The pinnacle has been reached... Cannot to better than that... Success at its highest... These were just a few of the comments made last season regarding the fourth edition of the Legend Boucles de Spa. However the fifth edition is doing even better. 334 competitors and a five star entrants’ list, with two world champions, a mystery guest and the cream of the Belgian rally world.

Blomqvist and Waldegard as ... Escort

A legend in the Legends: Stig Blomqvist. Now 63 he is still as passionate as ever, the winner of the rally back in 1976 and 1980 with Saab and in 1994 (Porsche 911) in the historic event and in addition a former world champion (1984). This is his sixth participation at Spa (in 1989 he also finished on the podium with a Lancia bearing the Camel colours) and he will be the star attraction of 2010. The « Stig » will be at the wheel of a Ford Escort MKII look Group 4 of Heritage Garage, who are entering no less than 12 of the 59 Escorts.
But he’s not the only one, seeing the 1985 winner of the Boucles with Audi Quattro, Bjorn Waldegard, is also on hand. He was the first world champion in 1979, won the Monte-Carlo rally and recently his second historic Safari… and he will be joined by Stéphane Prévot no less, with whom he tested in Kenya. They will be competing in a fully restored Escort MKII BDA Gr. 4 in the colours of Kinley (remember Gilbert Staepelaere) straight out of Christophe Jacob’s stables.

Bug and Rovanpera going for victory

In addition to these two legends there are two former winners of World Championship events, namely Philippe Bugalski, former Citroën driver, who in he meanwhile also heads up the Citroën team and Harry Rovanpera, who for many years drove for Peugeot and Mitsubishi.
The Frenchman will be at the wheel of a 1984 Audi Quattro Gr.4 , and he has previously put in an appearance here with a R5 GT Turbo. Bugalski owes his entry to our countryman, Yves-Mathieu Parent, who will in fact be his co-driver. For all clarity a small portion of the budget still needs to be rounded off. The « Flying Finn », who also competed in the Historic in Roeselare, will be at the wheel of a brand new Porsche 911 Gr.B, straight out of the Delahaye Racing workshops. John Muth will be joining Rovanpera.
 
Mystery driver

We now have four serious contenders for the title, but a fifth foreign guest will be joining them. But for the time being the name of this man or women remains secret, otherwise it would not be a mystery driver. Following the Racing Show of Liège tips were given on a daily basis, and all those who were able to work out the puzzle.  And for the occasion this driver will be at the wheel of Christophe Jacob’s bright red Mazda RX7 Gr.B. We can therefore expect a fair amount of wankel activity.

Koen Wauters and the three musketeers

These five foreign stars will be up against a fair amount of Belgian opposition. Let us start with the three musketeers, back on the roads around Spa, and looking to add a further victory to their well filled record of achievements. The man who in the last two editions clinched victory and won the modern version six times will be giving his all in an Escort MKII BDA Gr.4 Geko, in fact the car with which he won the event two years ago. This year he will once again be up against two old cohorts: Marc Duez and Robert Droogmans. Following an attempt with a Quattro and a Manta 400, Duez will be back with his favourite steed, the Porsche 911 Gr.4 prepared in the Claudio workshops located in Verviers. He will be joined by none other than Koen Wauters, vice–champion Belgian GT…
And the third musketeer, Robert Droogmans, following his fiery performance last season will be back in action. He will be at the wheel of Paul Lietaer’s excellent Ford Escort MKII BDA. Opposite lock is the order of the day.
 

Thiry in an Audi Quattro Gr.4, Duval and Loix with Fiat!

The latest generation of Belgian rally talents will also once again be competing in the Legend Boucles de Spa. These last few years Bruno Thiry, Freddy Loix and François Duval were all active in the World Championship and are now taking on the competition in Spa.
Thiry is probably the best armed, definitely in the event of true wintery conditions. The Saint-Vith based driver is absolutely determined to win the event and is calling on an Audi Quattro Gr.4 from the south of France. This beast in the works colours will definitely hold its own ground, especially on the Clémentine section.
« Just for fun » is the motto of « Fast Freddy » and « Dudu » in the Boucles. They are competing in a Fiat Ritmo Abarth Gr.A ex-Willy Plas (Loix) and a Fiat 124 Spider Group 3 (5th in the 1973 Sanremo) for the man based in Cul-des-Sarts. Most probably neither car is sufficiently powerful enough to go for an all out classification, but on the other hand we can expect a great show.

Vande and his Lancia Beta Monte-Carlo

Other drivers from Belgium also hope to play a part in the battle for a podium place: Bernard Munster together with his wife Andrée (Porsche), but also Jean-Pierre Van de Wauwer in his Lancia Beta Monte-Carlo (second last year), the Opel Kadett of Pascal Gaban (unless he conjures up something else …), the Ascona of Marc Timmers and Xavier Bouche in a Porsche.

Van de Poele, Baguette and a few other circuit boys

There are also a few swapping the circuit tarmac and joining in for the fun. However this does not mean that these reputable names should be brushed aside.
Let us kick off with two gentlemen who have previously been in F1 and are now taking on the Boucles for the first time. The former Lamborghini F1 driver and five times winner of the 24 Hours of Spa, Eric Van de Poele will be in a Porsche 911 Gr.4 (N°24 obviously) and will be sharing it with a well-known name in this Ardennes classic, Jean-François Chaumont (4th in 2007 with Jean-Michel Martin) and in addition local driver Bertrand Baguette, will also be travelling on down to Spa. This recent test driver for Renault F1 and
 Sauber F1, Formula Renault 3.5 World Serie Champion and RACB Driver of the Year 2009 will be sharing a Ford Escort, bearing the national tricolour with his father Marcel.

Further down the list we come across quite a delegation who have previously competed in Spa: the 2009 BTCS champions Christian Kelders and Fred Bouvy, Julien Schroyen (Kadett), Armand Fumal (ditto), Loris De Sordi (ditto), Geoffroy Horion (with Lionel Vandercam in a Porsche), Nicolas De Crem (Porsche) Maxime Soulet (Sierra), Guino Kenis (BMW), Eric Quick (ditto) and Didier Noirhomme (MGB).

Outsiders...

Who else do we come across on the billboard? The former equestrian world champion Félix-Marie Brasseur (Porsche Mobiroc), the local hero François De Spa and his Mighty Mini, the BMW 323i Gr.2 of former Belgian champion Hubert Deferm, the Toyota of father Duval, Daniel Reuter’s 914, the Porsche of former winner « Chavan » and the Talbot Samba Gr.B of Eric Wilmus. The most chosen make and type of car is undoubtedly a Ford Escort (59 at the start) and amongst the competitors we find Thierry Neuville, Kurt Heckters, Arnaud Clause, Dominique Mathy, Stouf, Elleboudt, Meynaert, Moonens, Vanwijnsberghe, Cuvelier...
Not wishing to be outdone Opel is also sending a few delegates: Gaban, Timmers, Olivier Collard, Michel Maes (ex-Loix), Daniel Simeone (Manta), André Lausberg (Kadett), Yanick Bodson (Ascona), Jupsin (Manta), Van Kemmel (Ascona) and the 2009 Historic national champion Vincent Verschueren (Ascona).
The Mercedes 500 of Timothy Van Parijs and Johnny Vanzeebroek’s Fiat 131 Abarth add an exotic touch to this edition of the Boucles…

Friends from over the borders

A fair number of experienced foreign rally drivers will be joining the fray. We have an extensive delegation from across the channel: Solloway, an old hand in this type of event, Paveley (in a Mazda RX7 Gr.B ex-de Mevius) and Lepley (Escort), but also the Frenchman Jean-Louis Clarr, (Escort) not forgetting the Dutchmen Erwin Doctor (Escort), Bergsteyn Jr (Kadett), Melse (Porsche) and Allard Kalff, former Clio-driver and presently the F1 presenter in the Netherlands. He will be competing in a Triumph TR7 V8.