The Ardeca Ypres Rally is the pinnacle of Belgian rallying and the 2026 edition promises to live up to this legendary status. WRC star and last year’s runner-up Hayden Paddon will be gunning for victory in the BMA Hyundai i20 N Rally2. However, with entries continuing to pour in, he will face stiff competition. Club Superstage, the organisers of the rally, are looking at a capacity entry list. Afterall, the rally will consist of three: the Ardeca Ypres Rally D1, the FIA Ardeca Ypres Historic Rally, and the Ardeca Ypres Rally D2. So far, the tally of entries stands at 156. The organisers are doing everything possible to give everyone the opportunity to start in this prestigious event.
Hayden Paddon will not be the only international name on the entry list. In addition to the ‘Kiwi’, the two other drivers who stood on the podium last year are back. Stéphane Lefebvre won last year in a Toyota GR Yaris from PTR Racing and will adorn the colours of Stock-Depot. Belgian champion Jos Verstappen, will also be in a Skoda Fabia RS and will have Renaud Jamoul by his side. They face competition from Grégoire Munster, who will naturally be behind the wheel of a BMA Hyundai. After his second place in the Sezoensrally and a strong performance in the Monteberg Rally, it is clear that the former M-Sport World Rally Championship factory driver is ready to compete for the win in Ypres. The third BMA Hyundai will be driven by Thomas Martens from Hasselt, who will just be 20 when the rally gets underway.
The man in top form, Maxime Potty, will be a key candidate for victory, as the Skoda Fabia RS driver has a substantial lead in the Belgian Championship. Given his 2026 form, it is clear that it was no coincidence that Potty was the youngest ever Belgian champion. Bjorn Syx happily starts in the role of underdog with his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, and in front of his home crowd, he is certainly not to be underestimated. Another local Poperinge driver Christophe Merlevede, will have a lot of curious fans to see if he can replicate his performance from the Monteberg Rally. In the pouring rain, he gave his magnificent Lancia Ypsilon HF Integrale Rally2 an impressive debut.
Former Belgian champion Vincent Verschueren also wants to make a bid for the podium with his Skoda Fabia RS. Bernd Casier is back at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta, last year driven by young Estonian talent Romet Jürgensson. Further down the field, we can expect Nicola Stampaert (Skoda), Davy Vanneste (Citroën C3), Jonas Dewilde (Citroën C3), Emile Breittmayer (Citroën C3), Richard Pex (Skoda Fabia RS), Etienne Verbeke (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo), Steve Bécaert (Skoda Fabia R5), Bert Coene (Ford Fiesta R5), Bart Sobry (Ford Fiesta Rally2), of course Koen Wauters (Skoda Fabia RS), and a host of fast Porsches and Rally3s. 36-year old French ace Quentin Gilbert will participate in a Porsche 992 Rally GT. Gilbert, Junior World Rally Champion in 2015, co-driven by Renaud Jamoul, has 3 years experience in the GT-class driving an Alpine in France. This will be his first taste of the exciting Porsche.
A provisional entry list already boasts an impressive 156 teams, and there are quite a few big names are still expected in the FIA Historic rally, but more on that to come!
