The 43rd Rallye de Wallonie takes place over the weekend of 25-26 April in Namur, serving as round four of the Belgian Rally Championship and the first Walloon fixture for Division 1. Backed by partners Piragri, Gego Team, Comet, and Sobeltax, the Automobile Club de Namur team has refined a format long praised by drivers and spectators alike.
Route Innovations
The itinerary introduces fresh twists: a new start in Ville-en-Waret; reversed direction on the Wartet stage; the same for the classic Mohiville loop; and Loyers returning to the schedule. Saturday and Sunday combine for over 200km of timed specials, blending Namur’s flowing gravel sectors with technical forest hauls akin to prior years’ 117km Leg 1 (Mohiville-Natoye-Crupet-Wartet) and 91km Leg 2 (Nanine-Fernelmont-Vedrin).
Teams get a 7km shakedown in Floreffe municipality—real-world testing to dial in setups before the off. Service remains central in Jambes at Place de la Wallonie, fostering the event’s lively atmosphere.
New Series Debuts
Wallonie debuts two BRC support championships: the Porsche Rally Trophy Benelux and BRC GR Cup. The latter, from I4Race, fields identical Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 cars on an arrive-and-drive basis for parity. With 262hp stock engines, sequential gearboxes, and rally-tuned suspension, they offer young drivers accessible four-wheel-drive experience at competitive pricing.
The Porsche Rally Trophy Benelux—Porsche’s first official rally one-make series worldwide—features 911 Rally GTs (based on the 992 GT3 Cup with FIA-homologated kit: roll cage, underbody protection, ABS, traction control). Developed by Lionel Hansen and Yves Matton post-2025 successes (Belgian RGT title, multiple BRC wins), it targets 5-10 cars per round across five events, starting here before Netherlands, Germany (Saarland-Pfalz), and East Belgian Rally finale.
VHRS Focus
The co-run VHRS regularity rally gets prime billing, sharing Jambes service with BRC for enhanced buzz. Bjorn Vanoverschelde designs the route and layout; JB Concept handles scoring. Secured in Namur to 2030, it balances speed and regularity, drawing steady entries amid Division 2’s absence due to low numbers.
Safety and Logistics
The ACN prioritises safety with rigorous measures for crews and crowds—rules reiterated pre- and during-event. Expect gravel traps, barriers, and marshal oversight on the 200+km haul, ensuring Wallonie’s reputation as a benchmark Walloon gravel test endures.
This edition positions the rally as a pivotal early-season clash, blending heritage stages with innovative cups that inject fresh rivalry into the BRC calendar.
