Top 5 Belgian WRC drivers

1. Thierry Neuville

Yes, Kalle Rovanperä won more rallies in 2024 despite the 24-year-old officially being on a ‘gap year’. Yes, Sébastien Ogier also won more despite only rallying part-time. But at 36, we really shouldn’t begrudge Thierry Neuville his much-cherished WRC crown, especially as he’s finished runner-up on an incredible five previous occasions.

Hyundai’s first champion led all the way after winning the Monte in January and still had to beat returning team-mate Ott Tänak, not to mention the disappointing c who was supposed to be Toyota’s best title hope in 2024.

Statistically, he’s by far Belgium’s most prolific and successful special stage botherer: 21 wins and counting from nearly 170 starts, more than 400 stage wins, nearly 70 podiums… Neuville has been a class act at a time when the WRC has needed heroes. But the question now is, can he really defeat the phenomenon that is Rovanperä when the Finn returns full-time in 2025?

2. François Duval

Is it harsh to label François Duval a WRC nearly man? Not really. Unlucky to coexist with fellow Junior WRC graduate Sébastien Loeb, the son of rally driver Rene Duval first made his mark with M-Sport and Ford in the wake of the Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz era.

A switch to Citroën in 2005 was pockmarked by crashes early on, but in Australia he claimed his one and only WRC win. Speed was rarely a problem and he was a podium regular in the first decade of this century. But he should have achieved more.

3. Freddy Loix

Rallied in the 1990s golden era for Toyota, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Peugeot, but Freddy Loix never quite managed a win. In a 1998 purple patch he scored consecutive podiums in a Corolla – third in Portugal, second in Spain – but when we think of him, a red and white Ralliart Evo with ‘FREDDY’ plastered across the nose is what first springs to mind. Made a WRC return as recently as 2022 in a Skoda Fabia Rally2.

4. Marc Duez

A stone-cold Belgian cult hero, Marc Duez became a classic racing all-rounder who shone on both stage and track. Four wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, three at his beloved Spa, he first made his name rallying Metro 6R4s, BMW M3s and Sierra Cossies. Best WRC finish was fourth on the 1991 Tour de Corse in a Celica GT-Four, but picture him first in a Bastos-stickered M3 and smile.

5. Patrick Snijers

Another prolific Belgian cult hero from the same era as Duez. A seven-time national champion, Snijers claimed the European title in 1994, an arena where he holds the record for most wins. But he made surprisingly few WRC starts – just eight, with a best finish of second on Sanremo in 1993.

So, a contentious entry? Perhaps. Still, an M3, Cossie, 911 or Delta in full Bastos livery… we’d never condone smoking. But those colours – no wonder it took so long for motor sport to quit its dirty habit.