Gareth Burnett and Jez Haylock emerged as winners of the Endurance Rally Association’s Alpine Trial with their 1934 Talbot 105 Alpine (above, Gerrard Brown photo), duplicating their success in the event’s inaugural running. The all-British team faced fierce competition from runners-up John Abel and Leigh Powley in their 1937 Lagonda LG45, with Peter Lovett and Rob Henchoz finishing 3rd in their 1937 BMW 328.
Kate and Sophie Wickham won the accompanying Concours d’Elegance with their 1934 MG TC, while the TT Award, with TT standing for Tin Top, was accepted by Tony and Pauline Mather for their 1937 Citroen Traction Avant.
The ERA’s third Alpine Trial started in the town of Divonne-les-Bains, nestling next to the Swiss border near Geneva. From there the route journeyed the entire breadth of the Jura Mountains, west of the Rhone River, before moving into the Alps and Mont Blanc for the finale in Annecy. With Regularity and Special Tests as well as Alpine sections, routemaster Keith Baud challenged the crews with rocky hairpins, remote Alpine roads and the steepest of mountain climbs.
Fred Gallagher, ERA’s Rally Director, said: “Another fantastic three days of historic rallying. The route continues to offer exciting competition for those who want it, challenging roads that you’d never find on your own, and a stunning backdrop for equally stunning cars.”
The Alpine Trial’s 40-strong entry list was broken down into five categories based on engine size: up to 1500cc; up to 2000cc; up to 3000cc; up to 4000cc; over 4000cc, with class winners celebrated in each.
This year’s final ERA outing begins on November 13 as 50 classic and vintage cars compete in the Rally of the Incas, a 30-day South American rally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Lima, Peru. The next Alpine Trial will take place in 2018, alternating with the newly launched Blue Train Challenge that will commence on September 18, 2017. For updates and more information on the ERA events, visit www.endurorally.com.
