Stellantis Rally Cup Ready for the start of the Rally van Haspengouw!

If swallows herald the arrival of spring, the Rally van Haspengouw traditionally kicks off the national racing season in Belgium. This will once again be the case this coming weekend in the Sint-Truiden region, and this time, the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup will be there too. Twice rather than once... 

The promoters of the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup announced at the end of 2025 that the off-season would be short! It will end on Saturday 28 February, the day of the Rally van Haspengouw, the first round of the 2026 Belgian Rally Championship. This kick-off may have taken some competitors by surprise, but with the opportunity to score points five times in a six-round competition, those who are absent will not compromise their chances in the final standings. 

Now reserved for the well-known Rally4s, but also for the Rally6s featured in the Stellantis Motorsport catalogue, the 2026 competition is twofold. With a distribution that is respected from the outset, as soon as two times five crews appear on the starting podium of the Rally van Haspengouw.

As befits his status, Lander Depotter, the outgoing champion, will be back behind the wheel of the Opel Corsa Rally4. Alongside Jasper Maelfait, the young Dutch-speaking driver will start as the logical favourite. He will be up against two other experienced crews at this level, with the Peugeot 208 Rally4 of Corentin Fiasse and Adrien Hauteclair, bronze medallists at the end of the 2025 season, and the other lioness of Manuel Merlevede and Thomas Cloet, who finished in the top five last year. Very safe bets... 

Coming up through the regional events, Clément Willaert, co-driven by Kévin Dejonge, will be keen to keep up with the more experienced drivers at the wheel of an Opel Corsa Rally4. As for Steven Spittaels, he is once again demonstrating his great loyalty to the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup by lining up his Peugeot 208 Rally4, this time with Hans Verhaeghe in the right-hand seat. 

Go for it, young drivers! 

A category that allows young drivers to make their big debut on the national stage, the RC6 class brings together Rally6 cars, which this year make up the second part of the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup. From the Rally van Haspengouw onwards, the battle promises to be thrilling, with five crews already in the running. 

Starting with the RACB National Team, which will be represented by the two winners of the 2025 Rally Battle at the wheel of Opel Corsa Rally6 cars in their famous colours. Emilien Allart will be assisted by the experienced Johan Jalet, while Nolann Lejeune will be relying on Olivier Dethier. 

Two Lancia Ypsilon HF Rally6 cars will also be competing, with clear ambitions. Benjamin Bosseloir will be able to count on Loïc Dumont at his side, while Jean Beaupain will be relying on Jonathan Lemaire. These are certainly two strong duos! 

A Peugeot 208 Rally6 has been entered for Benoit Wauthier, who will be accompanied for the occasion by Yoan De Mol. 

With ten crews taking part at the end of February on the Haspengouw special stages, the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup 2026 is sure to attract attention this coming Saturday. Three sets of four special stages – Kerkom, Halle-Booienhoven, Gelmen and Engelmanshoven – are on the programme for the 2026 Rally van Haspengouw. The event will kick off at 8.30 a.m., with the finish line at around ten hours later. Once again, the Droneport in Sint-Truiden will serve as the event headquarters.