Lefebvre Claims Victory at Rally van Haspengouw
Stéphane Lefebvre of France secured the win at the Rally van Haspengouw on Saturday, marking the opening event of the 2026 Belgian Rally Championship season. The victory comes as the Belgian rally scene welcomed back familiar faces, including Jos Verstappen.
Lefebvre, a former Citroën Racing WRC driver, finished 12 seconds ahead of Cédric Cherain of Belgium (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). Dutch racer Jos Verstappen (Citroën C3 Rally2), the defending champion at Saint-Trond, rounded out the podium in third place, 51 seconds behind the leader.
Despite his impressive performance, Lefebvre has chosen not to register for the full Belgian Championship, meaning Cédric Cherain currently leads the standings, ahead of his anticipated rival this season, Jos Verstappen. Maxime Potty (Citroën C3 Rally2) finished fourth, while Freddy Loix (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) took fifth in his return to the Haspengouw after a ten-year absence – having previously won in 2016.
The race saw early challenges for Verstappen, who lost 12 seconds after a mistake shortly after midday, allowing Lefebvre to build a decisive lead. Lefebvre, navigated by eight-time Belgian champion, then controlled his advantage through Saturday evening to secure his second Rally van Haspengouw victory. He was also voted “Driver of the Day” by the public.
“This victory is thanks to our strong second round…,” Lefebvre stated after the race.
The 28th edition of the Rally van Haspengouw kicked off with an impressive indicate on the Groenmarkt, attracting numerous participants and rally enthusiasts. Bjorn Syx had aimed for a top-five finish, noting the high level of competition for all involved.
