Carpooling

Thierry Barjou: "For me, rallying is about: conviviality, good humor and sharing"

For decades, he brightened the world of rallying with his Pagnol-esque charm. A highly regarded co-driver and meticulous course opener for Didier Auriol and Sébastien Loeb, he also became a skilled driver himself. At 67, his enthusiasm for competition remains that of a young man.

Published 01/02/2026 à 12:30

Dominique Dricot

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Thierry Barjou: "For me, rallying is about: conviviality, good humor and sharing"

© Romain Rixhon

Hello Thierry! Where are you taking us?

Near Bastogne in Belgium, where I've been competing in the Legend Boucles for a few years now. In fact, this weekend, I'll be guiding Olivier Breittmayer's Opel Ascona 400. I love recharging my batteries in this competition dedicated to classic cars. In the early 1980s, I came a few times to the Bianchi Rally, a Belgian event that counted towards the European Championship. In Bastogne, 45 years later, I find the same enthusiasm. The people are passionate, knowledgeable, and very respectful. It ticks all the boxes of what it represents to be a classic car rally. rally For me: conviviality, good humor, sharing. An atmosphere that's hard to find anymore in France… I often participate in the Ardennes rally behind the wheel of a Ford Escort. But sometimes, I return to what I've done most often in my life,

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1 Comment (s)

D

dsonneville176@icloud.com

01/02/2026 at 04:41 a.m.

This is an absolutely fascinating article that takes us back to everything that rallying was like in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. I'm less fond of the modern evolution, even though the last Monte Carlo Rally was truly exceptional. On that note, I encourage you all to browse YouTube, where there's a wealth of footage that will restore your faith in modern rallying.

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