Cross Car: Third Belgian title for Kobe Pauwels with the Ligier XC04
For the third year in a row, Kobe Pauwels has been crowned Belgian Rallycross Champion in Cross Car Senior at the wheel of the Ligier XC04. The title capped another standout campaign, highlighted by a remarkable run of eleven consecutive victories. The Ligier XC04 also delivered strong results beyond Belgium, with wins, podiums and front-running performances in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Estonia.
Three titles in a row for Kobe Pauwels in Belgium
Three seasons, three championships. Kobe Pauwels continued his dominant run in the Belgian Rallycross Championship with the Ligier XC04.
The Belgian took control of the title race early in the season with eleven straight wins. By late October at Duivelsberg, he had already wrapped up his third consecutive Cross Car Senior crown before the season finale at Mettet.
The title came during a year in which Pauwels also competed on track in GT World Challenge Europe, where he scored his first overall podium at Magny-Cours, and made his FIA World Endurance Championship debut.
Bryan Neumeyer also put a second Ligier XC04 inside the top five in the Belgian standings.
Four wins for Will Ovenden in the United Kingdom
Across the Channel, the Ligier XC04 was also firmly in the mix at the front.
Will Ovenden finished runner-up in the championship after taking four final wins during the season. He closed out the year in style with victory in the final round at Lydden Hill.
James Black and Benjamin Bartlett also added several podium finishes to the Ligier XC04's tally, with both drivers ending the season inside the overall top five.
Third overall in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Gino Van Der Auwera secured a place on the final Cross Car Senior championship podium with the Ligier XC04.
He ended the season third overall on 93 points. At the final round at Duivelsberg, Daan Bex added another strong result with fourth place.
Several other Ligier XC04 drivers also ran consistently near the sharp end of the field throughout the season.
More wins in Estonia
The Ligier XC04 also made its mark on the Estonian championship.
Martin Järveoja, Ott Tänak's co-driver in the World Rally Championship, claimed victories at Kehala and Paide. Despite balancing the campaign with his WRC commitments, he still finished fourth in the championship standings.
Robert Virves added another win to the Ligier XC04's season tally and also scored a podium finish at Kehala.
The Ligier XC04 delivers across Europe.
From Kobe Pauwels' third straight Belgian title to Will Ovenden's four wins in the United Kingdom, along with podium finishes in the Netherlands and victories in Estonia, the Ligier XC04 wrapped up another season of strong results.
Delivered by different drivers across several national championships, these performances once again showed the Ligier Cross Car's ability to run at the front and fight for wins across Europe.
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Photo credit: Kobe Pauwels