28/05/2026
Dear readers,
We all expected a very different start to the Belgian tuning season. After the local inspection centre opened especially for BAS ’25 during the weekend, we predicted a similar move for the 2026 edition. Turns out, we were right. But that was only the beginning.
The closing moments of our show were also overshadowed by a major VlaBel operation targeting the truckers in attendance. And when you see traffic police out in force on and around Circuit Zolder during Racewars, the pattern becomes impossible to ignore. Our hobby, and for many by now a full-blown source of income, is clearly being put under pressure.
So make sure to check out the introduction to Belgian Aftermarket Alliance, better known as BAA. It’s an initiative created to tackle these issues head-on, not through aggression or empty noise, but by protecting the future of the aftermarket scene in a professional and constructive way. When a long-running event like Dropped is forced to cancel itself despite meeting every administrative approval and legal requirement, purely because of targeted inspections, then it’s clear this is a battle the entire scene needs to face together.
That’s also why this issue features slightly fewer Belgian events than originally planned, but we more than make up for it with extra coverage from Ultrace Germany and our own show. To bring you the cars worth talking about, we travelled across the USA, Hungary and Germany, because right now the clouds hanging over Belgium are getting darker by the day. Meanwhile, the rest of Europe keeps pushing forward at full throttle.
Registrations for GR8 Ultimate Stance UK are now open. Send your photos to [email protected] for a chance to be featured.
For now, enjoy the read.
Dries Dumoulin
