The 2026 Kroon-Oil Belgian Rally Championship got underway this weekend in true Limburg fashion — grey skies, slick tarmac, and a crowd that refused to yield to the weather. Seventy-three teams rolled out from Sint-Truiden for the 28th Rally van Haspengouw, marking the start of a season expected to deliver one of the most competitive Belgian titles in years.
Among the headline acts: reigning champion Jos Verstappen, vice-champion Cédric Cherain, and former World Rally Championship factory driver Stéphane Lefebvre — a trio that set a fierce early tone. Overnight rain turned the first loop of stages into a battle of nerve and nuance. The leaders quickly broke away, with road order and tyre choice proving decisive.
Verstappen drew first blood, opening the road and clocking the initial fastest time. Lefebvre, taking a cautious start, soon found his rhythm as the surface began to dry. Cherain, meanwhile, struggled with a harder tyre compound that left him searching for front-end grip. Once Lefebvre hit his stride, his Citroën locked into a pace advantage he would never truly relinquish. Even a fastest time from Cherain on Gelmen — where the top speed of his Škoda made a difference — couldn’t halt the Frenchman’s momentum.
The turning point came late in the morning loop. A small off for Cherain and a braking error from Verstappen allowed Lefebvre to build a commanding gap through the second round of stages. By Saturday evening, he was in full control — and holding it with the composed assurance of a driver who’s seen plenty worse on the world stage. His second Haspengouw victory was met not only with the silverware, but also the crowd’s acclaim: voted “Driver of the Day” by thousands of Belgian fans lining the ditches and farm roads.
“Our second loop made the difference,” Lefebvre reflected. “As the roads dried a little, I pushed harder and built the gap. It’s always a pleasure to drive here — the crowds, the atmosphere… Belgium knows how to do rallying. Big thanks to Pieter Tsjoen for making it all possible.”
Cherain, ever the tactician, knew Lefebvre wasn’t registered for championship points and focused on the smart play — second overall, maximum BRC points, and a Power Stage win for good measure. “We lost it early with the wrong tyre call,” he smiled, “but ending just twelve seconds behind on pace is encouraging. When the rain returned, I found my rhythm — slippery conditions are just where I’m most comfortable.”
For Verstappen, third place — 51 seconds adrift — carried a familiar blend of determination and self-assessment. “It’s always close here,” he said. “That mistake in Kerkom cost us a bit, and we had a small pop-off valve issue. But we were beaten fair and square. We’ll regroup — there’s plenty of season ahead.”
Behind the podium places, Citroën’s Maxime Potty had to settle for fourth, frustrated after missing the pace he’d shown late last season. Veteran Freddy Loix, driving alongside Juliette Tsjoen, eased himself back into the rhythm to take fifth. “It’s been a while since I drove on such muddy, tricky surfaces,” Loix admitted. “The important thing was to enjoy it — and I did.”
Further back, John Wartique turned his Monte-Carlo and Sweden mileage into a solid sixth, while the BMA Hyundai pair of Bastien Rouard and 19-year-old Thomas Martens took seventh and eighth. Martens impressed in the Halle-Booienhoven rain with a stage win, but kept perspective: “I still need to perfect my braking points — there’s time on the table, and that comes with experience.”
Local favourite Jonas Langenakens claimed ninth in his Mitsubishi, ahead of Emile Breittmayer’s Citroën, whose later start position hampered early progress. Elsewhere, Nicola Stampaert was disqualified for speeding, while Steven Dolfen rejoined after an off in the opening loop.
In the sub-categories, Emilien Allart took his maiden Junior BRC victory, Lander Depotter emerged top in the Stellantis Cup, and Guino Kenis celebrated in the Historics with his BMW 325i — proof that Belgian rallying’s breadth remains as vibrant as its passion.
As the dust (and mud) settles, Cherain leaves Sint-Truiden with an early championship lead — a small but psychologically important edge over Verstappen. Lefebvre departs with a trophy and the satisfaction of another Belgian masterclass. The 2026 BRC is off to a promisingly tense start.
