Belcar and the 24 Hours of Zolder: the stage for 2027
What is the Belcar Endurance Championship, what makes the 24 Hours of Zolder so special, and why does the BMW M6 GT3 fit the new regulations perfectly? An introduction to the championship in which Jamie Vandenbalck returns in 2027.
In 2027 Jamie Vandenbalck returns in the Belcar Endurance Championship, with the 24 Hours of Zolder as the absolute highlight. But what exactly is this championship? An introduction for anyone who does not yet know Belgian motorsport from the inside.
Belgium’s endurance championship
The Belcar Endurance Championship is Belgium’s top-tier national endurance championship. It is sanctioned by the Belgian motorsport federation RACB and organised by Circuit Zolder. Its roots go back to the early 1990s, and the championship has carried the Belcar name since 1997.
Endurance means long races in which several drivers share one car. It is not just about outright speed, but also about consistency, strategy, pit stops and teamwork. A regular Belcar race lasts three or four hours. The 2026 season featured five meetings at three circuits: Circuit Zolder, TT Circuit Assen and Spa-Francorchamps. Traditionally, the season starts and ends at Zolder.
Belcar also has a strong and varied field, from GT cars to touring cars, spread across several classes. Top teams and ambitious privateers line up side by side on the grid.
New regulations, tailor-made for the M6 GT3
For 2026 Belcar resolutely opted for a “back to basics” approach, with simplified technical regulations as the foundation for the years ahead. In the top GT class, the championship no longer uses a Balance of Performance. Instead, the regulations are open to older GT3 cars, GT2 and GT4 machinery and cup cars, among others, combined with success ballast in the form of extra time in the pit lane.
That is exactly where the Koopman Racing BMW M6 GT3 fits in. It is a proven GT3 car from a generation that once again has its full place under the new regulations. The test at Circuit Zolder already showed that the car is competitive today as well.
The 24 Hours of Zolder: a classic
The highlight of every Belcar season is the 24 Hours of Zolder, at the end of August. A full day and night of racing at the circuit in Heusden-Zolder, with teams giving everything to keep the car healthy and fast until the finish.
The race has been part of Belcar since 1997 and has grown into one of the great classics of Belgian motorsport. The 48th edition was held in 2026, won by a team including Laurens Vanthoor, Bertrand Baguette and Glenn Van Parijs. That says a lot about the level and stature of the race. The 50th edition follows in 2028, a milestone the championship is already working towards.
For Vandenbalck it is a race with special meaning: in 2019 he won his class there with Xwift Racing Events.
Why this matters for partners
Belcar and the 24 Hours of Zolder offer partners a unique combination:
- A Belgian story. A Belgian championship, Belgian circuits and a driver from Leuven. Close to home for customers, staff and business relations.
- A race weekend as an experience. Race weekends are ideal for inviting customers and business relations, with the 24 Hours of Zolder as the absolute highlight.
- A full season of visibility. Five meetings, each with attention for the car, the team and the drivers, plus content partners can use on their own channels.
- The story of a comeback. A project with ambition, character and a clear goal: to fight at the front.
Looking for team-mates and partners
For the 2027 season a line-up of four drivers is being put together, built around the Koopman Racing BMW M6 GT3. Three seats are still open, and there is room for partners who want to support this project.
Interested? Get in touch at [email protected]. Also read the report on the Zolder test, the comeback press release or download the sponsorship deck.