The Kroon-Oil Belgian Rally Championship returns to Bocholt this weekend for the 49th Sezoensrally, the championship’s only all-gravel round and one of the most unique events on the Belgian calendar. The fourth split of the season around Bocholt is built on a distinctive surface: the so-called “maaskiezel” gravel, which is loose, fast and unforgiving. It’s a rally where survival is just as important as outright speed.
The stages: short, fast and repetitive
The route is built around four different stages run three times each, totalling 134.22 kilometres against the clock. The loop consists of Veldhoven, Gerdingen, Goolder and Brueghel, with the final pass of Brueghel serving as the Power Stage where extra points are on offer.
The repeating loop keeps the day compact but intense, and the mix of fast, open sections and rougher gravel means drivers need to be brave but also tactical. The cars have to be quick on the faster, more flowing parts but robust enough to survive the rougher, looser sections without damage or punctures. About 30% of the route is on pure gravel, which makes tyre choice and setup critical. Local knowledge remains a major advantage, and the Maas gravel surface is notoriously difficult to master for those without regular experience on it.
Front runners: Munster returns, Potty leads the championship
The headline story is the return of Grégoire Munster to the Belgian championship after three seasons in the World Rally Championship, including two at Rally1 level with M-Sport. The two-time Belgian Junior champion (2018–19) will contest a national programme in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 prepared by BMA, with Damien Withers as co-driver.starsporttv+1
Munster is already in Bocholt this weekend for a test run at the Monteberg Rally with Diederik Pattyn as navigator, and he has officially entered the Belgian championship despite holding a Luxembourg licence, meaning his results will count towards standings. His return instantly elevates the front of the field and sets up a potential showdown with the current champion-to-be.
Maxime Potty arrives in Bocholt as the new championship leader after a strong performance at the Rally van Wallonië, where he took second on 29.2 seconds behind Adrian Fernémont. Potty has been pushing hard in his Škoda Fabia Rally2 and is expected to be one of the fastest on gravel, with Kubus as co-driver. The battle between Munster and Potty is now shaping up as the defining duel of the event, with Autosport.be calling it “a showdown between Munster and Potty on the Maas gravel”.
Bastien Rouard is another strong name in the Rally2 field, driving a Citroën C3 Rally2. After a more subdued weekend at Wallonië, where he finished fourth overall, Rouard will be looking to challenge for the podium on gravel. Thomas Martens is also a serious outsider, especially if the surface becomes rough and technical.
Jos Verstappen and Cédric Cherain are both absent, with Cherain having withdrawn before the start at Wallonië following a test crash and internal team issues, and Verstappen opting out after a difficult weekend at Wallonië that ended in a roll. Their absence opens the door for others to push harder.
Monnens debuts Ford Escort WRC on gravel
Local favourite Gunther Monnens, often dubbed the “king of the maaskiezel”, returns with something completely new: a Ford Escort WRC from 1997. After acquiring the car in Norway, Monnens and his team have spent the past year rebuilding it from the ground up. This weekend marks its competitive debut — and notably, its first appearance on the Maas gravel.
Despite the excitement, Monnens is keeping expectations realistic. “We haven’t driven a single metre with the car yet. There could still be teething problems and I still need to get comfortable with it,” he admitted earlier this week.
On paper, the Escort WRC’s two-litre turbo produces around 309 horsepower — slightly below modern Rally2 machinery — but with a torque advantage that could prove valuable on loose surfaces. Whether that translates into stage times remains one of the key questions of the weekend. Monnens is the clear benchmark among the Youngtimers, but his ambitions stretch beyond that category as he eyes competitiveness against the Rally2 field.
Historic spectacle: BMW M1 Procar makes its gravel debut
The Historic field adds a different kind of spectacle this year. Olivier Breittmayer and Pierre Sibille were originally due to compete with their Opel Manta 400 Gr.B, but a last-minute gearbox failure forced a change of plans. The solution is arguably even more eye-catching: a BMW M1 Procar Gr.B.
Rarely seen in rallying, the M1 is expected to be one of the standout attractions of the weekend — not least for its unmistakable sound. The team has been working to adapt the car to the rough gravel conditions, including raising the suspension to cope with the demanding stages. Emile Breittmayer, fresh off victory at the Tour Auto in a Ford GT40, described the M1 as “a magical machine” and said it “screams almost like a Formula 1 car”.
It’s the first time an M1 will be seen on the Maas gravel, adding a layer of unpredictability — and a guaranteed crowd favourite.
Youngtimer battles and home favourites
Beyond the headline acts, the Sezoensrally traditionally delivers strong depth across categories. In the Youngtimer ranks, Monnens is the benchmark, but attention also turns to a Subaru showdown between XLT-prepared Imprezas. Jo Muylle, a Sezoens regular, goes head-to-head with Peter Hopmans, who returns to competition after a 13-year absence. For Hopmans, the focus is simple: enjoyment and reaching the finish after limited recent mileage.
Dirk Ceyssens lines up on home soil with his Toyota Celica GT-Four, while Eddy Buntinx brings his ever-present Citroën Saxo VTS — a familiar and popular entry in the category.
Titles still in play
The championship battle is wide open after Wallonië. Potty now leads the standings, but Munster’s return and strong gravel pace could shift the momentum. The Sezoensrally is a single-shot event where one mistake can cost dearly, and the championship leaders will need to balance aggression with survival.
With new machinery, returning names and a surface that rarely forgives, this year’s edition looks set to deliver another unpredictable chapter in the Belgian championship — one where survival may once again be just as important as pace, and where the Maas gravel will decide who can truly call themselves the king of Bocholt.
