Belgium Racing brought the 2026 Belcar Endurance Championship to a close with a third-place finish at Circuit Zolder during the season finale. After a competitive weekend with limited track time, Brent Verheyen, Michael Cool and Kaï Rillaerts secured another podium for the #98 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, while the team also celebrated the junior title for Kaï Rillaerts and the overall championship victory for the sister car, the #99.
With practice time limited and shared between three drivers, the team made the most of the available sessions and qualified third, just one tenth of a second away from second place. The competitive qualifying session promised an exciting race, with the leading cars closely matched.
Brent Verheyen took the start but struggled initially to get the tyres up to temperature, resulting in wheelspin and a loss of positions during the opening moments. Dropping back to fifth, he quickly fought his way back into third and began closing in on the two leading cars. By the end of his stint, Verheyen had reduced the gap to the leader to just five seconds before handing the car over to Michael Cool.
Cool delivered a solid stint, maintaining the team's position before handing over to Kaï Rillaerts. However, shortly after the pit stop, a Full Course Yellow worked heavily against the #98 crew. Their closest competitors were able to benefit from the timing of the neutralisation, leaving Rillaerts more than a minute behind the leader. With the gap having grown significantly, fighting for victory was no longer realistic. The team nevertheless remained focused and brought the car home in third place.
For Verheyen, the podium provided a positive conclusion to a season that brought both highlights and setbacks.
"It was a good way to finish the season. We knew the competition would be close, and we had the pace to fight at the front. Unfortunately, the Full Course Yellow came at the worst possible moment for us, and we lost a lot of time compared with our competitors. After that, we focused on bringing the car home in third place. Everyone did a great job, and we can be satisfied with the result. It's also fantastic to see Kaï crowned junior champion and the #99 car take the overall title."
The 2026 season was an unusual one for Verheyen personally. Following his leg surgery and lengthy rehabilitation, he missed the opening rounds of the championship, with Colin Coox stepping in at Belgium Racing. Verheyen returned to competition at Spa-Francorchamps and completed the remainder of the season behind the wheel.
He is particularly proud of what Coox achieved during his time as a replacement driver, despite having limited experience with the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup before the season began.
"I'm genuinely proud of Colin and what he achieved at the start of the season. We chose him because we knew his qualities and trusted him, and he proved that decision was the right one. He adapted quickly to the Porsche and showed real speed, even in extremely difficult conditions during the opening race. He did a fantastic job for the team, and I'm grateful for the way he stepped in."
With the final race now completed, Verheyen looks back on a season of contrasting emotions, from strong podium finishes to the disappointment of the 24 Hours of Zolder. Despite the challenges, he is pleased with the team's efforts and the commitment shown throughout the year.
"It's been a strange season for me, as I effectively only completed half of it, but we made the most of the opportunities we had. We've worked hard, raced hard and enjoyed plenty of great moments together. I want to thank everyone who supported me personally and Belgium Racing throughout the season, whether through sponsorship, encouragement at the circuit or support behind the scenes. Every contribution makes a difference, and I'm truly grateful to all our partners, family, friends and fans."
Although the season has come to an end, the break will be short. Preparations for 2027 are already on the horizon, with Verheyen and the team determined to return stronger and ready to fight for more strong results next year.
