Photo Gallery «Picture story Ennstal-Classic 2017 - well, it does work!»

Name: Porsche 917 1970
Brand: Porsche

The first Ennstal-Classic 2017 was held in 1993. Since then, the rally has developed into one of the most popular and beautiful classic car events in 25 years. Every year, it provides sporting challenges and memorable moments with its slogan "Driving in the last paradise". The anniversary edition was particularly successful because the weather was largely gracious and the route featured some new facets. This picture story shows some of the highlights of the 25th Ennstal-Classic in a humorous way.

The success story of the Ennstal-Classic began in 1993 with 35 cars

The idyllic municipality of Gröbming in the Enns Valley in Styria is the venue for the popular rally, which celebrated its 25th anniversary at the weekend.

As every year, the whole area was in Classic fever, but the local pharmacy had enough medication to combat it.

Not only the participants appeared in classic style, many fans also took the opportunity to take a trip to Gröbming.

The Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato seized the opportunity and explored the area of "driving in the last paradise".

Derek Bell, five-time Le Mans winner and Bentley ambassador on the Sölk Pass: "The deceleration of the heavy Bentley is catastrophic. If a modern car brakes in front of you, you need every millimeter even with double the safety distance!"

Meanwhile, ex-F1 driver Mark Webber from Australia not only enjoyed the scenery, the weather and the cuisine in the Porsche 550 Spider, he was also always happy to meet the friendly fans.

A whole group of these fans were already waiting impatiently on the traffic island, ...

... then the cars finally arrived. We stood up and admired the cars from every angle

The photographer was also interesting, of course. The whole line-up only comes around once a year.

The cattle also enjoyed the taste of the old combustion engines

What would be easy for the Cobra to do is much more difficult for a cow, ...

... but she managed it too - a perfect donut!

For once, the weather was almost a minor matter, which didn't bother Walter Röhrl and Herbert Völker anyway. Most of the time the sun was shining and there was only one brief but massive thunder shower ...

... and the gusts of wind that came with it tugged at the umbrella and skirt.

Mark Webber was surrounded everywhere, filmed and photographed and a selfie with an umbrella had to be taken quickly.

Not only the soaking wet teddy bear on the Veritas was happy, ...

... to finally see the always smiling Patrick Dempsey live.

For once, the mountain stage on the Stoderzinken was not the first stage on Thursday afternoon, ...

... but only took place on Friday at the crack of dawn.

The rising sun showed the alpine landscape in a completely different light for once.

The BMW 328 always drove nicely towards the sun.

In 1993 he was the star and a quarter of a century later he was back in the game, just as beautiful, only 25 years older and more valuable!

While the fog still blocked the view of the mountains in the valley, ...

... a fantastic backdrop was offered further up.

It must have been the same with the old road races, which are now banned.

The dreamlike and tranquil idyll with the sound of the water was only displaced for a brief moment by the powerful sound of the V8.

Roads like from a picture book, ...

... lead through "green" Styria.

Porsche professionals Patrick Dempsey, ...

... Neel Jani with Fritz Enzinger, ...

and Hans Joachim Stuck enjoyed the scent of the lush leaves.

We drove into the darkness.

Even more celebrities were represented. Ex-racing driver Jarno Trulli brought his wine to Ennstal as a winemaker, while Abarth's widow was able to admire some of her husband's cars with Daniele Audetto

Derek Bell in conversation with his escort team, who accompanied his Bentley around 800 km through Austria

Entertainment was a major feature of the anniversary, with the Red Bull breakdance troupe also dancing.

For once, Neel Jani changed his workplace from the Porsche 919 Hybrid ...

... in Hans Hermann's winning car, the Porsche 917 ...

... and was so surprised by its power, ...

... that he was immediately taken into custody by the local police, ...

... before he had time to sign autographs again.

"Just take a look at these intake manifolds and then you'll know what I think of electric cars...", explained Helmut Zwickl.

Start the engines, change your shoes from "slippers" to high heels ...

... and get ready to ...

... because soon Patrick Dempsey will finally arrive ...

... and open the Gröbminger Grand Prix with the 550 Spider.

The Ennstal participants stood at gunpoint, equipped to the hilt, ...

... and waited for their final all-important test.

For the racer, it is the greatest ...

... for once the Alfa-Romeo Tipo 33/2 Daytona, ...

... the CanAm McLaren M8C, ...

... or to let the Abarth 2000 Sport fly through the great Austrian fan community.

The absolute sensation followed at the end! It had actually taken 25 attempts, ...

... until the Lagonda LG 6 Le Mans Special from 1938 became the first pre-war car to win the overall classification.

Alexander and Florian Deopito won with a 45-point lead. So, it works after all!

This also made the 25th Ennstal-Classic history. The contract was signed for another five years and we are looking forward to the next episodes of "Driving in the last paradise"