As announced a few weeks ago, EMO Sport, the structure of Patrick Emontspool and Luc Manset, will field several 911 GT3 Cups with Rally GT kit in 2026. On Thursday evening, the first duos were unveiled during a high-level presentation at the workshops of technical partner Lifelive Motorsport in St Vith.
An unrelenting passion for rallying and the emotions that the sport unleashes have prompted Patrick Emontspool to revitalise his structure EMO Sport ahead of the 2026 sports season.
"Last year I attended several races and I was impressed by the performance and enthusiasm surrounding the 911 GT3 Cup with Rally GT kit that Cédric Cherain was driving," said Patrick Emontspool. "So much so that I decided to order two copies of this wonderful car. Weeks became months, and today we are gathered here to officially kick off a new adventure that promises to be particularly exciting."
The secret of a high-performance team is to surround yourself with the right people. That is why Patrick Emontspool quickly decided to rely on Luc Manset, with whom he has worked closely on regional rallies in the past, for the coordination and day-to-day management of EMO Sport.
"As soon as Patrick's plans were made official, we were contacted by numerous drivers interested in renting one of our 911 GT3 Cup Rally GTs," explains Luc Manset. "The collaboration with Lifelive Motorsport for the preparation and technical follow-up of our cars reassured everyone. At the time of this presentation, one 911 GT3 Cup with Rally GT kit is roadworthy and, in fact, it was already used during the Spa Rally 2025. A second car is under construction, while a third will appear at the start of the first round of the Porsche Rally Trophy Benelux 2026, during the Rallye de Wallonie, via sublease."
Three Porsche from EMO Sport will thus appear at the start in Namur. A first crew consists of Romain Delhez and Gérôme Bollette, who already had a chance to get to know the 911 GT3 Cup with Rally GT kit during the past Spa Rally.
"Porsche in rally, I know it," smiles Romain Delhez. "From the first metres with the 911 GT3 Cup Rally GT, I felt that this car is more efficient than the previous generations - 997 and 991 GT3 - because its designer, Lionel Hansen, has equipped the car with everything it needs to perform. So we start the Porsche Rally Trophy Benelux 2026 with experience at the wheel of this 911 GT3 Cup with Rally GT kit. We are really looking forward to it."
Experience with the 911 GT3 Cup with Rally GT kit is also with Loïc Pirot and Jean-Baptiste Bodet.
"Last year we raced the Rallye de la Semois with such a car - and won," recalls Loïc Pirot. "This was followed by the East Belgian Rally, with second place in RGT behind Cédric Cherain. That was enough for us to continue this story. The arrival of the Porsche Rally Trophy Benelux, with five races, provided a great opportunity to take up the adventure. We are looking forward to Wallonia."
EMO Sport's third Porsche to start along the Meuse in Namur will be driven by Tom Rensonnet, again navigated by Johan Jalet.
"This car is a dream," smiles Rensonnet, who is usually active within Hyundai Motorsport's 'Weather Crew' in the WRC and drove a Rally2 last year. "The search for the necessary budget to enter this 911 GT3 Cup with Rally GT kit is intense. After the Rallye de Wallonie, I will take an initial stock to see where we stand and how the project can develop further."
EMO Sport will thus become one of the key players in the Porsche Rally Trophy Benelux 2026.
"That championship is indeed our priority programme," concludes Luc Manset. "But our Porsche can be hired for any other race, international, national or regional. Patrick and I are open to consultation, with the aim of being present at all levels of competition. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Rally GT is a car of our time, and we want to confirm that first and foremost with results and strong collaborations."
