After promising initial results in Belgium and France, the international rollout of the 911 Rally GT homologation form is imminent. This effort is a collaboration with Lionel Hansen and Yves Matton, with Prospeed responsible, among other things, for selling the homologated kits.
In Belgium and France, the car has quickly gained popularity following its first rally appearances, and the rest of Europe is expected to see this enthusiasm grow rapidly. We are talking about the brand-new 911 Rally GT. Driven notably by reigning Belgian champion Cédric Cherain, the car showed exceptional potential during the Rallye de Wallonie, the fourth round of the Belgian Rally Championship, where it made its competitive debut. In the context of the 911 Rally GT’s future commercialization and international expansion, Lionel Hansen, the car’s developer, has established a strong collaboration with Yves Matton and Prospeed. The Limburg-based team, with extensive Porsche expertise, will take on several key responsibilities.
First Miles, First Impressions
The 911 Rally GT was unveiled to the public at the end of last year, notably during the RACB Awards, and again at the start of 2025 during the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne. Fans were able to see the car in action as the #0 car at the Rally van Haspengouw and the Rallye des Ardennes. Following its homologation, the car contested its first competitive stages in Belgium and France.
The enthusiasm from fans, drivers, and teams was unmistakable. In Belgium, Cédric Cherain and Cédric De Cecco were active during the Rallye de Wallonie, while Tony Cosson competed in the Rallye Rhône-Charbonnières in France. By the end of that first weekend, one thing was clear: the car’s performance was impressive, with immediate positive results. Especially in Cherain’s hands, the car’s potential was fully realized, recording several fastest times on the Namur stages against four-wheel-drive competitors, including one driven by a former F1 driver.
The next Belgian event is the Ypres Rally on Friday, 27 and Saturday, 28 June, where Cherain will compete alongside Dani Sordo. The Spanish WRC driver, a three-time world rally winner and double world championship bronze medallist, will make his debut in the 911 Rally GT. Former European champion and multiple Belgian rally champion Patrick Snijers will also compete, as will Glenn Janssens, who has likewise chosen the new Porsche. Meanwhile, Tony Cosson will participate in a French event.
New Collaboration, Bigger Ambitions
The arrival of an iconic car like the 911 Rally GT on the rally scene also requires a strong infrastructure. To achieve this, three key motorsport figures have joined forces: Lionel Hansen, Yves Matton, and Prospeed. They have recently reached an agreement to write the next chapter in the 911 Rally GT story.
“The 911 Rally GT is a fantastic car, and given our long-standing relationship with Porsche, we are fully committed to this project,” says Rudi Penders, CEO of Prospeed. “Collaborating with Lionel Hansen, the driving force behind this project, was a natural step. Prospeed will handle the sale of the homologated kits, both for the 911 Rally GT and other applications. The team will also provide original Porsche spare parts, as well as components specifically developed for this rally version. Finally, Prospeed will offer technical support for Porsche cars in general.”
Following the validation of its technical definition, the international rollout of the 911 Rally GT homologation form is imminent. Prospeed, Lionel Hansen, and Yves Matton are also working on launching a Porsche Rally GT Cup in 2026: a competition within the Belgian Rally Championship featuring identical cars.
“This concept is not just a Belgian initiative,” adds Rudi Penders. “We hope that other countries, notably France, will follow the example. In the long term, we do not rule out establishing an international competition. It is with this goal in mind that we partnered with Yves Matton, who will be responsible for organizing the Porsche Rally GT Cup in Belgium and abroad. Yves has extensive rally experience, and his background with manufacturers and the FIA makes him the ideal person for this role.”
