Ardeca Ypres Rally

Five days, two championships and the full story of Ypres

For the 2026 Ardeca Ypres Rally, IMAGO joined the organisation as an official photographer. The assignment began with Tuesday’s press event and continued through both shakedowns, the competition, service park, podiums and Saturday night celebrations.

The objective went beyond photographing cars at speed. Every phase of the rally week was brought together in one visual story, revealing the scale, atmosphere and people behind one of Belgium’s defining motorsport events.

Historic heritage meets modern competition

The FIA European Historic Rally Championship and the Belgian Rally Championship brought two different generations of rallying together in Ypres. Iconic historic machinery shared the roads with the latest generation of rally cars, each with its own pace, audience and character.

That contrast shaped the photography. Action on the stages was balanced with the surrounding landscape, spectators, service work and quieter moments between runs. This made the identity of Ypres just as recognisable as the cars competing there.

A story that builds throughout the week

Following the rally from the first media moment to the final celebration made it possible to capture more than isolated highlights. The images show the anticipation before the start, the focus inside the service park, the intensity of competition and the emotion at the finish.

The final selection of more than 650 images gave the organisation a varied visual archive for its communication, partners and future promotion. More than a record of the results, it became a portrait of what the Ardeca Ypres Rally feels like from inside the event.