It was an intense duel, but in the end a certain logic was respected. Speedy, experienced and brimming with confidence, Stéphane Lefebvre (Citroën) lived up to his title of 2022 Belgian Rally Champion by taking a seventh victory at the Spa Rally Final. A success that finally allowed the Frenchman from DG Sport Compétition to celebrate his well-deserved title.

“It has been an incredible season, and first of all I would like to thank the team of DG and Alain Georges,” Lefebvre commented to the last TK. “We have had a great season and this final agreement is the icing on the cake. The car looked like a Swiss watch and in that case, of course, everything becomes easier…”

To put it mildly, Grégoire Munster (Hyundai) has been a high-level opponent from the start to the end of the race. He got no less than seven scratches to his name and kept putting pressure on the eventual winner… “Now we have to learn to constantly flirt with the limit, without going beyond it”, the BMA driver correctly analysed. “That was Stéphane’s trump card. Just wait…”

Cédric De Cecco (Citroën) stood on the podium in BRC for the first time in Spa and thus realized a dream. The native of Liège, who finished the season with Olivier Cartelle’s CRT team, could hardly hold back his tears afterwards. “I’ve been aiming for this result for so long”, Cédric reacted. “The weekend was not without obstacles, but here we are on the podium! The bar is set very high at the front, but how amusing it is to pull out all the stops to get close…”

Cédric Cherain (Porsche), hero of the Condroz, confirmed an incredible end to the season by taking fourth place at Spa, a result that gives him the national title in RGT, the main goal of his season. The native of Liège finished ahead of Charles Munster (Skoda), who quickly learned at the wheel of a Rally2, a Thierry Neuville who created the spectacle and spoiled the crowd at the wheel of his diabolical BMW M3 E30 Gr.A, while also collaborating with his new team of ushers with a view to the next World Cup matches.

Nicola Stampaert (Skoda) was forced to retire after a double flat tire and a broken muffler with a view of the finish. The Rally4 drivers had no hesitation in taking the final spots in the overall top 10. The German Marijan Griebel (Peugeot 208 Rally4), champion of the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Belux, finished ahead of a convincing Niels Reynvoet (Peugeot 208 Rally4) and brand new Belgian Junior champion Tom Rensonnet (Renault Clio Rally4), who completed a faultless course. A wonderful reward for the young man from Verviers after a delicate season.
And what about the performance of Thomas Delrez (Renault Clio RS) from Stoumont? He dominated the 2WD Trophy, finishing thirteenth overall and winning the Bruno Blaise Challenge, which is awarded to the best regional rider in the category. A reward that motivated Delrez to be at the start of the race, in which he created a spectacle.
We also mention the victory of Armand Fumal (Alpine A110 RGT Rally) in the BRC Master Cup, after a weekend in which it was a challenge to make the right tire choice.

In the Historic BRC the victory was for Nicolas Havet from Jalhay, with his BMW M3 E30 Gr.A, ahead of Jean-Pierre Vannerum’s Toyota Celica ST165.

“We’ve had a great edition,” commented a delighted organizer Christian Jupsin on behalf of DG Sport. “This applies to the sporting competition and the large number of spectators who attended the stages, as well as to the safety that was guaranteed during this edition of the Spa Rally. The return of the assistance park to Spa was a hit and for 2023 we already have several ideas, including animations, to further improve the experience of spectators in the center. The participants went home with a smile, because the course could count on unanimously positive reactions. As usual, we will innovate again next year and introduce a few new tests. Finally, I would like to thank the entire DG Sport team, who have put in place an exemplary organisation. Our experience in the event sector plays a crucial role in this. Hats off also to the marshals and stewards: thanks to them, not a single test started with a delay. You got it: this was a fantastic weekend for everyone!”