Ardenne Rally Festival Nostalgia and passion abound in Vresse-sur-Semois
After the shakedown on Thursday evening, the 1st Ardenne Rally Festival organized by DG Sport officially started on Friday morning. The weather conditions were initially not ideal, but when a whole series of impressive historic rally cars appeared, the sun also came to take a look at Vresse-sur-Semois!
Those who were present on this first day were proven right because on the podium in the rural village or along the demo stages in Vresse-sur-Semois and Orchimont, they saw rally history passing by! From the Alpine A110, world champion in 1973, to the Skoda Fabia WRC that participated in the 2006 Monte Carlo Rally in the hands of François Duval, the cars all shone. Ford Escort Mk1 and Mk2, Lancia Stratos, Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, Audi Quattro and Sport Quattro, Porsche 911 SC RS, Triumph TR7 V8, Renault 5 Turbo and Maxi Turbo, Peugeot 205 T16 Evo2, Lancia Delta S4, Toyota Celica ST165, Subaru Legacy RS Turbo and Impreza 555, Citroën Saxo T4 ex-Sébastien Loeb… Everyone found a favourite car among all the 'originals' and 'replicas'.
And demo stages or not, the drivers pulled out all the stops... so much so that some ended up slightly off the ideal driving line on Friday! Some minor dents were the result, but all the drivers and co-drivers involved remained unharmed.
The Festival continues on Saturday, with the stages of Pussemange, Gros-Fays and Bellefontaine scheduled from 10 a.m. onwards. And since the entertainment in the heart of Vresse-sur-Semois continues non-stop, enthusiasts are expected to attend this spectacular final day in large numbers. Do not miss it!
