Geleyns focused on eradicating his ‘biggest weakness’ for 2027

On paper, Nicolas Geleyns’ third campaign of Euro RX3 competition in 2026 fell short of expectations, but the Volland Racing ace nevertheless remains pleased with the progress he made – and is fully committed to continuing to improve.

Geleyns’ first two years in the FIA European Rallycross Championship’s second-tier yielded a trio of runner-up results and third place in the overall classification in 2025. The Antiguan occupied the same position heading into last month’s double-header finale at Lousada, but a brace of Semi-Final eliminations ultimately relegated him to fifth. 

Having struggled for speed around the demanding Portuguese circuit last season, it was perhaps not entirely surprising that it was not Geleyns’ most successful weekend. On the Saturday, he paid the price for a failed overtaking attempt on Rogério Sousa that opened the door for Sámuel Kovács; the next day, he missed out in a three-way tussle with the same drivers for the last spot in the Final.

“Lousada is a very interesting track, but I’ve always encountered some difficulties there,” the 20-year-old reflected, speaking to Pure Rallycross. “Last year, I wasn’t at my best, but this time, I was actually pleased, because I was able to identify my mistakes and make improvements throughout.

“Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough against the other competitors, and in terms of the standings, the event was a failure, as we didn’t score enough points to stay inside the championship top three. All the same, I managed to make progress and gain a better understanding of what was causing me trouble. 

“When I compare my on-board footage to last year, the difference is huge, so I wouldn’t say the weekend was a total failure. It could clearly have gone better, but it also helped me to move forward.”

Firmly focused on the future, Geleyns has pinpointed greater consistency as a key area for refinement as he bids to take the next step and not only establish himself as a winner in Euro RX3, but do battle for the coveted championship crown.

Podium finishes in Latvia and Ireland in 2026 – and a near-miss in France – were offset by less competitive performances elsewhere, most notably in Hungary, where for the first time in his FIA European Rallycross Championship career, he did not advance beyond the Qualifying stages.

Eight top three and 16 top six Heat race results over the course of the campaign, however, bear testament to the Audi driver’s raw speed, so while he is disappointed by the overall outcome, his potential remains palpable – and should he succeed in putting all the pieces of the puzzle together next year, he will be a force to be reckoned with indeed... 

“I’m still satisfied with the season, because it allowed me to make progress,” asserted Geleyns, who placed third in the intermediate ranking on three occasions. “I can see the improvements myself when I compare my current level to where I was last year, or even the year before. 

“The main area I still need to work on is consistency. I need to maintain a more stable performance, without so many ups-and-downs. That lack of consistency is probably my biggest weakness and what cost me a spot in the championship top three this year.

“Even though I would have liked to finish third again or perhaps even do better, I understand why that didn’t happen – and I’m already working on those areas so that I can fight for the podium once more next year.”