Meeting with Benoit Thieullent

MANAGER OF EUROPCAR BIARRITZ AND PARTNER OF ARKÉA OMNIUM

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Can you tell us about Europcar Biarritz and the Basque Car Rental Company that you manage?

The Basque Rental Company, Sobala, is the franchise partner of Europcar France for a large part of southwest France. We have agencies in Agen, Biarritz, Cahors, Dax, Montauban, Pau, Lourdes, Tarbes, and Saint-Gaudens. Our head office is in Biarritz, we employ around 50 people and have a fleet of over 1,000 vehicles available for rental during the summer season. Europcar is currently controlled by the Volkswagen Group. The Group offers shared mobility solutions, short-term rental of all vehicle categories (private vehicles, utility vehicles, scooters, and electric bicycles), as well as chauffeur-driven rental services and car-sharing solutions.

Why partner with Arkéa Omnium?

The Arkéa Omnium echoes the history of golf in the Basque Country, but also a little of my own. It was in Chantaco with Raymond Garaïalde, Jean's father, that I learned to play golf, and it was on the Basque Coast that I played every summer during my childhood and youth. Only in 1980 did I win a Grand Prix de la Nivelle and a Biarritz Cup in the second series.

I have wonderful memories of these professional championships which took place in our country and gave us the opportunity to admire the greatest champions of the time.

I even had the opportunity to participate, in the first series at the time, in an Omnium which took place in Chiberta in 1982 (I think).

Relaunching a professional tournament on the Basque Coast, allowing our young people to rub shoulders with great champions who have played and won all over the world, and raising awareness of the fantastic history of Basque golfers and the championships that have taken place here is a great idea.

This is why, when Didier Picot asked me to become a partner of Arkéa Omnium, I didn't hesitate to join him and provide our support.