The countdown is almost over! This Saturday, during the 43rd Rally of Wallonia, the highly anticipated Porsche Rally Trophy Benelux 2026 will officially get underway. It marks the first Porsche-recognized one-make cup in rallying. And it begins in style, with no fewer than six Porsche 911 (Type 992.1) GT3 Cup cars, equipped with the Rally GT kit, featured on the entry list.
One year ago, Cédric Cherain delivered the first standout performance with the car, then still known as the Porsche 992 Rally GT, during the Rally of Wallonia. With three stages remaining, Cherain was leading the overall classification, leaving a lasting impression in Namur. It marked the beginning of a season that would bring multiple victories at national level.
Twelve months later, the German GT car once again takes center stage during the Namur round of the Belgian Rally Championship. Based in Jambes, the rally serves as the opening round of the Porsche Rally Trophy Benelux 2026. Each day of competition counts as a separate round, meaning points will be awarded twice this weekend.
Yves Matton adds, “Ahead of the launch of this new one-make series, we were aiming for five participating teams—ultimately, we have six. So we can definitely call this a successful start. Let the show begin!”
A first pleasant surprise is the participation of French driver Thomas Anacleto, who recently impressed at the Rally du Touquet Pas-de-Calais, the opening round of the French tarmac championship. He will go head-to-head with Belgian drivers on their home ground, adding extra excitement to the competition. In Le Touquet, Anacleto even held second place overall after the first day. To maximize his chances in Namur, he will be co-driven by experienced Belgian Anthony Bourdeaud’hui.
“I’ve watched onboard footage and I already know we’re going to enjoy it,” smiles the 36-year-old driver from Nancy. “It’s exactly the kind of rally I like: fast, with elevation changes, village sections, and varied asphalt. The weather forecast looks good, and I have many friends in Belgium, so I’m hoping for a strong weekend.”
Facing Anacleto are five French-speaking Belgian drivers with clear ambitions. Romain Delhez, a Porsche regular in rallying, will drive the very first chassis built by Lionel Hansen and his team—the same car with which Cherain nearly won last year. The Liège-based driver is targeting a full season in the Porsche Rally Trophy Benelux.
Also planning a full campaign is Loïc Pirot from the province of Luxembourg, who aims to prove he can compete with the established names in the Belgian Rally Championship and fully exploit the car’s potential.
For Dylan Henrard, this will be a one-off appearance—but a special one, as he fulfills a dream by competing in “his” Rally of Wallonia with a Porsche. As always, he has paid particular attention to the car’s livery, which is sure to catch the eye of fans and enthusiasts.
Tom Rensonnet, one of Belgium’s top rally talents, will make his competitive debut in a Porsche 911 (Type 992.1) GT3 Cup with Rally GT kit. In Namur, the driver from Verviers aims primarily to gain experience, with a view to potentially expanding his program. His speed, however, is already unquestioned.
Sébastien Incardona, known for competing across different disciplines, could well spring a surprise at the wheel of the Porsche. He has opted for a race-by-race program, but certainly not without ambition.
“This first field of six cars is very encouraging,” analyzes Lionel Hansen, who oversees the technical side of the Porsche Rally Trophy Benelux and was involved in assembling the entry list. “Apart from Thomas Anacleto, all participants are French-speaking Belgians. That’s promising, especially as many Dutch-speaking drivers have already shown interest for the next round at the Rally of Ypres, which will further strengthen the field.
”In addition to the drivers, the team championship also plays an important role within the Porsche Rally Trophy Benelux.
“For the Rally of Wallonia, we can count on three structures, representing four teams,” explains Rudi Penders of Prospeed, the organization responsible for managing the series. “Dekens Motorsport is running the car of Dylan Henrard, RD Racing is the team of Romain Delhez, while EMO Sport enters two teams: EMO Sport 1 with Loïc Pirot and Thomas Anacleto, and EMO Sport 2 with Tom Rensonnet and Sébastien Incardona. From that perspective as well, it’s a very strong start.
”All eyes are now on the 43rd Rally of Wallonia, where the first PRTB Village of the season and the six Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars on stage are sure to attract plenty of attention.
And now… action!
