ENNSTAL-CLASSIC 2023 – The countdown is on – one week to go.
In one week it will start: On 19 July the Ennstal-Classic 2023 will start. Besides some technical innovations, the organisers are working up to the last minute to equip the 31st edition of the classic rally with uniqueness.
Besides the already known celebrities among the cars (such as: The oldest car in the field, a Bentley 3/4.5 Litre Speed Model built in 1924 driven by Teddy and Joseph Jöbstl, or the legendary overall winner of the Targa Florio 1961, the wonderful Ferrari 246SP, at whose wheel legends such as Count Wolfgang Berghe von Trips, Richie Ginther, Phil Hill, Innes Ireland or Pedro Rodriguez have already turned) we may also point out a special appearance organised quasi at the last minute:
At the Porsche Design Grand Prix in Gröbming, the legendary Porsche 356 Roadster with the number 1, the first Porsche vehicle in history, will start. None other than Wolfgang Porsche himself will pilot the automotive legend, which founded the success story of the Porsche company in Gmünd, Carinthia, in 1948, then set off on a journey around the world and finally found its way back to Porsche and was lavishly restored. And: the car will be climate-neutral on this occasion – fuelled with eFuel.
In general, the topic of climate-friendly fuel will be well addressed at the Ennstal Classic. For example, the legendary BMW 3.0 CSL of the Royal Bobsleigh Automobile Club will come to the Ennstal-Classic, also fuelled with synthetic fuel. The fantastic vehicle will be driven by Christian Geistdörfer, who has taken part in the Ennstal-Classic several times and is best known as Walter Röhrl’s legendary co-pilot during his greatest successes. The phrase Röhrl used to bark to his co-driver when he wanted to really let it fly in the coming stage has long been part of the general anecdotal vocabulary of all friends of rallying. “Geistdörfer, schnoi di au!”
Also in the starting field: a tribute to 75 years of Porsche, 37 cars of the brand built from 1952 onwards are on the grid. One of the Porsches will be driven by two-time Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal, who has been a brand ambassador and enthusiastic car enthusiast for years. Also to be found in the grid: Racing legends a la Strietzel Stuck, Richard Lietz or Dieter Quester, star chef Toni Mörwald will be there for the first time, ex-McLaren race director Jo Ramirez is already a regular guest in the Enns Valley. David Brabham, ex-F1 driver and son of three-time world champion Jack Brabham, Sigi Wolf or Hans Peter Spak have long been regular guests at the Ennstal-Classic. This year for the first time: entertainer and petrolhead Mat Schuh.
The fact that classic car festivals like the Ennstal-Classic do not only attract the older generation of car enthusiasts is proven by the “Vredestein Youngster Trophy”, which has been attracting young rally drivers for years and is enjoying particularly lively participation this year. Last year’s runners-up, Magdalena and Margarita Voglar, are once again at the start, as are the surprise winners of the Planai Classic 2023, Florian Pachleitner and Christopher Wischenbart, or Instagram star Jonas “Jonnys Garage” Lach from Germany. A total of 15 teams comply with the Trophy’s “under 30 rule”, so it will be interesting to see how the “young guns” perform.
Watch partner Porsche Design will present the “CHRONOGRAPH 1 – ENNSTAL-CLASSIC 2023 EDITION”, an exclusive watch for the competition, the edition is limited to 23 pieces.
We are looking forward to welcoming all classic car enthusiasts to the beautiful Ennstal valley, it will start in one week!