The roads of the Engadin, located in the east of Switzerland, offer classic car events the ideal setting for unforgettable drives. Around St. Moritz you will find some of the most beautiful Alpine passes or, as Jeremy Clarkson once described it, "the best driving roads".
From August 18 to 20, 2017, Passione Engadina once again made a guest appearance in this beautiful corner of the world.
Passione, the sixth
Passione Engadina took place for the first time in 2012. From the very beginning, the focus was on "gentleman driving" and a cultivated get-together.
Paolo Spalluto did not want to organize a marathon event, but rather offer well-heeled car owners the opportunity to meet each other and share special experiences. St. Moritz as the center of the event was a natural fit.
Palpable passion
Anyone who assumes that Passione Engadina is the mobile version of the Country Club has not understood Paolo Spalluto. The organizer of the Passione events is in fact an incredibly enthusiastic car fan. This was evident on the evening of the first day at the latest, when a film about Ferrari was presented, a film that vibrated with pathos and passion.
The effort that Paolo Spalluto and his team put in every year is immense, and 2017 went one better, because two weeks after the classic Passione Engadina, a second event with exclusively Ferrari vehicles took place, linked by the special show next to the Kulm Hotel.
70 years of Ferrari and the special show
Ferrari's anniversary is omnipresent in 2017, and it could not be overlooked at Passione Engadina, although the event was of course also open to other Italian makes. Nevertheless, Lamborghini sports cars, for example, were completely absent.
However, a special exhibition featured cars that are otherwise rarely seen because they belong to private collections or museums.
Among the cars on display were the Ferrari 156 F1 from 1961, as well as two more modern Ferrari monoposti with six and twelve cylinders from 1985 (with turbo) and 1989 (without turbo).
Many visitors had their first encounter with the Ferrari 206 Sport prototype from 1966, a 270 km/h fast open two-seater from 1966. And only a few have probably ever seen the original Ferrari P5 by Pininfarina from 1968.
The Ferrari exhibits were complemented by an Alfa Romeo GP 16C Bimotore from 1935, a twin-engined monster that was once destined for Grand Prix victories but was very difficult to drive on the racetracks. The Lancia LC2 was the Group C answer to the Porsche 956, certainly one of the most attractive sports cars of the 1980s in its Martini livery.
Attractive starting field
As always, the number of participants was limited to eighty vehicles, guaranteeing a personal atmosphere and manageable delays at the start or during special stages. Just two pre-war vehicles were entered, but the proportion of cars from the fifties and sixties was high.
Most of the vehicles on show were suitable for covering longer distances and also had a roof in bad weather, with two exceptions confirming this rule.
Ermini, Zagato and Co
Anyone who watched the six dozen or so cars pass by during the 200-km drive on Saturday was sure to notice the graceful Ermini 1100 Sport from 1952. It was a Barchetta with bodywork by Motto.
These open two-seaters competed in the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio in 1952, with very respectable results. A melodious four-cylinder engine at the front provided propulsion and music. Built as a racing sports car, the crew naturally had to do without a roof, which would have been difficult to attach and would have added extra weight.
The Lancia Appia with Zagato bodywork was also designed for low weight. The aerodynamically advantageous coupé had to make do with an engine output of around 60 hp.
In contrast, another Zagato design, which started as number 49 at the Passione, had a completely different concept. It was one of two Aster concept cars based on the Fiat 132 and exhibited at the 1972 Turin Motor Show, among others. With its all-round glazing (including the roof area), the car heats up like a greenhouse in the sunshine, which made life difficult for the crew on the warm first day.
Three competitions
Passione Engadina 2017 comprised three disciplines: the Kessel Challenge Cup, the Julius Baer Rally on Friday and the Concours d'Elégance on Sunday. The Kessel Challenge Cup was run in two parts on Friday and Sunday morning.
Ottaviano/Matteo Cheecchi won in a 1970 Maserati Indy.
Giustino De Santis and Claudio Moribducci came second in a 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider, while third place went to well-known rally driver Miki Biasion and co-driver Paola Ramella Paia in their own 1973 Fiat 124 Abarth. The winners can keep the challenge cup for a year and then return to the next Passione Engadina free of charge for a rematch.
For the competitive gentleman driver
On 19 August 2017, the Julius Baer Rally covered a distance of around 200 kilometers over seven Alpine passes, including the Ofen Pass, the Umbail, the Stilser Joch and the Bernina. The drive over the sometimes steep and narrow pass roads was a challenge for many drivers and several cars, with one or two engines getting a little warm. The hose tests provided a competitive feeling, while the sometimes rather cool and wet weather presented driving challenges. Some of the teams even had a wreck, although there were no fender benders.
There were some familiar faces at the award ceremony: Ottaviano/Matteo Cheecchi in the Maserati Indy were the overall winners, second place went to Filippo Sole with Francesca Sole Rettagliata in the passenger seat of the 1938 Lancia Aprilia (class winner) and third place went to Giustino De Santis and Claudio Moribducci in the 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider, who also won their class.
In the newer vehicles, Roberto and Federica Ricciardello in the Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV from 1971 came out on top.
Pleasure at the center
Although the driving tests are omnipresent at Passione Engadina, it's all about enjoyment. The Sunday Concours d'Elégance, in which the spectators and visitors are the judges, also stands for this.
In front of the new Kulm Country Club, the participating vehicles provided an attractive backdrop and the tourists and locals of St. Moritz closely examined the cars present and ultimately chose their favorites.
The pre-war Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS from 1939 was their favorite, much to the delight of the owner couple Aenny and Alexander Vonow. Second and third place went to the right-hand drive Lancia Aurelia B24 America Spider from 1955 and the Ferrari 275 GTB/4 from 1966 in yellow.
Meanwhile, there was little else for the participants to do other than enjoy a glass of champagne, feast on the buffet and cultivate camaraderie.
For most of those who return to the Passione Engadina year after year, winning is not the top priority anyway; they are more interested in the pleasurable hours away from their other commitments. And if you can quickly test drive a current Ferrari, one of the attractive Alfa Romeo Giulia or 4C, as well as modern Abarth vehicles while waiting, then you can hardly complain.
The additional picture gallery accompanying this article contains over 300 pictures of the individual participating vehicles .
