Thiry and Prévot reunite in a Subaru Impreza Gr. A Winfield!
28 years later, history repeats itself… During the Rally 4 Passion – Condroz Rally Festival, Bruno Thiry and Stéphane Prévot will once again be competing side by side in a Subaru Impreza Gr. A in Winfield livery. The iconic duo will be reunited once more, during an event entirely dedicated to the passion and enjoyment of rallying.
Their last collaboration dates back to 2017. That was during the Condroz Rally, when they drove a Citroën DS3 R5 to a top-5 finish. On September 12th and 13th, Bruno Thiry will hear Stéphane Prévot’s voice in his helmet for the first time since then. « I’ve really missed that voice… When someone came up with the idea, I was immediately on board! » says Bruno with a broad smile. « Together with Stéphane, I drove the Winfield Subaru twice in 1997. A Group A-version at Ypres and the S5 WRC at the Condroz. Those are some wonderful memories. I’m as happy as a child to be driving a Subaru with Stéphane again. It’s not the 555 from back then, but it’s still a magnificent car. After all, everyone knows the owner’s talent for decoration. You can count on me to give the spectators as much enjoyment as I’ll get from driving the car! »
Stéphane Prévot is still very active—he’s already competed in almost fifteen rallies this year—and he too didn’t hesitate when the opportunity to drive with Bruno again arose. « Intuitively, my years with Bruno were the best of my career! Years with quite a few ‘firsts,’ too », he explains. « Just yesterday, I spoke with Malcolm Wilson at M-Sport, and we reminisced about all the Ford days, including, of course, that infamous 1995 Tour de Corse. Bruno is the driver who has shaped my career the most. And the context for this reunion is also very pleasant. Goesnes, Ben-Ahin, and even more so, Villers-le-Bouillet: the ‘stages’ of this Rally 4 Passion are really close to home. There may not be a Condroz Rally this year, but we’re still getting a great event with plenty of spectacle. Since there’s no timekeeping, Bruno and I can probably go all out again! » (laughs)
Enseignes Plexi
The fact that this project came to fruition is largely thanks to Julien Elleboudt and his company Enseignes Plexi. The Dinant-based company specializes in vehicle wraps, a wide range of signs, and all types of printed materials. Every year, Enseignes Plexi successfully handles hundreds of projects. It has built a more than solid reputation in the motorsport world. « Our activities extend beyond motorsport and transcend our borders, but I am and will always be a great enthusiast », says Julien. « I’m therefore very happy to be able to take this Subaru out of the garage again. The car has been through the hands of Nicolas Plas and Motorsport International, and I’m already looking forward to seeing it driven by an iconic and passionate duo. It’s not a 555 Prodrive, but a solid Group A, based on the Japanese RA-version used to homologate the rally car. It already has plenty of racing parts and is also equipped with a robust Prodrive gearbox. In short, the ideal car to have fun! »
Julien Elleboudt is a big fan of Rally 4 Passion and was also present last year. He’ll also be running his Ford Escort MkII Gr.4 on September 12th and 13th. « But I don’t know with which livery yet… I’ll find some inspiration! And of course, the show will be the most important thing! »
The start of the adventure
For Yves Matton, the founder of Rally 4 Passion, the reunion of the Thiry-Prévot duo will also be a special moment: “The 1997 Ypres Rally, when Bruno drove the Subaru Gr. A Winfield, was the true start of my professional career in rallying. I accompanied Stéphane Prévot there, and immediately afterwards, I made my debut with Future World at the Condroz Rally, where they won driving the WRC. After having already brought Bruno and Stéphane together in a Citroën at the 2017 Condroz Rally, I’m thrilled to see this happen again now as part of the Rally 4 Passion – Condroz Rally Festival. Everyone will have a great time. Bruno and Stéphane themselves, but certainly the spectators as well.”
Information and registration (closing date: September 5th): rally4passion.be
Pictures Willy Weyens/Rallyworld, Jonathan Godin/R4P & Enseignes Plexi/Motorsport International.
