Sarah Bovy at the start of the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne!

The Royal Automobile Club of Spa, organiser of the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne, never tires of emphasising that its flagship event is, above all, a popular one. Of course, the battle for victory over the two days is fierce, but in Bastogne, the atmosphere is just as important — and this can be easily felt at Place McAuliffe, which serves perfectly as the nerve centre of the event.

After Thierry Neuville, reigning world champion, captured attention last year, the Legend Boucles 2026 audience will surely have a soft spot for Sarah Bovy at the end of January. Named RACB Driver of the Year at the end of 2023 and an early member of the famous and iconic “Iron Dames,” she has seen her career take off in just a few short years, becoming an endurance racing stalwart and fan favourite alongside her teammates.

The icing on the cake is that a few months ago, Sarah joined the team of the cult TV show Auto Moto on TF1, where she tests powerful road cars. It didn’t take long for the French public to embrace her, further boosting her already impressive popularity.

Although, unfortunately, the Iron Dames concept will be scaled back this season, Sarah did not want to miss the opportunity to try her hand at rallying for the first time. By focusing on the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne, she has certainly not chosen the easiest path, but the young driver has a steely character, and her thirst for learning is stronger than ever.

In practical terms, Sarah Bovy will be driving the organisation’s Ford Escort Mk1, owned by Pierre Delettre, on the special stages (RTs) of the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne 2026. At her side, she will be able to rely on the experience of another lady in pink, Aurélie Vanhoudenhove, forming a formidable duo with the Liège native.

"I'm really excited because this type of rally experience has always appealed to me," says Sarah. "My career has been on the circuit, but that doesn't stop me from being in awe of what I see in the media — Thierry Neuville's performances and even the Dakar Rally earlier this year. I follow it very closely, and the idea of competing in my very first rally is both exciting and daunting. I've been hearing about the Legend Boucles for years, and now I have to learn all aspects of rallying at once: driving with a co-driver and handling a historic car. It's not necessarily my specialty. I know I will be very well supported by the team and my co-driver, which means I am in good hands. I am going to have a lot of fun, and I hope to put on a good show for the public. I am also looking forward to meeting the fans and experiencing motor racing in a completely different way than in the paddocks of the circuits. I really want to have a great weekend and do things right. There’s no question of being the girl who gets left behind because she’s unprepared! So I’m going to do everything I can to rise to the challenge!"

If there’s one thing you can never accuse Sarah Bovy of, it’s a lack of enthusiasm — and everyone will be able to enjoy that at the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne 2026!