Belgian Historic champion Thomas Carlier and double title-winner Christophe Kerkhove were tipped to headline the Historic battle at the Rallye des Ardennes, but both had to give best to Geoffrey Watremez. The Escort driver delivered a superb run, crowning his weekend with 11th overall in Dinant.
The opening loop proved brutal for the Porsche runners. Patrick Mylleville, already out of luck in Haspengouw when a small fire stopped him just short of the finish podium, parked his 911 again with technical problems. Christophe Kerkhove’s rally ended on SS2 after he clipped a kerb hard enough to rip a wheel off his Porsche.
At first service, Watremez had already taken control of the Historic leaderboard. The driver from Chimay, who was still in a BMW M3 E30 at Chevrotines last season, impressed this time in his familiar Ford Escort. Alongside co-driver Lucille Delwarte, he stretched the gap to a commanding 2 minutes 27 seconds by the finish.
“Everything went really well today,” Watremez said. “After our run on the Legend Boucles I chose to bring the Escort back. It’s the car I started with and the one I know best. I knew there was a chance to win here – and we made it happen.”
For reigning champion Thomas Carlier, the dominance from Watremez was still a surprise.
“I have to say I’m impressed, because I was really pushing,” Carlier admitted. “I drove as hard as I could, but even flat-out I couldn’t match his times. I’d already seen in Bastogne that he was quick. I still really enjoyed myself on the fast stages.”
“It was another great fight with Koen Verhaeghe,” Courtin said. “His Escort is pretty much the same spec as ours, so we’re very evenly matched. I hadn’t driven here since 2022, so it was good to be back.”
Grosjean Keeps the Faith in the 205 GTi
In Youngtimers, Guy Grosjean stood alone in the Ardennes entry with his faithful Peugeot 205 GTi.
“Honestly, I never planned to run in the Youngtimer BRC,” Grosjean explained. “I wanted the Peugeot to be passed for Historic, but the scrutineer felt some elements might match a newer homologation sheet, so he put me in Youngtimers.”
That decision has not shaken his attachment to the little Peugeot.
“I’ve always loved driving the 205 – and why would I change?” he said. “I’ve built up a big stock of spares over the years. It’s still an affordable car with simple Bilstein dampers and a syncro six‑speed gearbox. My friend Jean Schmits, the well-known hillclimb specialist, helps prepare the car, and we just keep enjoying it.”
