Perez and Travaglia strengthen EHRC title bids
Belgian Stefaan Stouf and Irish co-driver Paul McCann claim home victory after dramatic final day in Ypres.
Seb Perez extends Pre-1992 championship lead as Renato Travaglia secures maximum EHRC points.
Overnight leader Jari-Matti Latvala among a host of front-runners forced into retirement in ever-changing conditions.
Stefaan Stouf and co-driver Paul McCann claimed victory at the Ardeca Ypres Historic Rally after one of the most dramatic weekends of the 2026 FIA European Historic Rally Championship season, as scorching temperatures, heavy rain and a string of retirements made it an eventful weekend.
The iconic Flanders asphalt rally lived up to its reputation as one of the championship's toughest challenges. Friday's extreme heat gave way to heavy rain on Saturday morning, dramatically altering grip levels and ensuring the battle for victory remained wide open until the final stages.
Former FIA World Rally Championship star Jari-Matti Latvala looked firmly on course for victory after mastering Friday's conditions to establish an extensive overnight lead aboard his Toyota Celica ST185. However, the Finn's challenge came to a heartbreaking end on Saturday morning when transmission issues forced him into retirement, opening the door for an intense fight for the lead.
Another major contender to suffer misfortune was Maciej Lubiak, who was forced to retire following an accident on Saturday morning after running strongly throughout the opening day. The changing conditions continued to take their toll as Tomas Davies, who inherited the lead following Latvala's retirement, was also unable to make the finish due to issues with its BMW M3’s gearbox – while Pre-2000 championship leader François Delecour saw his promising weekend ended by technical problems.
With the leading contenders falling by the wayside, Stouf was able to produce a consistent drive in his Porsche Carrera RS to secure a memorable home victory by just 2.5 seconds from fellow Belgian Guillermo Bruneel, while Italy's Renato Travaglia completed the overall podium in third aboard his BMW M3.
For the FIA European Historic Rally Championship contenders, Travaglia emerged as one of the weekend's biggest winners. The experienced Italian not only finished third overall but also claimed maximum EHRC honours, strengthening his championship campaign after surviving one of the season's most demanding events.
Seb Perez and co-driver Dale Bowen also enjoyed another hugely successful weekend. The British pairing guided their spectacular Lancia Stratos HF to fourth overall, extending their championship lead with another impressive performance despite the constantly changing conditions.
The Ardeca Ypres Historic Rally once again demonstrated why it remains one of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship's most iconic events. From blistering heat to torrential rain and a succession of dramatic retirements, the Belgian classic tested drivers, co-drivers and machinery to the limit, rewarding those capable of adapting to every challenge thrown their way.
Attention now turns to Rally Weiz Historic for the next round of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship, with both the Pre-1992 and Pre-2000 title battles continuing to intensify after another unforgettable weekend.
