Just one more night to go before the start of the 2026 Ardenne Rally Festival, which this year gets underway from Alle-sur-Semois, bringing together for the first time a historic demonstration and a round of the Belgian Rally Championship Division 2. Spectacle and intensity are guaranteed\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For this third edition of the Ardenne Rally Festival, fans certainly won\u2019t be disappointed! The line-up rolling onto the podium in Alle-sur-Semois and onto the demonstration stages is simply outstanding, led by original rally cars that continue to extend their legendary careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Straight from rally history come a Lancia Delta S4 Group B ex-Al\u00e9n, a Ford Fiesta WRC ex-Latvala, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Porsche 997 GT3 ex-Snijers, a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6 Group A ex-M\u00e4kinen, a Ford Escort RS Cosworth Group A ex-Sainz, a Renault 5 Turbo Group B ex-Th\u00e9rier, an Audi 200 Quattro Group A ex-Mikkola, and many more. No doubt authenticity will be on full display in the Semois region!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This field of original machines will naturally be joined by incredibly faithful replicas, all paying tribute to champions who have left their mark on rally history. Spectators will also enjoy seeing \u0160koda Fabia R5s, Peugeot 306 Maxi Evo2s, BMW M3 E30 Group A, Ford Escort Mk1 and Mk2, Audi Quattros from several generations\u2014including the spectacular S1 Pikes Peak once mastered by Walter R\u00f6hrl\u2014along with Renault 21 Turbo Group N, Mercedes SLC 500, Talbot Samba Group B, Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, Renault 5 Alpine Group 2, Opel Ascona 400 Group 4, Simca Rallye 3, Citro\u00ebn DS 23, Alpine A110 1800 Group 5, DAF 66 Marathon Group 2, Mini Marcos 1300 GT, and many others. A truly effective time machine\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is one of the major new features of the 2026 Ardenne Rally Festival! Alongside the traditional and hugely popular demonstration for rally cars of the past, DG Sport has decided to organize a brand-new round of the Belgian Rally Championship Division 2, bringing back memories of several editions of the legendary South Belgian Rally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Competition will be in full swing on Saturday, May 30, with two passes over the Gedinne Circuit and Bourseignestages, plus three runs through Rochehaut and Bellefontaine. The schedule promises an intense day: the first cars will cross the podium in Alle-sur-Semois from 8:30 a.m., followed by a midday service break, a second loop ending shortly before 6:00 p.m., and a final half-loop bringing everyone back for good shortly after 8:00 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Around thirty cars are expected to take the start, with the \u0160koda Fabia RS Rally2 of current BRC Division 1 leaders Maxime Potty and Renaud Herman topping the bill. Their goal is clear: continue their charge for another national title by collecting valuable points on a Division 2 event. Potty will battle for victory against Bjorn Syx, entering late with his usual Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, and Dutch driver Roger Hodenius, also in a \u0160koda Fabia RS Rally2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On such a demanding route, Thibaud Mazuin\u2019s Renault Clio Rally3 will undoubtedly have every chance of staying close behind the Rally2 contenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fight among the Rally4 cars in the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup also promises fireworks, featuring Lander Depotter (Opel Corsa), Manuel Merlevede (Peugeot 208), Corentin Fiasse (Peugeot 208), Cl\u00e9ment Willaert (Opel Corsa), Corentin Dozot (Peugeot 208), Sergio Plattes (Peugeot 208), Steven Spittaels (Peugeot 208), as well as L\u00e9ny Cols, whose Lancia Ypsilon HF Rally4 will make its national competition debut. They will also face Nicolas Vanderweerde in his Renault Clio Rally4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup will also be in the spotlight in RC6, the Rally6 class, with the next chapter in the battle between Emilien Allart (Opel Corsa), Nolan Lejeune (Opel Corsa), Benoit Wauthier (Peugeot 208), and Jean Beaupain (Lancia Ypsilon), joined for the occasion by Brent Boudrez (Lancia Ypsilon), Christophe Geoffroy (Peugeot 208), and Laurent Wilkin (Peugeot 208), a familiar name with extensive experience on these regional stages. Another fierce contest within the rally!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep an eye as well on several older cars whose potential could really shine on such a route, including Tobi Vandeberghe\u2019s BMW 132, Simon Durieux\u2019s E36 Compact, Lauret Mottet\u2019s Peugeot 306, and Olivier Leroy\u2019s Renault Clio RS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the historic entries, the excellent news is the confirmed presence of the BMW M1 Procar driven by Olivier Breittmayer and Pierre Sibille, which thrilled spectators at the Sezoensrally and will undoubtedly enjoy the Ardenne Rally Festival stages. But watch out too for Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Fran\u00e7ois, always spectacular at the wheel of his Ford Escort Mk2, while Lo\u00efc Vanquin enters an Opel Ascona and Guy Grosjean brings his usual Peugeot 205.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The battle promises to be intense throughout the field. And considering the route on offer, this first-ever BRC Division 2 experience at the Ardenne Rally Festival could certainly inspire ideas for the future\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Just one more night to go before the start of the 2026 Ardenne Rally Festival, which this year gets underway […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17270,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ardenne-rally-festival-2026"],"acf":{"vhrs":false,"show_group":false},"yoast_head":"\n