The official start of the 2024 edition of the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Belux will be given at the Rallye de Wallonie (27-28 April). And in the ranks of the promoters of the competition pitting the Opel Corsa Rally4 against the Peugeot 208 Rally4, satisfaction is in the air. After whetting their appetites at the Rally van Haspengouw, which served as a test day for some, the serious business can now begin… and the cars will tackle the highly selective special stages of the Namur region.
Around ten teams have already confirmed their attendance. And it’s clear that the Corsas are very popular this year. After a strong end to the 2023 season, with implacable victories on the East Belgian Rally and the Spa Rally, Tom Heindrichs, reigning vice-champion and winner in the Junior category, will start the season as a logical favourite. In the company of Jonas Schmitz, the LifeLive driver can already boast a fair amount of driving experience this year, which should put him on the pace from the outset.
While Austrian Julian Wagner took the crown last year, will Slovenia’s Mark Skulj, co-driven by Rebeka Kobal, be able to carry the international flag as high? The first lap times will tell us more, but at 19 years of age, the 2023 Junior champion in Slovenia has undoubted potential! And this year, he has already won his category in Austria. So that’s promising…
Hailing from Germany, the young Lukas Thiele, co-driven by Ann Felke, can boast several victories in the RC4 class last year, both in his native country and in the Netherlands. So he too has a good knowledge of the Corsa Rally4…
Let it be said that the Belgian contingent is particularly well armed. Maxim Decock and Tom Buyse will be hoping to make the most of their knowledge of the Opel Corsa Rally4 and the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Belux. What about Jonas Dewilde, the reigning BRC Junior Champion, who has already made his mark on the Rally van Haspengouw and the Rally des Ardennes!
A group of young wolves that also includes Pierre-Manuel Brasseur, accompanied by Hugo Cravillon. Félix-Marie Brasseur’s son is no stranger to the wheel and to the limit, which should enable him to finish in the leading group.
At 30 years of age, Manuel Merlevede, co-driven by Thomas Cloet, had a chance to get his bearings on the Short Rally van Moorslede.
As for Luxembourg’s Steve Fernandes, he is one of the best-known names in the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Belux. He will once again be taking part, with Florian Volvert at his side, with the firm intention of making the most of his experience…
Last but not least, Steven Spittaels and Gilles Hendricks will take great pleasure in upsetting the Corsa gang with their Peugeot 208 Rally4. Over the seasons, Spittaels has amassed a great deal of experience in the category, and against the youthfulness of his rivals, he will oppose the wisdom of the gentleman driver.
As you can see, the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Belux 2024 boasts a top-quality line-up, confirming more than ever its status as the ideal launch pad for aspiring champions… Set course for the capital of Wallonia
