Participants in the 2009 Gstaad Classic Audemars Piguet should enjoy a great start to the fall season. From September 2nd through 5th, approximately one hundred exceptional cars will gain altitude at the prestigious Swiss ski resort for a star race on the sinuous alp roads. On the menu: 800 kilometers in three days with nine special stages on closed roads – a privilege rarely granted by the Helvetian Authorities.
The Gstaad Classic Audemars Piguet competitors will leave their luggage in one of the three Palace Hotels on Wednesday, September 2nd, day of scrutineering and administrative checks. From this “base camp”, they will set out for three different loops and discover the extremely varied scenery, with a background of mountains. Timing wise, the game will be played on a hundred kilometers of closed roads to offer four races on Thursday, three on Friday and two on Saturday; to be covered either in “Competition” or “Regularity”. Lunches and dinners will be held in hand-picked places and will complete this great rally.
With no eligible model list for this rally, the ambition of the organizers was to gather a grid of pre-wars to sports cars from the early 70s. After the first selection, the entry list is made up of many rarified entrants. Early entrants include ten Ferraris, including a 225 S, 212 Export and a 250 GT SWB, in addition to other transalpine sports cars such as a 1952 Siata 208 S and a 1947 Maserati A6 GCSs “Monofaro”. Exceptional models also include a 1929 Bentley Speed 6, 1937 Jaguar SS100, 1955 Jaguar D Type and two magnificent Aston Martins, a DB3 S and a DB4 GT Zagato. From Germany: three Mercedes 300 SLs, a BMW 507 and some beautiful Porsche prototypes 904, 356 or 911 RSR.
A sporting rally offering comfort and serenity in a unique meeting point of grandiose surroundings, situated in the heart of Europe, the Gstaad Classic Audemars Piguet is announced as one of the main automobile events this autumn.
For more information, visit www.gstaadclassic.com.
[Source: Gstaad Classic]
This event makes for good HD video, as shown on youtube. The unadulterated soundtrack is very special due to the engines straining up the hillclimb. Especially the tuned engines. This is a young event and footage in the mountains is somewhat sparse. My hope is this will become a showcase for thoroughbred automobiles.
GT