The 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC) season is officially underway, featuring a globetrotting 14-round calendar. For Belgian fans, Tipik (RTBF) remains the go-to channel for free-to-air coverage, usually focusing on weekend highlights and the live Power Stage.
Here is the full 2026 WRC schedule and the Belgian National Championship (BRC) dates for your calendar.
WRC 2026 Official Calendar
The world championship visits four continents this year, including new venues in South America and the Middle East.
| Round | Rally | Dates | Surface |
| 1 | 🇲🇨 Monte-Carlo | Jan 22 – 25 | Mixed |
| 2 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | Feb 12 – 15 | Snow |
| 3 | 🇰🇪 Safari Kenya | Mar 12 – 15 | Gravel |
| 4 | 🇭🇷 Croatia | Apr 9 – 12 | Asphalt |
| 5 | 🇪🇸 Islas Canarias | Apr 23 – 26 | Asphalt |
| 6 | 🇵🇹 Portugal | May 7 – 10 | Gravel |
| 7 | 🇯🇵 Japan | May 28 – 31 | Asphalt |
| 8 | 🇬🇷 Acropolis Greece | Jun 25 – 28 | Gravel |
| 9 | 🇪🇪 Estonia | Jul 16 – 19 | Gravel |
| 10 | 🇫🇮 Finland | Jul 30 – Aug 2 | Gravel |
| 11 | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | Aug 27 – 30 | Gravel |
| 12 | 🇨🇱 Chile | Sep 10 – 13 | Gravel |
| 13 | 🇮🇹 Sardegna | Oct 1 – 4 | Gravel |
| 14 | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Nov 11 – 14 | Gravel |
Belgian Rally Championship (BRC) 2026
If you are looking for local action (often featured in sports segments on Tipik), here are the key Division 1 (D1) dates:
- Rally van Haspengouw: Feb 26 – 28
- TAC Rally: April 11
- Rallye de Wallonie: April 25 – 26
- Sezoensrally: May 16
- Ardeca Ypres Rally: June 26 – 27
- Omloop van Vlaanderen: Sept 4 – 5
- East Belgian Rally: Sept 26
- Spa Rally (Finale): Nov 28 – 29
Watching on Tipik / RTBF
- Power Stage: Usually broadcast Live on Sunday afternoons on Tipik or RTBF Sport.
- Highlights: Look for the “WRC Magazine” on Sunday evenings.
- Auvio: All televised segments are typically available for replay on the RTBF Auvio app for Belgian residents.
Gemini said
The 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC) season remains a staple for Belgian motorsport fans on Tipik (RTBF). As of early 2026, RTBF continues its long-standing role as the primary free-to-air broadcaster for the championship in Belgium, typically focusing on highlights and the decisive Power Stages.
Where to Watch in Belgium
| Platform | Coverage Type | Access |
| Tipik (RTBF) | Highlights, daily recaps, and live Power Stages. | Free-to-air / Cable |
| RTBF Auvio | Live streaming of selected stages and on-demand replays. | Free (Digital) |
| Rally.TV / DAZN | Every stage live, onboard cameras, and 24/7 coverage. | Subscription |
2026 WRC Calendar Highlights
The 2026 season features a mix of classic European tarmac and grueling international gravel. Here are some of the key upcoming rallies to mark on your calendar:
- Rally Sweden (Feb 12 – 15): The only true winter rally of the season.
- Safari Rally Kenya (Mar 12 – 15): The ultimate test of endurance.
- Croatia Rally (Apr 9 – 12): High-speed, technical tarmac.
- Rally Islas Canarias (Apr 23 – 26): A fresh addition to the 2026 top-flight calendar.
- Rally de Portugal (May 7 – 10): One of the most iconic gravel events.
What to Expect on Tipik
RTBF’s coverage usually centers around the Sunday Power Stage, which is often broadcast live on Tipik. For the rest of the weekend, they typically provide:
- Daily Highlights: Late-night summaries of the Friday and Saturday action.
- Magazine Coverage: Features on Belgian star Thierry Neuville as he continues his pursuit of the title.
- Digital Extras: More technical clips and interviews are often found on the RTBF Sport section of the Auvio app.
Note: If you want to follow every single kilometer live with telemetry and multiple camera angles, Rally.TV (accessible via the WRC website or as a DAZN add-on) remains the only way to see “all-live” content.
The 2026 WRC season features a dynamic mix of established veterans and rising stars. With Ott Tänak taking a sabbatical and Kalle Rovanperä competing in Japan’s Super Formula, the door has opened for several new faces in the top-tier Rally1 cars.
Here is the breakdown of the participants for the 2026 season:
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)
Toyota has expanded its presence this year, often running up to five cars to defend their Manufacturers’ title.
- Elfyn Evans: The current championship leader (as of February 2026), seeking his first world title.
- Sébastien Ogier: The 9-time champion is running a partial program (approx. 10 rallies) to chase a historic 10th title.+1
- Oliver Solberg: Promoted to the main squad after winning the 2025 WRC2 title; he is currently a top contender.
- Takamoto Katsuta: The consistent Japanese star continues his full-season campaign.
- Sami Pajari: The young Finn has stepped up to a full Rally1 seat for 2026.
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT (Hyundai i20 N Rally1)
Hyundai has opted for a mix of full-time speed and a rotating third car filled with massive experience.
- Thierry Neuville: The Belgian icon remains the team leader, aiming to regain the crown he won in 2024.
- Adrien Fourmaux: Following a breakout 2025, the Frenchman has joined Hyundai for a full-season assault.
- The “Rotation” Car: Hyundai is sharing its third entry among three veterans:
- Esapekka Lappi: (Focusing on snow and fast gravel events like Sweden/Finland).
- Dani Sordo: (Specializing in technical tarmac and rough gravel like the Acropolis).
- Hayden Paddon: Making a high-profile return to the WRC top flight for selected rounds.
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team (Ford Puma Rally1)
M-Sport is focusing on youth and has formed a “Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy” powerhouse for 2026.
- Josh McErlean: The young Irishman enters his second full season in the Puma.
- Jon Armstrong: Stepping up from a successful ERC campaign to a full-time WRC seat.
- Mārtiņš Sesks: The Latvian talent is running a partial 7-round program in a third car.
WRC2 Notable Return: Lancia
One of the biggest stories of 2026 is the official return of Lancia to the world stage. While they are competing in the WRC2 category (Rally2), they are doing so with a full factory effort:
- Drivers: Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin.
- Car: The new Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale.
Current Standings (Mid-February 2026)
Following the recent action in Sweden, the title fight is incredibly tight:
- Elfyn Evans (Toyota)
- Oliver Solberg (Toyota)
- Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota)
- Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai)
- Thierry Neuville (Hyundai)
Grégoire Munster is the prominent Luxembourgish driver competing at the highest level of the sport.
While he has a very strong connection to Belgium, he officially competes under the Luxembourgish flag.
Grégoire Munster (M-Sport Ford)
- Nationality: Dual Belgian-Luxembourgish, but carries a Luxembourgish racing license.
- Team: M-Sport Ford World Rally Team.
- Car: Ford Puma Rally1.
- Co-driver: Louis Louka (Belgian).
The Background: Grégoire is the son of Belgian rally legend Bernard Munster. Although he lives in Belgium and is often grouped with Belgian drivers like Thierry Neuville, he chose to represent Luxembourg early in his career, partly due to the support he receives from the Automobile Federation of Luxembourg (ACL).
His 2026 Status
For the 2026 season, Grégoire’s role has shifted slightly:
- Monte-Carlo: He started the 2026 season in a third factory Ford Puma Rally1 car at Rallye Monte-Carlo (a rally where he famously took his first-ever WRC stage win).
- Double Duty: He is one of the few drivers with the stamina to handle a “double-header” in January, having competed as a co-driver for Jourdan Serderidis in the Dakar Rally just days before starting the WRC season opener.
- The Munster Family: His younger brother, Charles Munster, is also a rising talent often seen in the WRC2 or Junior WRC categories, frequently driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally2.
Where to see him on Tipik
Because of his Belgian roots and his co-driver Louis Louka, Tipik (RTBF) covers him almost as closely as they do Thierry Neuville. During the rally highlights on Sunday nights, you will almost always see an interview with Grégoire or a report on his performance.
How Grégoire Munster currently sits in the 2026 championship standings compared to the other Rally1 drivers?
The first two rounds of the 2026 season have been a display of absolute dominance by Toyota Gazoo Racing, while the Belgian and Luxembourgish drivers have had a mix of brilliant speed and frustrating luck.
Here are the final results for Monaco and the fresh results from Sweden (which concluded today, February 15).
Round 1: Rallye Monte-Carlo (Jan 22–25)
Toyota made history with a clean sweep of the podium. Oliver Solberg became the youngest winner in the event’s history.+1
| Rank | Driver | Car | Time / Gap |
| 1 | Oliver Solberg | Toyota GR Yaris | 4h 24m 59.0s |
| 2 | Elfyn Evans | Toyota GR Yaris | +51.8s |
| 3 | Sébastien Ogier | Toyota GR Yaris | +2m 02.2s |
| 4 | Adrien Fourmaux | Hyundai i20 N | +5m 59.3s |
| 5 | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai i20 N | +10m 29.8s |
- Thierry Neuville: A very difficult weekend. He struggled with a lack of grip on Thursday and suffered a puncture on Sunday while trying to push for Power Stage points, finishing a distant 5th.+1
- Grégoire Munster: Showed great flashes of speed (4th and 5th fastest stage times) but retired on the final road section Sunday morning due to a mechanical failure.
Round 2: Rally Sweden (Feb 12–15)
Toyota repeated their dominance, locking out the top four positions. Elfyn Evans took the win and the lead of the World Championship.+1
| Rank | Driver | Car | Time / Gap |
| 1 | Elfyn Evans | Toyota GR Yaris | 2h 21m 24.2s |
| 2 | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota GR Yaris | +14.3s |
| 3 | Sami Pajari | Toyota GR Yaris | +39.7s |
| 4 | Oliver Solberg | Toyota GR Yaris | +1m 05.3s |
| 5 | Adrien Fourmaux | Hyundai i20 N | +1m 23.0s |
- Thierry Neuville: Finished 7th overall. It was a weekend to forget; he got stuck in a snowbank early on, struggled with visibility, and even received a penalty for a loose helmet strap. However, he salvaged his weekend by winning the Power Stage, proving the speed is still there.
- Grégoire Munster: Did not compete in a Rally1 car this weekend (his program is currently partial); M-Sport focused on their young Irish duo, Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean.
Championship Standings (After Round 2)
- Elfyn Evans (Toyota) – 51 pts
- Oliver Solberg (Toyota) – 38 pts
- Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota) – 21 pts
- Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai) – 19 pts
- Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) – 15 pts
