A total of 25 overall victories in the world’s most prestigious 24-hour races will come together in Gröbming on 25 July for the finale of the Ennstal-Classic. When motorsport greats such as Timo Bernhard, Richard Lietz, Klaus Ludwig and Hans-Joachim Stuck arrive in the Schladming-Dachstein region alongside eight original Le Mans icons and legendary Nürburgring-winning race cars, it will become perhaps the most impressive showcase of endurance racing history Austria has seen in a long time. The entry list for this year’s Porsche Design Grand Prix promises an experience that will captivate far more than just dedicated motorsport enthusiasts.
The journey through history begins with three true pre-war legends: the Delahaye 135 S, a Bugatti Type 50 that once led laps at Le Mans and competed there twice, in 1931 and 1933, and an MG C-Type that also contested the Sarthe classic on two occasions. The Porsche armada promises a spectacular feast for the eyes and ears: Timo Bernhard will drive the Porsche 911 GT1 Le Mans, while Richard Lietz takes the wheel of the famous “Sau”, the Porsche 911 RSR GTE. The long-tail Porsche 906 and the agile Porsche 904 are also genuine witnesses to endurance racing history. The field is completed by the original 1965 ISO A3C Le Mans racing car. What makes all these vehicles special is that they genuinely competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans during their racing careers. This impressive ensemble is joined by further icons such as the Maserati A6 GCS and the legendary Ford GT40, driven by Mathias Walkner and Tobias Moretti, bringing the atmosphere of motorsport’s golden era into the present day.
But the list of automotive rarities does not end there. HWA enriches the starting field with the HWA EVO R, which made history as a class winner at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, as well as its road-going counterpart, bridging the gap between racetrack and road. The racing car will be driven by Klaus Ludwig. Further highlights in the field include Prince Leopold of Bavaria, Dieter Quester and Striezel Stuck. Rauno Aaltonen completes the line-up in a Mini Cooper S.
Above all, however, it is the protagonists who bring this history to life. Great drivers such as Stuck, Ludwig, Lietz and Bernhard share first-hand stories from the dangerous Group C era and the strategic masterstrokes of modern racing. Alongside them, motorsport legends Dieter Quester and Prince Leopold of Bavaria, as well as specialists Matthias Walkner and Rauno Aaltonen, complete the driver line-up. Laura Kraihammer in the Bugatti T51 and Margarita Voglar in a Reynard circuit racing car ensure that female racing talent is also strongly represented in Gröbming. Cultural icons such as Tobias Moretti further underline the special significance of the Ennstal-Classic.
All these vehicles and many more will be on display in Gröbming on 25 July. From 10:00 a.m., the cars will be prepared in the Motorpark, where visitors can already experience them up close. The starting grid will form in the town centre from 12:30 p.m., before the starting flag drops at 1:00 p.m. for five demonstration laps. The final competition of the Ennstal-Classic will follow. More than 200 vehicles will be on display in Gröbming on this Saturday—a rolling museum that will delight visitors of all ages.
The record of the champions in attendance: 25 overall victories in the great 24-hour classics. The drivers appearing at the event represent an incomparable era of endurance racing:
24 Hours of Le Mans (overall):
- Overall victories: 7 (Ludwig 3x, Stuck 2x, Bernhard 2x)
- Podium finishes: 14 (Stuck 7x, Ludwig 4x, Bernhard 3x)
- Class victories: 11 (Lietz 6x, Bernhard 3x, Stuck 1x, Quester 1x)
Other 24-hour classics (overall victories):
- Nürburgring 24 Hours: 12 (Bernhard 5x, Stuck 3x, Ludwig 3x, Lietz 1x)
- 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps: 5 (Quester 3x, Stuck 1x, Lietz 1x)
- 24 Hours of Daytona: 1 (Bernhard 1x)