Bastogne Welcomes Belgium’s Rally Community
The Legend Boucles Bastogne once again opened the Belgian rally season around Bastogne.
Crews tackled 13 stages across 183.82 competitive kilometres during two demanding days of competition.
The event attracted strong interest from drivers, teams, and rally fans. Historic rally cars once again created a unique atmosphere.
Strong Entry List Features Major Names
The rally featured several notable competitors from Belgian and international rallying.
Yannick Neuville joined the event alongside Cédric Chérain and reigning Belgian champion Jos Verstappen.
Current World Rally Championship driver Grégoire Munster also appeared on the entry list.
The rally also marked an important milestone for Sarah Bovy. The Iron Dames driver made her rally debut in Bastogne.
Lefebvre Dominates Opening Stages
Stéphane Lefebvre and co driver Andy Malfoy immediately controlled the rally in their 1987 BMW M3.
The pair consistently finished inside the top positions during the opening stages. Lefebvre then increased his pace significantly.
The BMW crew won stages five through eight and built a commanding overall lead by Saturday evening.
Their performance established them as clear favourites for victory heading into Sunday.
Early Retirement for Cédric Chérain
Cédric Chérain and co driver Jasper Vermeulen started strongly in their Ford Escort RS 2000 MkII.
The duo claimed two stage victories during the opening loop. However, their rally ended early on stage five.
A blocked handbrake forced the crew into retirement. The issue ended one of the rally’s strongest performances.
Rally Ends Following Serious Incident
Lefebvre continued his strong form on Sunday morning. He won the opening two stages and further extended his advantage.
However, the rally did not reach its planned conclusion. A serious accident occurred during stage ten.
Following the incident, a spectator sadly lost their life. Organisers immediately cancelled the remaining stages.
The decision brought a tragic end to the event and cast a sombre atmosphere across Bastogne.
Rally Community Reflects on Safety
The 2025 Legend Boucles Bastogne showcased strong competition and impressive driving performances.
Stéphane Lefebvre and Andy Malfoy delivered one of the standout drives of the weekend.
Despite the sporting highlights, the rally ultimately became a reminder of motorsport’s risks.
The event reinforced the importance of safety for drivers, officials, and spectators throughout rallying.
Racecore Network extends its condolences to all those affected by todays incident.
Photos: ©Niklas Husmann