The Legend Boucles celebrates its 20th edition!

Who would have believed it? Taking over from his father Alphonse in organising the Boucles de Spa, formerly known as Routes Blanches, Pierre Delettre made headlines in the mid-2000s by giving the event a new direction — and, incidentally, a new name.

Faced with the exorbitant costs of organising a round of the European Rally Championship and the frequent upheavals in Belgian competition, the head of the Automobile Club de Spa took the initiative and turned to Historic Racing.

The Legend Boucles de Spa was born. The first edition was held in 2006 and won by Marc Timmers and Arnaud Smets in a BMW 325ix acquired just a few days earlier.

The event was launched, and very quickly, the Legend Boucles found its audience. Not counting towards any championship, it soon attracted well-known drivers, first Belgian, then international. Marc Duez, winner in 2007, was followed by Patrick Snijers (twice), Bruno Thiry, Stefaan Stouf, Jean-Pierre Van de Wauwer, and former WRC winner François Duval (three times), who would bridge the gap between two major periods of the Legend Boucles.

Change!

At the end of the 2014 edition, Pierre Delettre, no longer feeling supported by the authorities of the City of Spa, once again kicked the hornet’s nest. He set his sights on Bastogne, in the heart of the province of Luxembourg — a choice that may have surprised some at the time, but quickly proved to be the best possible decision.

In Bastogne, not only did the Legend Boucles find a first-class home, with a course combining tarmac and forest roads, but it also entered a whole new dimension.

The best Belgian drivers, including Bernard Munster, winner in 2016, were soon joined in the winners’ list by an impressive series of world-class competitors such as Thierry Neuville, Bryan Bouffier, Mikko Hirvonen, Kris Meeke, and Stéphane Lefebvre. Historic specialist Stefaan Stouf later added two more victories to his achievements, and Cédric Cherain confirmed his status as Belgian rally champion by winning in 2025.

Five more years in Bastogne!

In the run-up to the 2026 edition, the Royal Automobile Club of Spa and the City of Bastogne — whose contract had come to an end — decided to continue their excellent collaboration for another five years. The Legend Boucles @ Bastogne therefore has a bright future ahead in the heart of the province of Luxembourg, which over the years has become an incredible magnet for rally enthusiasts.

Pierre Delettre and his teams feel so at home in Bastogne that they organise two other annual events from Place McAuliffe in the wake of the Legend Boucles: the Balade des Legend Boucles Bastogne, open to all and without any competitive element, held at the beginning of May, and the Commémoration du Circuit des Ardennes, at the beginning of August, which serves as a reminder that Bastogne and its region once hosted the first closed circuit in the history of motor racing — at the dawn of the 20th century.

2026, the year of the handover?

As was the case in the late 1970s and early 1980s on the world rally scene, the Ford Escort quickly became the ideal, absolute weapon for winning the Legend Boucles. Admittedly, the Audi Quattro, the original Lancia Beta Monte-Carlo, and the Porsche 911 all appear on the winners’ list, but the blue oval, in its Mk1 and Mk2 versions, has claimed the lion’s share of victories.

Yes, but here’s the thing… as the years go by, international regulations are changing, and the so-called Youngtimers are proving increasingly effective. So much so that the 2026 vintage could fall into the hands of a BMW, whether it be the legendary M3 E30 or the 325i E30. Many teams are now betting on a Bavarian car to take the win.

On 30 and 31 January and 1 February, will the Legend Boucles @ Bastogne write a new chapter in its rich history? Head to Place McAuliffe on Sunday evening to find out — and we can’t wait.