In the name of the father, the sons and the daughter-in-law …

The Glaudes: what a family!

By setting up their stands in the province of Luxembourg, the Legend Boucles not only discovered an amazing playground, but also captivated the countless out-and-out motorsport devotees of the region. To such an extent that the number of Luxembourg teams is ever growing, with the record being broken year after year. Among the driving forces that gave the impetus and transmitted the virus there is the Glaude family, whose patriarch, Christian, is none other than the Mayor of the Bertogne.

Together with Sébastien, one of his sons, Christian Glaude contracted the Legend Boucles virus back in … 2006, in Spa! And the car entered back then was already a Volvo…”It was the family car, with which I learned to drive, the Mayor explained. I had the opportunity to find one, and over a family dinner my son Sébastien and I reckoned we could enter it in the Legend Boucles, reserved for classic cars. Since then we have competed in other events, be it rallies and historic hillclimbs. Sébastien finally acquired his own vehicle, with his brother Guillaume bringing a third one into the family, and there we are!”

These imposing Volvo machines of the Glaude family will definitely not go unnoticed on the 17th, 18th and 19th February during the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne 2017. Christian Glaude will have Jean-Marc Piret as co-driver in the cockpit of the 144 GL, Sébastien Glaude and Jacques Gérard will be out to assert themselves with their 144 S, whereas Guillaume Glaude and Alisson Henrot will join forces with a 142 S.

But that is not all seeing Aurélie Van Houdenhove, Sébastien Glaude’s partner, will also be on hand at the wheel of an Opel Kadett GT/E. In fact, this will be one of the 100% female teams of these Legend Boucles @ Bastogne 2017, as on her right we will find Daphné Venneman, competing under the colours of Peek Energy Drink, a new energising drink focussed on the … female sex! Quite a programme …

 “We will do even better in the following edition, seeing my daughter Anne, who has previoulsy been my co-driver, will be making a comeback next year, Christian continued. She is presently recovering from a road accident, and has no intention of allowing us to play on our own for very long without her! “

And if the ‘Glaudes’ will be on hand to provide part of the spectacle, ambitions of achieving good results are real. In fact, last year Guillaume finished the event in 12th place in ‘Legend’, and that with 158 bhp under the bonnet! “The Volvo cars look as long as they are wide, but they are far easier to handle than one imagines, the sons added. The three cars are prepared in an identical manner, and give or take ten horsepower, they boast the same power. Our two cars will be fitted with a new gearbox. Even though they have reached the ripe age of 45 years they are very solid machines…” and half a century in the case of Sébastien’s 144 S …

Having swapped his racing overall for his mayoral sash, Christian Glaude cannot enthuse enough about the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne 2017 in his commune of Bertogne, but also in the entire province of Luxembourg. “The number of inhabitants one comes across along the special stages is quite simply astonishing, the Mayor confesses. Generally speaking, the community is delighted with such a competition passing through the region, all the more so seeing the organisation leaves nothing to chance. On top of that, economically speaking it is good for the area. I challenge you to find a free cottage rental in the area during the weekend of the Legend Boucles! The Mayors of the neighbouring communes share this point of view, and are scrambling at the door in order to welcome the event on their home patch. Such an event goes to prove that the province of Luxembourg is not only a tourist attraction, but a sporting one also! And what’s more, the Friday evening in the centre of Bastogne, is quite simply magical. And that is gratifying to see!”

You guessed it, with the Glaude family fully out in force (or almost), the Legend Boucles has beyond doubt found some through and through supporters… and this even before Pierre Delettre had opted to head off for the province of Luxembourg! Which goes to show the enthusiasm aroused by the arrival of the rally in the Bastogne region …

(End)