Only one week remains before the highly anticipated final of the 2024 Belgian Rally Championship. During the Spa Rally organized by DG Sport, the competition among title contenders Niels Reynvoet (Citroën C3 Rally2), Maxime Potty (Citroën C3 Rally2), and Cédric Cherain (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) will be intense. The trio will also tackle the last race of the year in that order. But because only the six best results count towards the final ranking of the championship, a lot could still change on the stages in and around Spa…
While Reynvoet, Potty, and Cherain are the frontrunners, they must also contend with the formidable Jos Verstappen (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). Alongside co-driver Renaud Jamoul, ‘Jos the Boss’ has celebrated two victories this season: the Rally van Zuid-Limburg and the Rallye des Crêtes. With his now red car, he is poised to play a crucial role in the title fight – this is sure to be exciting!
In addition to this fierce quartet, several other drivers are eager to secure a podium finish in order to end the season on a high note. These include John Wartique (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), Bastien Rouard (Hyundai i20 N Rally2), Charles Munster (Hyundai i20 N Rally2), Roger Hodenius (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), Thibaud Mazuin (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), and Enzo Ide (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), who will continue gaining experience in rallying at Spa. Dutch driver Bernhard Ten Brinke (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and Luxembourger Steve Fernandes (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) will also be in the mix.
Junior WRC driver Tom Rensonnet (Citroën C3 Rally2) will make his long-awaited debut in the top class during this final event. It will be interesting to see where the young local driver positions himself—this is certainly one of the key questions heading into the Spa Rally!
In the RC2 class, we will also see the ever-improving Nicola Stampaert (Skoda Fabia R5 Evo), Emmanuel Gonay (Citroën C3 R5)—who typically excels in the autumn—and Luxembourger Tommy Rollinger (Peugeot 208 T16 R5), whose car has gained popularity among fans
All drivers in the RC2 class will participate in a Qualifying Stage on Friday starting at 6:20 p.m. This stage will determine the starting order for the following day. The fastest drivers after two runs on the stage starting in Winamplanche will have the first choice of their starting position for Saturday.
The Qualifying Stage will also be open to teams in the RGT and RC3 categories. In the GT category, a thrilling duel is expected between Romain Delhez (Porsche 991 GT3) and Sébastien Incardona (Alpine A110 Rally). Meanwhile, the RC3 class will feature only Renault Clios, with home drivers Harry Bouillon and Pierre Hubin joining Xavier Dekeyser
With eleven stages scheduled for the opening day and five on the decisive Sunday, the action will undoubtedly unfold quickly. Anyone interested in predicting the podium for the Spa Rally 2024 can do so now
