The 72nd running of the iconic Rallye des Ardennes delivered everything rally fans could hope for - snow, drama, unexpected retirements and a commanding performance from a local hero.
Held in and around the historic town of Dinant, the event marked the second round of the Belgian Rally Championship and the opening Division 2 rally of the season. A total of 56 crews lined up for a day that would quickly become one of the most eventful in recent memory.
Even before the rally began, the entry list had taken a hit. Former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen withdrew just days before the start due to personal reasons, while Nicola Stampaert was forced out after failing to recover his driving licence in time following a speeding incident between stages at the Rally van Haspengouw two weeks earlier.
One notable return came from Greek-Belgian driver Jourdan Serderidis, who rejoined the Rally des Ardennes after missing the 2025 edition.
From the opening kilometres, the weather set the tone. Snow covered the first three stages of the morning, creating treacherous conditions before the day transitioned into rain and heavy grey skies across the Ardennes region.
Local favourite Bastian Rouard, alongside co-driver Dimitri Debuisson, immediately stamped their authority on the rally. Driving their newly acquired Citroën C3 Rally2, the pair set the pace with three consecutive stage wins through the snow-covered opening loop. It was their first event in the car after previous seasons campaigning a Hyundai i20 N Rally2.
One of the pre-event favourites, Cédric Chérain, saw his challenge end abruptly on Stage 2 after sliding into a tree stump in the snowy conditions and retiring from the rally.
The same stage delivered one of the most unusual incidents of the day when another crash brought down a power pole, triggering a blackout across the nearby village of Chevetogne. Repairs continued until 17:00, forcing organisers to cancel the Chevetogne stage twice during the day.
As conditions evolved from snow to rain, Rouard’s main challenger emerged in the form of Thomas Martens, affectionately known in the paddock as “The Ginger One”. Martens pushed hard throughout the afternoon, sharing stage victories with Rouard as the rally unfolded across multiple loops.
Despite the pressure, Rouard maintained control. Two more stage wins in the final leg ensured the local driver secured overall victory, while Martens fought back to win the final stage and finish just 24.1 seconds behind - earning his first ever podium result in a Rally2 car.
Completing the podium were Steven Dolfen and Thijs Ouzel, who delivered a consistent performance in their Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo to secure third place.
In Division 2, Thibaud Mazuin and Samuel Maillen dominated proceedings in their Renault Clio R3. The pair claimed victory in the category while finishing an impressive seventh overall, winning all ten Division 2 stages across the rally.
With snow, rain, power outages and fierce competition shaping the day, the 72nd Rally des Ardennes proved once again why it remains one of the most unpredictable and entertaining events on the Belgian rally calendar.
Attention now turns to the next round of the championship - the 50th edition of the TAC Rally, scheduled to take place on 11 April.
