! The car thumped into the end of the ditch, as it hit a big concrete drainage pipe, the rear wheels lifting off the ground with a big stop. The end of the rally for us.

Thankfully Scott and Andy were both ok, however very stiff for a couple days after. The car however, not a pretty sight and possibly not repairable for Hemicuda which is in 6 weeks time.

At time of writing the strip down has commenced as the damage is being assessed to see whether the next event is possible. Lots of luck needed!

With all the ups and downs of the weekend it was easy to forget that Maaike (Mrs Paynter) had her legs crossed holding on for Bill to arrive home from helping us get the car safely packed ready for the trip home. Just 6 hours after Bill left Baby Paynter was on her way and at 16:42, 24 hours after the incident, the newest addition to BP Rally was born. A great end to a difficult and emotional weekend.

Wishing Bill and Maaike congratulations and lots of love from the rally family.