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François Duval, former factory driver for Ford and Citroën, had a dream. Someday he would like to drive a rally behind the wheel of a Toyota Corolla WRC. His parents own a Toyota garage and he started off his career driving a Toyota Celica, before stepping up to the global WRC podium with Ford and Citroën. Last weekend Duval's dream came true and he was on the starting podium for the 26th Rally de Wallonie with a Wevers Sport prepared Corolla WRC. It became a first event driving a Corolla which gave him his first win in the Belgian classic.

From the very first meter on Friday's opening stage, the Citadel of Namur, Duval made his intentions clear. He was out there for only one thing: a win. After the dust settled down on the Citadel stage, Duval had taken the lead by three seconds over Pieter Tsjoen. His lead became bigger and bigger during the 13 stages on Saturday. After the first leg Duval was leading by almost one and a half minute. Duval made a perfect gamble with his tyres at the first service. In slowly falling rain he chose cut slicks, just like Melissa Debackere with the other Corolla WR C. "Pieter Tsjoen and Timothy van Parijs left the service on full wets. Rain had been predicted so it would be an exciting loop of stages with two complete different choices amongst the top drivers", Erik Wevers said. Duval's gamble paid off because the rain stayed away. Tsjoen and his Ford Focus WRC 07 lost a lot of time again, after a puncture earlier that day.

On Sunday morning the teams left for the final day. They still had eleven stages to go. Duval consolidated his lead over Tsjoen. He returned in Jambes for the finish podium with a lead of 1 minute and 16 seconds and a first Wallonie win in his pocket. "We only had to fill fuel, change tyres and do the usual checks. There were no technical problems at all with both cars. François told me he wasn't going to take unnecessary risks. But he still had a tremendous speed. We couldn't even find a scratch on the bumpers, fantastic. Melissa's result is just as good. She has taken the lead in the Belgian championship by finishing third", said Erik Wevers after the finish. Wevers Sport and the teams of Duval and Debackere took a first and third spot.

François Duval praised his Wevers Sport prepared car: "Immediately I felt confident at the wheel of the Corolla. It is amazing to see how competitive this 1999 built car still is after all these years."

Result 26th Rally de Wallonie
1. François Duval-John Muth (B, Toyota Corolla WRC) 2.15.17.6
2. Pieter Tsjoen-Eddy Chevaillier (B, Ford FocusWRC 07) +1.16.4
3. Melissa Debackere- Lara Vanneste (B, Toyota Corolla WRC) +3.25.7
4. Hubert Deferm-John Lavaerts (B, Subaru WRC S10) +3.56.0