Stellantis Rally Cup Back in action in Flanders!
After the summer break, the 2025 Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Belux will resume on Friday, September 5th, and Saturday, September 6th, on the special stages of the Omloop van Vlaanderen. Roeselare is also the start of the second half of the season, a season that already boasts two different winners in as many races and a third driver currently leading the standings. It's clear that the action on the Flemish stages will be exciting!
Since the start of the 2025 season, the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Belux has been incredibly intense! Young Dutchman Nard Ippen impressed at the Rallye de Wallonie, but it was Lander Depotter who took the win. In the Westhoek, Maxim Decock was faster than Lander Dhaene, while Depotter made a mistake and German Lukas Thiele suffered a mechanical breakdown.
They are all strong drivers who are among the favourites for the Cup... but for now, they all have to concede first place in the standings to Manuel Merlevede. He drove a strong first half of the season, including a podium finish in Ypres. In and around Roeselare, Merlevede will primarily try to maintain his lead. For now, he has a 6-point lead over Lukas Thiele and 11 over Lander Depotter.
At the Omloop, Merlevede will compete against Lander Depotter, Lukas Thiele, and also the returning Nard Ippen. These four are considered the main favourites. And some have little margin for error… Maxim Decock has yet to confirm his plans for the remainder of the season.
Following in the wake of the leaders, two outsiders will be looking for a good result in the Omloop. Steven Spittaels and Irishman Niall O’Sullivan haven't scored any points yet, but they're highly motivated to do so in Roeselare. They're certainly ready to capitalize on the slightest slip-up among the favourites…
As is tradition, the Omloop van Vlaanderen will be held over two days. On Friday, September 5th, the rally will feature two passes through Zwevezele (13.46 km) and Beveren (8.27 km), along with one pass through the Zoning of Roeselare (5.46 km). The second day includes three passes through Houthulst (11.81 km), Passendale (9.76 km), and the Zoning, as well as two passes through Rumbeke (8.24 km). In total, there will be 20 special stages covering 178 kilometres. We're all set!
