Quand la notion d’endurance prend déjà tout son sens…


Cette fois, c’est parti ! Samedi soir, devant un public encore plus nombreux que douze mois auparavant, le Liège-Rome-Liège 2018 a pris son envol officiel à Spa, pour une première étape de nuit, suivie dans la foulée d’un périple en direction de Sulden, au nord de l’Italie, entre Suisse, Autriche et Liechtenstein. Le moins que l’on puisse dire, c’est que la notion de ‘Marathon de la Route’ a d’emblée pris tout son sens, les équipages accumulant tests de régularité et liaisons, pour arriver - épuisés - au bout de cette première partie de course.

Comme on pouvait le présager, la qualité du plateau a beaucoup progressé par rapport au Liège-Rome-Liège 2017, de sorte que la lutte pour la victoire est plus ouverte que jamais. Ce qui n’a pas empêché Christian Crucifix et Yves Noelanders, derniers vainqueurs en date, de déjà pointer au sommet du classement avec leur Ford Anglia, comptant 123,8 points de pénalité, contre 148,2 à Yves et Benoît Deflandre (Porsche 911) et 153,9 points à Stéphane Blaise et Patrick Lienne (Porsche 911). Le ton est donné…

« Pour cette première partie d’épreuve, il ne fait aucun doute que les hommes et les machines ont déjà été mis à rude épreuve, explique Jean-François Devillers, responsable de la société Trajectoire organisatrice de l’événement. Et pourtant, sportivement, ce n’était qu’une mise en jambe. Je me félicite par contre de constater qu’aucun abandon n’a été à déplorer durant cette étape initiale, preuve que les équipages ont particulièrement bien préparé cette édition. »

Ce début d’épreuve a également servi de première étape pour le ‘Tribute To Liège-Rome-Liège’, réservé à des équipages ne disputant que les RT tracés en Belgique. Et c’est le célèbre duo composé de Daniel Reuter et Robert Vandevorst (Porsche 914/6) qui mène la danse devant Georges et Jean-François Neuville (BMW 2002) d’une part, Olivier Goblet et Vincent Snyers (Fiat 128) de l’autre.

Ce lundi, la caravane du Liège-Rome-Liège 2018 prendra la direction du Lac de Come en attaquant la journée par l’ascension du Col du Stelvio, dans des paysages qui promettent d’être tout aussi exceptionnels que ce dimanche.  

Unser offizielles Medienteam bestand aus Julien Mahiels und Kevin Gourdin für Fotographie, Tanguy Allard für Video- und Drohnaufnahmen.

Das Team kam mit einem umfangreichen Bildmaterial zurück, das sortiert, ausgewählt, korrigiert und bearbeitet werden musste.

Etwa 50 Bilder werden auf der Medienseite dieser Website vorgeschlagen. Aber die gesamte Reportage, etwa 420 Bilder, ist auf unserer Flickr "trajectoire"- Seite verfügbar.

Die Videos sind auch auf unserer Medienseite und unserem Youtube-Kanal zu sehen.

Flickr : Albums trajectoire 
Youtube : Chaine trajectoire

Bei der ersten Sitzung des Road Marathons heute Morgen wurden einige wichtige Entscheidungen getroffen.
Die erste davon ist die Formalisierung der Termine: Samstag, 8. bis Dienstag, 11. Juni.

Alors que l’édition 2018 du Liège-Rome-Liège prendra son envol depuis le Parc de Sept Heures à Spa samedi soir, Trajectoire, société organisatrice de l’événement, a déjà planché sur l’avenir. Et c’est la carte de la variété qui sera jouée en 2019, avec la première édition d’un Marathon de la Route inédit, exclusivement tracé sur le sol français, et d’une durée limitée à quatre jours…

Historiquement, la notion de ‘Marathon de la Route’ renvoie à une épreuve de… 84 à 96 heures disputée sur la Boucle Nord, la célèbre Nordchleife, du Nürburgring. Après avoir rendu leurs lettres de noblesse à des épreuves aussi légendaires que Liège-Sofia-Liège et Liège-Rome-Liège, Jean-François Devillers, à la tête de l’équipe de Trajectoire, a tenu à varier les plaisirs… en étant à l’écoute de ses participants. « Souvent, on nous dit qu’une épreuve d’une semaine comme le Liège-Rome-Liège que nous nous apprêtons à vivre, est trop longue, explique le maître-d’œuvre de ce nouveau Marathon de la Route. Professionnellement, mais aussi budgétairement, il n’est pas toujours facile de consacrer plus d’une semaine à ce qui reste finalement un hobby. En outre, nous évitons qu’une certaine routine s’installe. En écoutant nos concurrents, effectifs ou potentiels, on a tiré la conclusion qu’une épreuve d’une durée de quatre jours, comme l’était le Marathon de la Route à la fin des années ’60 et au début des années ‘70, était davantage abordable. Sous réserve de confirmation, l’épreuve devrait se dérouler entre le dimanche 2 juin et le mercredi 5 juin 2019 ! »

Un Marathon de la Route inédit qui se disputera intégralement sur le territoire français. « Dans l’état actuel de la réflexion menée avec Joseph Lambert et Eric Chapa, on imagine un départ aux environs de Nancy et Troyes, un parcours profitant de ce formidable terrain de jeu qu’est l’Ardèche, et un retour à une distance raisonnable du lieu de départ, pour des raisons logistique des teams et du staff, poursuit Jean-François Devillers. Ce qui ne manquera pas d’impacter favorablement le montant d’engagement, vu la distance plus courte, et dès lors rendre l’épreuve accessible à un plus large public. Et notamment à des équipages français peu enclins à accumuler les centaines de kilomètres les séparant de villes de départ et d’arrivée en Belgique. Ce qui ne veut nullement dire que le Liège-Rome-Liège ou le Liège-Sofia-Liège ne seront plus organisés par nos soins à l’avenir, car l’idée est de partir sur une règle d’alternance entre ces épreuves différentes les unes des autres… »

C’est donc un Marathon de la Route d’un genre nouveau qui verra le jour l’année prochaine. Preuve que dans les rangs de Trajectoire, on n’est jamais à court d’idées afin de combler les passionnés de très belles épreuves pour anciennes…

At the end of a 4200 kilometres Marathon, a verdict was reached …  

This time, it’s all over! At the end of a panting and difficult, with the final – complicated RTs- drawn up in the eastern cantons, and an ultimate halt at the Hôtel Verviers, the surviving competitors of the Liège-Rome-Liège 2018 burst into view in the ardent City, the first car crossing the arrival arch of the Espace Tivoli on the dot of 18.31hrs, without the slightest minute of delay on the scheduled planning! One good hour later, the entire caravan had arrived … with the exception of the Porsche 911 1965 manned by Tony Kevers and Baudouin Halleux, which had obstinately refused to start following the pause in the Verviers region. A technical setback which left the duo irritated, but which finally had no consequences for its final position, neither for its 2nd place in its category …

Regarding the race for victory, the suspense prevailed, particularly as the leaders on the moment of leaving Belfort, Michel Decremer and Yannick Albert (Opel Ascona), committed two mistakes which cost them heavy points. Other teams, such as Yves and Benoît Deflandre (Porsche 911), were confronted with local residents and other tourists of ill-will, penalising them heavily.

At the end of the day the Decremer-Albert duo held on to the lead, taking great pleasure in imposing their noisy Opel Ascona at the end of an event which had appeared to have been promised to go to the Porsche 911 brigade. Following the Rallye de Monte-Carlo Historique, this duo adds another legendary event to their record of achievements, after an absolutely royal battle throughout the entire week, and which had started out with … a co-driver ill during the first night!

The final podium of this Liège-Rome-Liège 2018 more than ever in keeping with tradition is completed by the two Porsche 911 of on the one hand Jacques Evrard and Christian Bernard, and Serge Adriaens and Freddy Moors on the other, split by … 4,6 points at the end of more than sixty RT! Quite fabulous …

The prize for frustration certainly goes to Yves and Benoît Deflandre, kicked off the final podium following a difficult end of race, and finally 4th in the overall rankings. As for the sprint for honourable mentions; it was awarded to Jean-Claude Kauffman and Jean-Marc Piret (Toyota Celica), who complete the top 5 just ahead of Robert Denis and handyman Alexandre Peeters (Porsche 911), Kurt Declerck and Steven Vyncke (Porsche 911), Jean-François Delincé and Julien Minguet (the ‘miraculous survivors’ of the Alps, Ford Escort MK1), as also Gaëtan Schoonbroodt and François Gehlen (Ford Escort MK1). For their introduction to the Porsche 911, Etienne Baugnée and Benoît Remion completed the top 10 overall, delighted to have reached the finish.

It goes without saying that this is the case for the 17 teams officially ranked, of which the Porsche 356 of the Mexican Roahmy Heras and the Belgian Jennifer Hugo, who overcame the pitfalls to pay honour to ‘Girl Power’ on the Place Saint-Lambert!

Victory in the various Groups fall into the hands of Decremer-Albert (Gr.4), Kauffman-Piret (Gr.6), Schoonbroodt-Gehlen (Gr.3) and Duquenne-Kauffman (Austin Healey 100/6, Gr.2).

The final stage of the Liège-Rome-Liège 2018 also saw the return of competitors in the trace ‘Tribute to Liège-Rome-Liège’, who were ‘only’ competing in the Belgian RT, with victory announced and confirmed for Daniel Reuter and Robert Vandevorst (Porsche 914/6). A mere seventy points separated the two other teams present on the final podium, namely Georges and Jean-François Neuville (BMW 2002) on the one hand, Olivier Goblet and Vincent Snyers (Fiat 128 Sport) on the other. Worth noting the debut in the righthand bucket seat of journalist Eric Faure, who accompanied Claudy Deschamps in the cockpit of a BMW 2002, and who had emphasised, with his traditional cockiness which we adore, how complex the game of regularity and navigation is. An Eric Faure who devotes himself to the joys of ‘gardening’, which represents a noble leisure time for a young retired person … Our little finger tells us that we will see him back in action very soon …

At the end of this 2018 edition, between a couple glasses of bubbly, Jean-François Devillers, master craftsman of the ‘Trajectoire’ team, was happy to ‘have done it’ and was impressed by the hard work put in by Joseph Lambert, responsible for the course, and Eric Chapa, responsible on the sporting front, as also all members of the team, including the assistance staff of MY Vintage. Now heading off for a different Marathon de la Route in 2019, shorter, more accessible, most probably held on French soil … even though the Liège festive final this Saturday evening remains food for thought. Watch this space, and in the meanwhile, congratulations to all the survivors of this Liège-Rome-Liège that has already entered into legend annals …

Suivez le Live sur notre application au fur et à mesure des RT :

Android : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details
IOS : https://goo.gl/BnGyhz ...

Retrouvez les classements officiels chaque soir dans l'application et sur ce site dans la partie Document sous l'onglet 'participants"

C’est ce samedi 9 juin que l’édition 2018 du Liège-Rome-Liège prendra son envol. Comme le veut la tradition, le grand départ sera donné depuis le Parc de Sept Heures au cœur de Spa, où voitures et équipages arriveront à partir de 13 heures pour les différentes opérations de contrôle technique et administratif. Après quoi, chaque équipage disposera dans l’après-midi de deux fenêtres horaires pour réaliser l’étalonnage des appareils, mais aussi prendre part à un Prologue qui permettra non seulement aux pilotes et copilotes de faire connaissance avec les subtilités de ce type d’épreuve, mais aussi de déterminer l’ordre de départ. Un Prologue - non pénalisant - qui aura pour cadre la célèbre côte du Maquisard, entre le hameau de Marteau, aux portes de Spa, et le Monument au Maquisard Inconnu sur le territoire de La Reid.

C’est sur le coup de 21 heures que la présentation officielle des concurrents aura lieu, tandis que le premier départ sera donné à 21h30, les voitures s’élançant de minute en minute. A 22h15, les concurrents du Tribute to Liège-Rome-Liège s’élanceront à leur tour.

Signalons que dans le village de Longchamps, près de Bastogne, une halte est programmée sur le coup d’une heure du matin. L’occasion de souffler un coup avant une longue liaison. Et pour les concurrents du Tribute To Liège-Rome-Liège de conclure leur première étape.

Parmi les nouveautés majeures du Liège-Rome-Liège en 2017, Trajectoire avait utilisé les services d'un nouveau du réseau de télécommunication pour optimaliser sa gestion de la course. Elément majeur lorsque l'on sait que les équipes d'organisations sont parfois éloignées de plusieurs centaines de kilomètres ! Vu le succès et la qualité du service offert par www.locationtalkie.be, Trajectoire a décidé de poursuivre sa collaboration avec la société wallonne et dispose donc cette année encore d’un réseau radio opérationnel sur l’ensemble du parcours. Les terminaux utilisés par la Direction de Course permettent de garder le contact avec l’équipe d’assistance, la voiture-balai ou le bureau de calcul, afin que les informations cruciales soient bien communiquées à tous et en temps réel. Les radios portatives de l’organisation utilisent le réseau GSM data et permettent aux groupes d’utilisateurs de converser dans toute l’Union européenne, sans risquer la moindre perte de signal. De plus, chaque radio est géolocalisée par GPS et sa position est retranscrite sur ordinateur. L'expérience de l'édition précdente du Marathon de la Route mais aussi de l'ING Ardenn Roads en avril dernier, confirme l'utilité absolue de cette technologie pour la plus grande sécurité de tous. www.locationtalkie.be

The final countdown has started! With the kick-off of the Liège-Rome-Liège 2018 scheduled to take place from the Parc de Sept Heures at Spa on Saturday 9th June, the buzz within the organisation is at its height. The Trajectoire team around Jean-François Devillers took advantage of officialising the list of entrants, with some thirty odd teams ready to tackle the course concocted by the experienced Joseph Lambert, assisted on the event’s sporting front by the masterful Eric Chapa.

More than ever the battle for overall victory promises to be explosive, with renowned names, both on the drivers and co-drivers front. As a non-exhaustive list, at the end of this edition victory could well transpire to be between Christian Crucifix-Yves Noelanders (Ford Anglia 1960), Yves Deflandre-Benoît Deflandre (Porsche 911 1972), Serge Adriaens-Freddy Moors (Porsche 911 2.4 S 1972), Etienne Baugnée-Benoît Remion (Porsche 911 SC 1979), Stéphane Blaise-Patrick Lienne (Porsche 911 1981), Jacques Castelein-Mathieu Castelein (Shelby Cobra 289 1964), Jan De Vos and Chris Goris (Porsche 911 1974), Michel Decremer-Yannick Albert (Opel Ascona 400 1979), Kurt Declerck-Steven Vyncke (Porsche 911 S Targa 1972), Jean-François Delincé-Julien Minguet (Ford Escort MK1 1972), Jacques Evrard-Christian Bernard (Porsche 911 1972), Tony Kevers-Benoît Halleux (Porsche 911 1965), Gaëtan Schoonbroodt-François Gehlen (Ford Escort MK1 1971), Jean-Pierre Verneuil-Antonio Caldeira (Renault 5 Alpine 1981), etc. But then surprises, numerous, could always be possible.

Worth noting the presence of a 100% female team, with the firm intention of not lagging behind. Especially seeing the Mexican Roamhy Heras and the Belgian Jennifer Hugo are entered in an … AC Cobra 1965! The girls in the race will definitely not go unnoticed…

The impressive quality of the list of entrants proves that the Liège-Rome-Liège has definitely found its place as one of the not to be missed events on the international regularity scene for classic machines. And that the notion of ‘Marathon de la Route’ remains a ‘must’ that certain have no intention of missing out on. Place your bets, all goes well on the Liège-Rome-Liège scene!

Here is the offichial list of entrants by numerical order.

See the list.

Since the beginning of time, motorsport has been a world for men … and often titillated the female gender! A story that is about to repeat itself during the Liège-Rome-Liège 2018, with the presence of a 100% female crew in the cockpit of a shining Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet dating from 1964. And do not count on the Mexican Roamhy Heras and the Belgian Jennifer Hugo from dawdling on this exceptional course …

For many years cars have been a passion for Roamhy Heras, but also a profession. “With another Belgian just as passionate as myself, we created an auction house specialised in classic and competition cars, JP Auctions Mexico, she explained. And our first communication vector is to participate in international sporting events. This allows us to combine business with pleasure. There is obviously the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico, in which I will be competing again in 2019, together with the Belgian Ingrid Peeters, Miss Blunik, at my side! Together we have already clinched victory in the Coupe des Dames, added to which a 5th place overall in the Cento Ore de Modena in 2017, with an AC Cobra 289. We also proved ourselves during the Tour de Belgique, the Historic Tour of Corsica, the Costa Brava Moritz, etc. Next challenge: the legendary Liège-Rome-Liège, with a Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet from 1964, belonging to a gentleman-driver and major Monegasque collector. A car created by the renowned Dr Ferdinand Porsche, whose handling and lightness allowed him to beat far more powerful machines. And notably to have won the Liège-Rome-Liège no less than four times!”

As one might imagine, participating in such a Marathon de la Route demands a fair amount of preparation. “It is necessary to be able to count on a top technical preparation and more especially a co-driver who is at home with a roadbook and an expert at navigating, Roamhy continued. With Jennifer, who is among those expert Belgian co-drivers in this type of event, we not only have the firm intention of swallowing up the 4,200 kilometres on the programme, but also to claim the Moss-Wisdom prize, awarded in honour of Pat Moss and Ann Wisdom, the first – and up until now the only – women to have achieved overall victory. That was back in 1960 at the wheel of an Austin Healey.”

As for the fact that they are the sole female team at the start of the Liège-Rome-Liège 2018, in no way worries the duo … “First and foremost, we consider ourselves to be ‘competitors’, because during this rally, all that counts, is the talent, whether one is a man or woman, Roamhy and Jennifer commented. Once we have our helmet on we are all the same! The only thing that counts is to fight, to give it our all to be better than the others, aim for the podium, excel, take calculated risks, sweat in our racing overalls and deserve the applause. We also have dreams, and the dreams are neither masculine nor feminine … »

That is clear cut! As such rendezvous on Saturday 9th June at the Parc de Sept Heures in Spa to get to know this duo better and who have every intention of being widely talked about on more than one occasion throughout the seven days …

Règlement relatif au Tribute to Liege-Rome-Liege est disponible dans notre bibliothèque de documents.

Finally, 30 teams will run the Marathon de la Route this year. Looking at the list, it's gonna be hard to win this year.
Cars and teams are better prepared. They come for a competitive rally.
They won't be dissapointed !

see the list.

The entry list for the Liège-Rome-Liège 2018 event, to be held between 9th and 16th June with the start given in Spa continues to evolve. Winners of the 2017 edition with their small, old but highly efficient Ford Anglia, Christian Crucifix and Yves Noelanders have officially confirmed their return to the Marathon de la Route, obviously at the wheel of the same car.. "Taking into account the number of Porsche machines at the start, we preferred once again to play the originality card Crucifix explained. The Anglia will have the same advantages as also the same drawbacks as last year, but which in no way prevented us from clinching victory…."

Once again the battle for all out victory could well be pretty hot this year, as seeing on the one hand Jacques Evrard and Christian Bernard (Porsche 911), Serge Adriaens and Freddy Moors (Porsche 911) on the other, respectively 2nd and 3rd last year, will also be back for more action,  not forgetting Yves and Benoît Deflandre (Porsche 911), Michel Decremer and Yannick Albert (Opel Ascona 400) to name but a few...

Pour diverses raisons, nombreux sont les pilotes et copilotes qui n'auront pas la possibilité de s'aligner au départ du Marathon de la Route qu'est le Liège-Rome-Liège à la sauce Trajectoire, tel qu'il sera disputé entre le 9 et le 16 juin 2018. Rarement à court d'inspiration, Jean-François Devillers et les siens ont décidé de créer le 'Tribute to Liège-Rome-Liège', qui aura lieu les samedi 9 et samedi 16 juin ! En quoi cela consiste-t-il ?

En la partie exclusivement belge du célèbre périple, à laquelle vont pouvoir prendre part des équipages concourant pour la victoire dans les seuls RT disputés chez nous, que ce soit à l'aller ou au retour de la caravane. De manière concrète, les concurrents du 'Tribute' partiront du Parc de Sept Heures à Spa le samedi 9 juin, avant de disputer les tests de régularité prévus jusqu'à la frontière belgo-luxembourgeoise. De quoi aboutir à une première hiérarchie remise en jeu le samedi 16 juin, lors du retour des participants du Liège-Rome-Liège, avec cette fois les derniers RT belges programmés depuis la frontière avec l'Allemagne, pour une arrivée sur la Place Saint-Lambert sur le coup de 18h00.

Au bout du compte, on obtiendra un classement général 'Tribute to Liège-Rome-Liège' et surtout une compétition 'partielle' qui pourrait en intéresser plus d'un. D'autant que le montant d'engagement est de 375 euros seulement, tout compris, même la remise des prix !

TELECHARGER LE FORMULAIRE

The Trajectoire team, organisers of the Liège-Rome-Liège 2018, continues to double its efforts in order to offer the most prestigious of editions to be held from 9th through to 16th June. Even better, it anticipates what might well represent its future in the short term… “As with other Belgian events, the 2018 vintage of the Liège-Rome-Liège will be placed under the watchful eye of the FIA, with a view to an eventual integration in the FIA Trophy of Regularity Rallies for historic vehicles in the future, Jean-François Devillers announced. We are flattered …but this also compels the organisation to take into account some new parameters.”

Starting off with the acceptance at the start of cars relating to the Period J2, in other words those vehicles built between 1986 and 1990. “The FIA authorises this type of car, which has incited us to integrate these in this edition, Eric Chapa, the Race Director explains. Nonetheless for us it’s essential that the arrival of more modern, and therefore more comfortable and powerful cars, do not penalise the competitors with their older machines. As such an age and engine coefficient will be applied to these models, whereas the table of coefficients has been softened for the cars emanating from the period between 1980 and 1985.”

It should be noted that normally the FIA Trophy of Regularity Rallies does not apply specific coefficients for cars of the Period J2. “It’s out of the question for us to weaken the competitors taking part with true classic machines, such as last year’s Ford Anglia winner, Eric Chapa continued. We will therefore be applying this coefficient with as first and foremost objective to demonstrate the soundness of same to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile at the end of this 2018 edition. Should this manner of proceeding not be acceptable to those responsible for the FIA Trophy of Regularity Rallies, the Liège-Rome-Liège will continue on its present take-off, as an independent event. But seeing we have received requests from competitors wishing to enter cars built between 1986 and 1990, it’s the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and more especially to be pro-active …”

Even though the start of the Liège-Rome-Liège 2018 will be given on Saturday 9th June from the Parc de Sept Heures at Spa, a fair number of teams opted to take full advantage of the preferential entry fee to confirm their presence. In this light an initial group has been pinpointed as favourites … resolutely awaiting the competition! Among the unmissable of this 2018 edition of the Marathon de la Route, we can confirm Yves and Benoît Deflandre (Porsche 911), the winner of the Historic Monte-Carlo Rally Michel Decremer teamed up with the expedient Yannick Albert (Opel Ascona 400), the experienced Flanders based Kurt Declercq and Steven Vyncke (Porsche 911 S), not forgetting such imposing duos as Jacques Evrard and Christian Bernard (Porsche 911), Serge Adriaens and Freddy Moors (Porsche 911), Tony Kevers and Baudouin Halleux (Porsche 911), Etienne Baugnée and Benoît Remion (Porsche 911), Jean-François Delincé and the ‘Classic’ prize-winner in the Legend Boucles Julien Minguet (Ford Escort MK1), the Frenchman Jean-Pierre Verneuil and the Portuguese Antonio Caldeira (Renault 5 Alpine), Jan De Vos and Chris Goris (Porsche 911), Victor Guilmain and Paul-Henry Jans (Porsche 924 S), and so forth…

On the car front the eclecticism is definitely ensured, with the spectacular Cobra manned by Jacques and Mathieu Castelain (Shelby version) and Nico Depondt-X, but also the oldest Porsche 356 B Coupé 1960 of Luc De Vos and Bruno Mariens, presently the doyenne of the grid, the Morgan +4 of Philippe Maigne and Sylvain Vaquez, the Volvo 123 GT of Bernard Mazuyer and Jean Rick, not forgetting the Austin Healey 100/6 of Denis Duquenne and Stéphanie Kauffman. By no means an exhaustive list of entrants, which over the coming weeks will continue to grow.

“I believe we can state that this is a great basic grid, the organiser Jean-François Devillers commented. Last year various new competitors had kept a keen eye on the Liège-Rome-Liège, and they decided to be part and parcel of it next June. Some ten additional teams should be putting in an appearance on the provisional list of entrants, of which the 2017 laureate Christian Crucifix, presently awaiting a response from his co-driver, while the scheduled communication campaign will continue with a view to seducing other regularity adepts for classic machines. Taking a swift look on the www.liege-rome-liege.org site, the video images of the 2017 edition need no words. The rebirth of the ‘Marathon de la Route’ breathed on by Trajectoire, with a course drawn up by Joseph Lambert and the sporting side managed by Eric Chapa, boasts a fair power of enticement. Outcome: with some three months from the start the initial favourites are known. So, who is next? “

Il est bien connu qu’ensemble, on est plus fort ! Organisatrice d’épreuves majeures à l’image de l’ING Ardenne Roads ou du Liège-Rome-Liège, la société Trajectoire de Jean-François Devillers a décidé de poursuivre la course à l’excellence dans ses événements, en accordant un soin encore plus important à l’assistance technique. Une donnée qu’il est difficile d’ignorer lorsqu’il est question de voitures anciennes.

"Jusqu’à présent, nous confiions cette assistance mécanique à des équipes issues de divers horizons qui n’avaient pas nécessairement l’habitude de travailler ensemble, explique Jean-François Devillers. Parmi les bonnes résolutions en vue du millésime 2018 de l’ING Ardenne Roads et du Liège-Rome-Liège, il y avait une professionnalisation accrue de cette assistance. J’ai eu l’occasion d’aborder la chose avec Sandrine Wanson et Clovis Matton, les forces vives de MY Vintage, et nous sommes rapidement tombés d’accord sur les termes d’une collaboration qui constitue un plus pour chacune des entités."

De manière concrète, les concurrents de l’ING Ardenne Roads pourront profiter, s’ils le souhaitent, d’un Package Confort qui se traduira par une prise en main de leurs véhicules par l’équipe de MY Vintage… même lorsqu’aucune panne n’est à déplorer ! "C’est la différence par rapport au passé, poursuit Jean-François Devillers. Désormais, il sera possible de mettre sa voiture entre les mains de spécialistes au terme de chaque étape, de manière à ce que tout soit vérifié et garanti en parfait état en vue de la suite de l’épreuve. On dépasse donc allègrement le cas du camion balai qui prend en charge les concurrents restés en rade."

Pour la structure hutoise, cette collaboration avec Trajectoire est avant tout une opportunité de poursuivre le développement de sa cellule ‘historique’. "Comme chacun le sait, MY Vintage est la suite logique de MY Racing, explique Sandrine Wanson. Nous voulons appliquer notre savoir-faire acquis dans les compétitions modernes de plus haut niveau, et notamment le soin accordé à chaque détail. Pouvoir collaborer avec Trajectoire est assurément un plus pour notre société qui nous permettra de renforcer notre image dans le milieu des voitures anciennes, ceci au travers d’une présence plus qu’active sur ces grands événements…".
"
Au bout du compte, les gagnants de cette collaboration entre Trajectoire et MY Vintage seront… les concurrents, qui profiteront allègrement de cette professionnalisation de l’assistance technique sur l’ING Ardenne Roads et le Liège-Rome-Liège.

The 2018 Liège-Rome-Liège edition, scheduled to be held from 9th through to 16th June, promises to be under the most favourable auspices, and more than one frequenter of Regularity events present as a spectator at the start (Spa) or the finish (Liège) of the 2017 edition was able to convince himself of the quality of the organisation and the course. Now that the entry forms are starting to reach us, a quick reminder: time is running out for all those wishing to take advantage of the preferential rate, as the entry forms must be returned before 28th February!

“The deadline date for the preferential rate has been extended by two weeks allowing the numerous teams that had recently competed in one of the three major events at the beginning of the year to check their equipment, make the decision regarding the Liège-Rome-Liège 2018 and also allow them to take advantage of this tempting registration rate”, Jean-François Devillers explained.

Up until this date the entry fee amounts to 3,690 euros, as compared to 3,990 euros after that date. Worth recalling that this amount includes the overall organisation, the sporting framework, the insurances, all lunchtime meals, the transport of the items of luggage, as also the official dinner in Liège on Saturday 16th June. A word to the wise …

An undeniable sporting success seeing all competitors of the 2017 Liège-Rome-Liège retained fond memories of the edition…. while whetting the appetite of those who were not there! This is all the Trajectoire team, needed to promptly go into action to prepare the 2018 edition, scheduled from 9th through to 16th June, based on a similar cut-out as enjoyed last summer.

Always under the responsibility of Joseph Lambert, the Liège-Rome-Liège 2018 course is done and dusted … “No way are we going to divulge everything, but we can already announce that the start from the Parc de Sept Heures in Spa is retained, and that it will be followed by a first race night – less selective than this year’s to avoid the ranking being solidly rooted by the morning – then a full day which will bring the competitors to the foot of the Stelvio. This renowned mountain pass will be tackled early on Monday morning in order to limit as far as possible having to share the route with bicycle tourists and caravans, Joseph Lambert continued.

The route will then take the competitors via the Lake of Como, the surrounding area of Sestrières, the Turini pass, San Remo, Val d’Isère and Belfort, prior to returning to Liège and the arrival on the Place Saint-Lambert, similar to last June.” The first elements are known. They confirm that the Liège-Rome-Liège 2018 will be even more in line with the spirit of the various Marathons de la Route of years gone by.

Seit Juli arbeiten wir mit einer neuen Agentur an einer technisch besseren Version unserer Website, die auch über Smartphone und Tablets zugänglich ist.

Die neue Version erlaubt eine schnellere  Aktualisierung : ein Pluspunkt für Teilnehmer und Zuschauer.

Einschreibung JETZT über unsere Website möglich !

Lucio di Mori, well known race Director on « Mille Miglia » and « Targa Florio » and high level consultant of ACSI (Italian Automotive federation) was beside Trajectoire’s management team for the first Liège-Rome-Liège preparation meeting.

For sure a top level consultant for the development of the top level european regularity race event since 2017.

For a very long time, 'trajectoire' works with 'JB Time Concept' for his time keeping.

For this edition, we decided to broadcast live results and this map shows us that the rally was mainly followed across all Europe as well as in North América ! But also in Moscow, China, Argentina, Sidney,... 

Amazing !

They are back! A week after the start from the Parc de Sept Heures in Spa, the survivors of the Liège-Rome-Liège 2017 are back in Belgium, arriving in Liège at the Place Saint-Lambert on the dot of 18.30hrs this Saturday. In front of a large crowd of enthusiasts, each team that had covered the 4,200 kilometres race though Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, France, Switzerland and Italy received a salvo of applause. Because in all honesty, taking into account the course devised by Joseph Lambert, reaching the finish is a victory in its own right …

“For the organisation as a whole, with twenty five persons on the course and some ten others in Belgium who took charge of the start and the finish, to hear the enthusiastic comments from the teams that made it back represents and enormous satisfaction, Jean-François Devillers explained, at the foot of the Palais des Princes-Evêques. Aiming at a far more sporting Liège-Rome-Liège, more in line with the Marathon de la Route of old, we made a gamble. The team that took charge of this event, with Joseph Lambert and Eric Chapa as the driving force, quite simply won unanimous support. During an entire week we were able to prove that this new version of the Liège-Rome-Liège is a true endurance event and taking a look at the drivers and co-drivers who did not compete this year, but who were present this Saturday in Liège, we can bet on the fact that there are better days to come. Mission accomplished!”

After having hesitated between the Porsche 911 and the Ford Anglia, Christian Crucifix, perfectly seconded by Yves Noelanders, had opted for the gorgeous 1960 machine boasting the blue oval. He made the right decision, seeing the duo quite simply never left the top rung of the rankings, to win the event. “Pointless in stating that the Liège-Rome-Liège was far from being a formality, Christian and Yves commented in unison. We knew that we would have trouble in the mountain passes, but with a course concocted by Joseph Lambert, it turned out to be an event where we needed to work hard from beginning to end. We’re completely worn out, but we have won! And what a magnificent event …”

With a total of 928,1 points, Crucifix and Noelanders finished in front of the Porsche 911 of Jacques Evrard and Christian Bernard (1081,0 points), who had retaken the position from the Porsche 914/6 of Serge Adriaens and Freddy Moors (1086,9 points) in a fierce battle for the 2nd place that kept all the followers on tenterhooks through until … Liège! A difference of less than 6 points after 55 regularity tests and 4,200 kilometres, who can top that?

In the wake of the leading trio, the British duo Mark and Susan Godfrey (MG B, 1299,8 points) were delighted with their 4th place surrounded by the Belgian Regularity specialists while the youngsters Florent Hontoir and Alexandre Peeters (Opel Ascona B, 1613,6 pts) more than completed their mission, integrating the top 5 that was their dream before the start. As for Yves Deflandre and his son Benoît (Porsche 911, 1769,6 points), they never stopped improving, accumulating partial victories but undergoing two mechanical issues at crucial moments. They finished the event in 6th place, they also proving that this Liège-Rome-Liège can also be a family affair.

The top 10 of this 2017 vintage was completed by Kurt Declerck and Steven Vyncke (Porsche 911 Targa, 7th, 1908,4 points), who admitted that this had most probably been the best regularity event they had competed in, Denis Robert and Jean-François Delincé (Ford Escort MK1, 8th, 2989,4 points), Tony Kevers and Baudouin Halleux (Porsche 911, 9th, 3206,4 points), not forgetting Victor Guilmain and Paul-Henry Jans (Porsche 924 S, 3842,6 points), all delighted with the experience.

At the end of this Marathon de la Route greeted with an enormous amount of interest shown from beginning to end throughout the week, the Trajectoire team is going to take a breather … prior to already starting to tackle the 2018 edition. Particularly as Joseph Lambert already has two or three rather brilliant ideas up his sleeve! The rendezvous has already been set …