Spa Rally Cédric Cherain leads the Spa Rally ahead of Tom Heindrichs
After a morning of high suspense at the 2025 Spa Rally, during which young Tom Heindrichs (Citroën C3 Rally2) set the pace with a 2.2-second advantage over Cédric Cherain (Porsche 992 Rally GT), the battle resumed as soon as the second loop got underway. The first stage win went to Dutchman Bernhard ten Brinke (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), whose tyres were finally more suited.
However, the Dutchman was unable to prevent Heindrichs from taking two more stage wins in Chevron and Trois-Ponts, allowing the Citroën to extend its lead over the Porsche to 13.3 seconds!
But that was without counting on Cherain’s mastery in the darkness and rain at Wanne, with the Liège native beating Heindrichs by... 9.1 seconds! The gap between the two leaders was therefore down to just 4.2 seconds as they headed into the final run of Fays Show! There, Heindrichs suffered a puncture after hitting… a headlight that had been left on the ground at the landing of the jump! The young driver from Sankt Vith lost 21.3 seconds and handed the lead back to Cédric Cherain by 13.2 seconds!
Needless to say, this epic duel will continue on Sunday, during three runs on the tricky special stages of Theux and Ster!
Behind Cherain and Heindrichs, ten Brinke completes the provisional top three, 29.9 seconds behind, meaning the Dutchman is still very much in the fight. Tom Rensonnet (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) ended the day in fourth place, 1:02.7 behind the leader, ahead of Thomas Martens (Citroën C3 Rally2), who finished the day strongly by setting the fastest time in Fays Show 3, emerging where he was no longer necessarily expected... ‘The Ginger One’ took the opportunity to overtake Romain Delhez, who showed clear improvement at the wheel of the Porsche 992 Rally GT he is discovering this weekend!
The provisional top ten is completed by Thibaud Mazuin (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), who maintained a good rhythm throughout the afternoon, John Wartique (Porsche 992 Rally GT), who suffered from an unfavourable set-up, Björn Satorius (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Manu Gonay (Citroën C3 Rally2).
Emile Breittmayer (Citroën C3 Rally2) was less fortunate, making two mistakes and falling behind Harry Bouillon (Skoda Fabia R5 Evo) and Loris Nuyts (idem). As for Cédric De Cecco (Hyundai i20 N Rally2), forced to change a wheel in-stage, he finds himself in 15th place for the time being.
German driver Colin Dünker (Ford Fiesta Rally4) continues to dominate the RC4 class, while Lander Depotter (Opel Corsa Rally4) is heading for the title in the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Belux. Pierre Hubin remains the best-placed Renault Clio Rally3 driver ahead of Benoit Verlinde, while Jo Muyle (Subaru Impreza) and Guino Kenis (BMW 325i E30) are still in control in Youngtimer BRC and Historic BRC, leading Olivier Breittmayer (Lancia Delta HF Integrale) and Johnny Delhez (Ford Escort Mk2) respectively.
After Christian Jupsin (Lancia Ypsilon Rally6) went off the road in SS8 Wanne 2, Julien Collette (Peugeot 208 Rally6) is now leading the RC6 class, ahead of Smail Haddouche (Peugeot 208 Rally6) and Bob Wohrmann (Lancia Ypsilon Rally6).
On Sunday morning, Cédric Cherain and Damien Withers will take to the Spa town-centre podium at 8:20 a.m., while the start of SS10 Theux 1 is scheduled at 8:38. The winners of the 2025 edition of the Spa Rally will be known around 4:30 p.m.
