The 2025 Spa Rally presents a captivating subplot for GT rallying: the anticipated arrival of the Alpine A110 RGT+, entrusted to 2023 Belgian champion Maxime Potty and his trusted co-driver Renaud Herman. For many, the season has been defined by the Porsche 992 Rally GT’s dominance, yet equally evocative is the yearning to see the charismatic Alpine and the German thoroughbred go head-to-head on Belgian stages—a duel postponed only by homologation formalities but now offered, tantalisingly, as a preview of the discipline’s future.
Although the Alpine A110 RGT+ is not yet eligible for points within the Belgian Rally Championship, it has made a series of evocative appearances in regional events, including a striking debut by Potty and Herman at the Rallye-Sprint Villersois. DG Sport’s decision to grant the Alpine a start at Spa—albeit hors classement—echoes the approach recently taken for Thierry Neuville’s Hyundai, offering a glimpse of what may soon become a staple of Belgian rallying. “It’s a sneak preview of tomorrow’s BRC,” notes event organiser Florian Jupsin, as fans will be very much inclined to benchmark the Alpine’s pace against the formidable quartet of Porsche 992 GTs entered by Cherain, Bux, Wartique, and Delhez.
The A110 RGT+ will set off just ahead of the main contenders on the Saturday, and there will be no shortage of spectators plotting comparative times to gauge the French car’s real-world competitiveness. The moment feels historic—an unveiling of potential and a sign of a new chapter for the RGT category.
Alpine RGT Programme: Heritage and Potential
The Alpine A110’s rally pedigree is deep-rooted, recalling its pioneering role in the inaugural World Rally Championship and celebrated Monte Carlo wins in the 1970s. The modern relaunch of the A110 RGT, notably championed by Signatech, has leveraged cutting-edge technology and a rare blend of precision and accessibility. The RGT+ evolution amplifies this reputation, boasting a turbocharged 1.8-litre, sophisticated FIA-compliant architecture, and a setup aimed equally at privateers and professionals seeking high performance with manageable costs.
2024 brought a defining statement: Sébastien Loeb, rallying’s most decorated driver, powered the A110 Rallye GT+ to a landmark overall victory at the Rallye Mont Blanc Morzine—outpacing a field of Rally2 and other four-wheel-drive adversaries, and reaffirming Alpine’s credentials at the summit of GT rallying. The win, delivered with six fastest stage times and an impressive margin, re-established the Alpine as a serious challenger in modern rallies, not simply a nostalgic footnote.
Rivalry Prospects: Alpine vs Porsche
The RGT field is poised on the cusp of a compelling rivalry, with Porsche’s 992 GT enjoying an early dominance in Belgium whilst Alpine builds a case through innovation and headline victories abroad. The Alpine’s versatility and Loeb-backed results suggest that, once homologated, its pace on tarmac could pose a genuine threat—even to the established Porsche fleet that has so far set the benchmark.youtube
Fans and pundits alike will be watching Spa for signs of this future duel. The Alpine and Porsche, each a talisman of their brand’s engineering, are set to push the RGT discipline towards mainstream recognition. While the Porsche carries prestige and consistency, the Alpine—lighter, agile, and powered by the spirit of its heritage—has now proven it can win at the highest level.
Expect the Spa Rally 2025 to provide both spectacle and a glimpse into the next era of GT rallying, with the promise of a full-blooded Franco-German contest just over the horizon.
