A motocross specialist, Daan Aerts only discovered the appeal of rallycross later in his career. Now 37, the Belgian driver will make the most of the 2026 season to step into the RallyX South championship, competing in the Open 2WD category at the wheel of a Ford Escort Mk3.
“My motorsport career is still relatively recent,” Daan explains.
“I’ve only completed one full season in rallycross, contested across the Belgian, Dutch and German championships, which added up to 21 races last year. Before moving to cars, I was mainly involved in motocross.”
While his time behind the wheel is still fresh, his connection to rallycross goes back much further.
“My story with rallycross began twenty years ago, when I worked as a mechanic for my cousin Tom Geenen, who is also competing in RallyX today. At the time, he was racing in the Belgian championship and several European events.”
An early immersion that clearly left its mark, even if the move to driving came much later.
“Two years ago, a friend gave me the chance to drive one of his cars during a club race at the Glosso circuit in Belgium. That first experience was very revealing: two wins and a rollover,” Daan laughs.
“At that precise moment, I knew I had been permanently infected by the rallycross bug.”
Completely won over by the sport, Daan Aerts did not wait long before taking things further.
“I quickly built my own car to compete in the BMW 325 Cup, the new Belgian category. Up against experienced drivers, I managed to hold my own. Unfortunately, I left the category midway through the season due to a lack of fair play from a young competitor. But once I was hooked, there was no turning back, and I decided to purchase another car.”
That decision led him to a machine steeped in history.
“We then seized the opportunity to acquire a Ford Escort Mk3, more precisely a Gartrac Escort G3. Built in 1989 by Gartrac, it competed in the European Rallycross Championship during the 1990s in Division 1. It is comparable to the famous Gartrac X-Trac Escort driven by the legendary Martin Schanche.”
“The car is powered by a Cosworth turbo engine, modernized with up-to-date engine electronics. The transmission features an Elite gearbox, while Proflex dampers ensure optimal traction and excellent overall handling.”
A competitive package that still has room to evolve, with the Belgian driver keen to underline the car’s potential.
“Thanks to Gartrac’s very advanced design, this car has enormous potential. Its weight distribution gives us a real advantage off the line. Rpower Autosportshop and Proflex support us continuously in developing the suspension setup, while our engine partner Black Cat Dyno will be with us throughout the RallyX events.”
Daan Aerts approaches this RallyX South adventure with humility.
“My main goal in RallyX is to gain experience and measure myself against very strong competition. One of the major strengths of this championship is that most of the circuits are new for everyone, which creates a level playing field. Starting in France, every team will have to work hard to find the right setup.”
This approach fits into a medium-term vision.
“The 2026 season will clearly be a learning year, with the ambition of moving to a full RallyX program in 2027, provided we can secure additional partners to support a larger budget.”
Without setting himself unrealistic targets, the Belgian driver does not hide his ambitions.
“I want to remain realistic about my objectives. Of course, winning RallyX South would be a dream, but a top-five finish would already make me extremely happy. I’m really looking forward to discovering each round of the RallyX calendar. France will be a first for me, as I’ve never raced there. The Netherlands will feel like a home race after racing and testing there extensively in 2025, and competing in front of my close ones will be both special and probably the most stressful weekend. Germany is a circuit I love, and Portugal promises to be epic with the Montalegre circuit.”
Finally, Daan Aerts knows he is about to face a highly competitive field, a detail that certainly does not discourage him.
“I’m particularly excited about lining up on the starting grid alongside top-level drivers such as Simon Tiger, Viktor Johansson, Yorick Maeyninckx, and many other elite competitors.”