The third round of the Belgian Rally Championship delivered exactly what the series has been building toward this season. Tight margins, relentless pace, and a three-way fight at the front that refused to breathe until the final stage.
Set around Tielt, the rally unfolded under cool, cloudy skies with dry conditions allowing drivers to commit from the outset. A strong entry list of 75 crews, including a Rally2 field heavily dominated by nine Škoda Fabias, set the tone for a high-intensity weekend where execution mattered more than outright pace.
At the sharp end, it became a straight fight between Max Potty, Jos Verstappen, and Cédric Cherain. Stage by stage, the trio traded blows, but it was Potty who ultimately delivered when it mattered most. Six stage wins and relentless consistency secured him overall victory, finishing just 7.4 seconds clear of Verstappen after a rally that never allowed for a margin of error.
Verstappen, showing both control and intent, claimed four stage wins of his own to secure second place, while Cherain completed the podium with three stage victories.
Crucially, his Power Stage win added valuable points, enough to push him back into the championship lead.
After three rounds, the title fight is now finely poised, with the top three drivers separated by just four points. The Belgian Rally Championship has well and truly come alive.
Behind the leading trio, the fight for best of the rest delivered its own storylines. Lander Depotter and Thibaud Vandeputte secured fourth overall and were deservedly recognised as “Actronis Drivers of the Day” after an eye-catching performance. Bastien Rouard, winner of the previous round, had to settle for fifth, finishing over three minutes off the lead but standing as the highest-placed non-Škoda driver.
The rally was not without drama. An early heavy crash for Rogers Hudenius forced the retirement of his Citroën C3 Rally2 on the opening stage, setting the tone for a demanding day. Jimmy D’Hondt and Chris Vandamme also exited proceedings, contributing to a total of 14 retirements across the field.
Steven Dolfen provided one of the more resilient drives, recovering from front-end damage after an off on the dirt section of Stage 10 to continue to the finish.
In the RGT category, it was total domination from Pieterjanmichiel Cracco, who swept all 12 stages to take a commanding class victory and an impressive ninth overall.
Glenn Janssens followed in second, with Stefaan Prinzie completing a clean Porsche 1-2-3. The only non-Porsche challenger, Vandamme in the Alpine A110 RGT+, saw his charge end prematurely with retirement on Stage 9.
Tielt delivered everything expected of a modern rally battleground. Precision, pressure, and a championship fight that is now balanced on a knife edge.
This one mattered. And it showed.
