Dinant Hosts a Challenging Belgian Rally Championship Round
The 72nd edition of the Rallye des Ardennes took place around Dinant. The city once again served as the rally headquarters.
The event formed an important round of the Belgian Rally Championship. Competitors faced demanding conditions throughout the day.
Before the start, several notable drivers were absent. Jos Verstappen withdrew due to personal reasons. Nicola Stampaert was also unable to compete. His driving licence remained temporarily suspended following an incident at the Haspengouw Rally.
A welcome return came from Jourdan Serderidis. He rejoined the event after missing the 2025 edition.
Snow Creates Difficult Conditions
The opening stages featured snow covered roads. Grip levels remained low, making conditions challenging for all crews.
Local favourite Bastien Rouard and co driver Dimitri Debuisson adapted perfectly. The pair won the first three stages of the rally.
The result was particularly impressive. It marked their first rally aboard the Citroën C3 Rally2 after competing in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 last season.
Early Drama for Cédric Chérain
One of the rally’s key moments came on Stage 2. Pre event favourite Cédric Chérain lost control and struck a tree stump.
The impact ended his rally immediately. As the first car on the road, Chérain faced the difficult task of creating a racing line in the snow.
Stage 2 also saw another unusual incident. A competitor hit an electricity pole near Chevetogne. The collision caused a local power outage.
Repairs lasted until late afternoon. Organisers eventually cancelled the stage to maintain the schedule.
Rouard Controls the Rally
As conditions improved, Rouard continued to lead the event. His closest challenger was Thomas Martens, known by fans as “The Ginger One”.
Martens secured several stage victories during the rally. However, he could not match Rouard’s overall pace.
Rouard maintained his advantage and controlled the event from the front. His performance confirmed a successful debut in the Citroën.
Dominant Performance in Division 2
Division 2 belonged to Thibaud Mazuin and Samuel Maillen.
Driving a Renault Clio R3, the duo won every class stage. They also finished an impressive seventh overall against more powerful machinery.
Attention Turns to the TAC Rally
The Rallye des Ardennes delivered snow, drama, and standout performances. Bastien Rouard emerged as the clear winner after a commanding display.
The Belgian Rally Championship now moves to the next challenge. The famous TAC Rally is scheduled for April 11 and promises another exciting chapter in the season.