The final countdown has clearly begun in Bastogne! In the heart of the town, the Place McAuliffe has been decked out in its rally attire, ready to see all the competitors of the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne 2024 arrive from one end of the weekend to the other! Including a certain Stéphane Sarrazin, who will be accompanied by Nicolas Gilsoul in the cockpit of the famous Ford Escort Mk2 'PYB-106', which features prominently in the Legend Boucles prize list... 

On Thursday afternoon, as tradition dictates, the guest of honour of the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne had the opportunity to take the wheel of his weekend's car on a small improvised track, resembling a car park, in the immediate vicinity of the town centre. The man who has contested an F1 Grand Prix and scored 5 podium finishes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Peugeot and Toyota, not without having been an official Subaru driver in the WRC, must no doubt have forgotten a few things when it came to taking control of his beautiful blue oval... 

Stéphane Sarrazin comments: "The decision to take part came rather late, a fortnight ago. What I like about motorsport is fighting for victory, as always. So we're going to see where we stand against the locals! Since Monday evening, I've been able to analyse the videos of the stages, and it's clearly going very fast! And with this car, which is both light and fast, I think it's going to be a real sport!

This participation was decided rather late, a fortnight ago," comments Stéphane Sarrazin. What I like about motorsport is fighting for victory, as always. So we're going to see where we stand against the locals! Since Monday evening, I've been able to analyse the videos of the stages, and it's clearly going very fast! And with this car, which is both light and fast, I think it's going to be a real sport!

And after a first drive, however brief, with the Escort, the Frenchman was thrilled... " It's fantastic! It's really a superb car, easy to drive, with lots of horsepower. It glides along, you always have to counter-steer on the accelerator, it's super agile. I'm really looking forward to the special stages, to see how it handles in the fast corners. I'll have to make allowances for my unfamiliarity with the terrain, but I think I'll know by the first stage. I'm also lucky enough to be driving with Nicolas Gilsoul, who has a huge amount of experience. It's easy to work with someone like him...".

Will Stéphane Sarrazin and Nicolas Gilsoul be able to fight it out for the win during the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne 2024? You'd think so, of course, but the competition isn't having it all their own way, with the likes of Cherain-Withers, de Mévius-Jalet, Stouf-Erard, Kenis-Vanoverschelde, Cartelle-Leyh, Daco-Spittaels, François-Penoy, Caprasse-Poncelet, Wartique-Duchesne, 'Vande'-Soret, Breittmayer-Thomas - the list goes on! - more than ever determined to get the biggest slice of the cake... 

While Sarrazin gave his Escort its first roar, the technical inspection operations began on the Place McAuliffe. Under the gaze of the first curious onlookers and enthusiasts. No doubt about it, the town of Bastogne has entered 'Legend Boucles' mode, and it's only just begun...