The Royal Automobile Club de Spa ensures the continuity of the Commemoration of the Circuit des Ardennes

In the early days of motorsport, races were held in a row, from town to town. That was until Baron Pierre de Crawez devised a loop-shaped circuit. In other words, a closed circuit! It was 1902, and the Circuit des Ardennes had just been born, linking Bastogne, Martelange, Habay-la-Neuve and Longlier. The event would run until 1907, before Francorchamps took over...

The worldwide innovation represented by the appearance of the Circuit des Ardennes has never been forgotten. In 2002, the passionate and enthusiastic members of an ASBL set up the first Commemoration of the Circuit des Ardennes, a century after the inaugural edition of the event. This initiative was repeated several times, until 2022. The association behind the event has decided to hand over the reins. Who better than the Royal Automobile Club de... Spa to take over? In agreement with the Bastogne authorities, Pierre Delettre's team is looking forward to seeing fans and enthusiasts of classic cars, both two and four-wheeled, on the second weekend of July 2025. For the continuation of the Commemoration of the Circuit des Ardennes...

"First and foremost, I'd like to pay tribute to the initiative and hard work of the non-profit association that has been organising this commemoration since 2002, comments Pierre Delettre, head of R.A.C. Spa. When we heard that the event was looking for a new organiser, we didn't hesitate for long before coming forward. Thanks to the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne, one of the biggest historic rallies in Europe, we have an excellent relationship with the town of Bastogne, which knows and appreciates our expertise. And let's not forget that Pierre de Crawez, the man behind the Circuit des Ardennes, was also President of... the Automobile Club de Spa! We've come full circle, and the legitimacy of this transfer of power has been accepted by all parties, which I'm delighted about."

Although R.A.C. Spa has become the new organiser of the Commemoration of the Circuit des Ardennes, there is no question of upsetting tradition or history. While the event will become an annual one, it will retain dates in the first part of July. "We will continue what has been undertaken by the ASBL Commémoration du Circuit des Ardennes while adding our own touch,’ continues Pierre Delettre. Subject to confirmation, the event will kick off in the second half of the day on Friday with a garden party-type activity in a place befitting the prestige of the Commemoration, in order to give a warm welcome to the participants, particularly those arriving from afar. The drive will take place on Saturday and Sunday, and while we will be extending the date of production of the vehicles accepted to 1976, the primary objective obviously remains to honour these fabulous automobiles - not forgetting the motorbikes - that marked the early decades of motor sports."

The Commemoration of the Circuit des Ardennes 2025 will also benefit from the expertise of the members of R.A.C. Spa, whether in terms of the route, communications or marketing. As for the Place McAuliffe, it will be more than ever the nerve centre of the event, a real event within the event, with a revised layout, themed exhibitions, notably honouring disappeared brands, and a decorum in keeping with this Commemoration, including a podium, official stand, buggy circuit, etc.

"For 2025, we have already planned to pay tribute to Baron Pierre de Crawez, a distinguished racing driver who was the driving force behind the Circuit des Ardennes... and the Spa-Francorchamps circuit,’ smiles Pierre Delettre. In short, it's a new adventure that awaits us, devoid of any notion of competition, but so important in terms of preserving a motoring heritage that is so dear to us..."

In Bastogne, the involvement of the Royal Automobile Club de Spa will be even greater from the summer of 2025. It augurs a future more than ever marked by the automobile of the past.