In the spotlight: Ward & Katrien and the Corvette C8

Introduce yourself — who is Ward?

Hello, I’m Ward Vandenbosch, a sales representative in flour and bakery ingredients for artisan bakeries across Belgium. Visiting customers means 200–300 kilometres a day in a comfortable Mercedes EQE. My wife Katrien is always my loyal co-pilot! She’s a lawyer, certified real-estate valuer and runs her own agency in Sint-Truiden, Limburg: “KATRIEN WOUTERS Vastgoed bv - Creating IMMOtions”, specialising in residential and commercial property in Belgium as well as Spanish property.

We live in beautiful Sint-Truiden in the heart of the Haspengouw fruit region (Belgium), where FancyCarTours’ blossom route starts every year at the lovely Castle of Ordingen (highly recommended!). We’ve both been passionate about beautiful cars since we were kids. We love discovering new places together — from day trips nearby to multi-day tours. For us there’s no better way to explore a country than cruising through it in a convertible. In 2024 we joined Erwin and Shirley of FCT on the Scotland tour. A unique experience to treasure forever!

Which car(s) do you drive on the tours?

Our first rides were in Katrien’s Mercedes C Convertible. Since we got our Corvette C8 hardtop convertible (July 2022), it usually comes along. A fantastic American sports car with which we’ve already made many beautiful memories. With its 6.2-litre mid-engined V8 it’s also great for multi-day trips. Thanks to the adaptive magnetic suspension, long distances are very comfortable. The ‘frunk’ up front and trunk at the rear offer more than enough space for all of Katrien’s luggage!

What’s your ultimate dream car?

Although Katrien has a Bentley Continental GT Convertible on her wishlist, our Corvette C8 is already a dream to drive. Every ride is a pure joy. We waited a year and a half for it, and it was more than worth the wait. We’d order it again in a heartbeat.

How did you find FancyCarTours, and what was your first edition?

While our Corvette was on order I searched for fun driving routes and came across an FCT ad on Facebook. We signed up for the Heuvelland edition on 1 May 2022. We enjoyed it so much that suddenly we’re 26 editions and three years further.

Which edition is your favourite, and why?

Not an easy one for either of us, because every ride is different — new landscapes, a slightly different group: many familiar faces, but also new car lovers each time. Our shared passion brings us together. If we had to pick one, it would be Scotland: the adventure, idyllic castles, challenging roads and Top Gear-like Highlands atmosphere. And you build an even closer bond with the other participants.

Which route or location impressed you most?

Thanks to FCT we’ve discovered so many special places close to home. After every ride we tell each other it was ‘one of the most beautiful so far’. Friesland and Zeeland especially stick with us — they surprised us with their beauty.

What’s your most unforgettable FancyCarTours moment?

Arriving at the impressive Schloss Lieser on the Moselle. Eight days cruising through Scotland with wonderful car friends, staying in beautiful castle hotels with great food!

If you could design a route, where would it go?

So many destinations on our wishlist: the Romantic Road, Bavaria, Spain, Sweden — but also Dubai and America’s Route 66, to name a few.

Would you recommend FancyCarTours?

Absolutely! Through car-loving friends we’ve also ridden with other organisations. The best moments, though, are always with FCT. Shirley and Erwin put together challenging, surprising drives with special stops, unique overnight stays and always excellent food. The GPX or TomTom routes make navigation child’s play and keep driving relaxed. What sticks most is the meticulous organisation that keeps everything running smoothly. Truly TOP!

Finally — what’s your favourite photo?

The photo of us with the Corvette in front of the imposing Schloss Lieser — the one you see with this article.