Unlike most classic car events, the Arosa ClassicCar was also allowed to take place in 2020 - but without an audience. The disappointed spectators must have had some catching up to do, because this year's 17th edition of the hill climb, which was once again held in front of packed grandstands from September 2 to 5, attracted more guests than ever before with over 29,000 people.
Although the starting field did not set a new record in terms of size, it was still very large with 175 registered vehicles. As in previous years, there were four classes. In the "Classic Trophy" and "Sport Trophy" categories, four heats each were run on a regular basis, with an average speed of 80 km/h not being exceeded in the first group. In the "Competition" category, the cars were driven in the classic way for best time, with formula racing cars being judged separately. Those who simply wanted to present their cars to the public drove demo runs in the "Alpine Performance" category.
Formula 1 celebrities and Porsche dominance
The most prominent guest at this year's Arosa ClassicCar was former Formula 1 driver Arturo Merzario, who drove an Abarth Sport Spider from Engelbert Möll's collection in the "Sport Trophy" class and finished in 14th place out of a total of 25 starters.
The winner of the "fast" regularity classification was Reto Toscan in his bahama yellow Porsche 911, whose two best runs were separated by just 0.04 seconds. Daniel Uebelhard in the Audi Quattro allowed himself a difference of 0.13 seconds, while Alberto Franceschetti in the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 still managed a small 0.17.
The second regularity class was also won by a Porsche driver. Massimo Wild drove his 356 Super 90 Roadster with even more precision, allowing himself a time difference of just 0.02 seconds.
Second place was shared by Marc Gassmann in a Porsche-powered VW Dickholmer and Patric Iten in an Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV, each with a difference of 0.04 seconds.
The sports cars from Zuffenhausen seemed unbeatable on this first weekend in September, as a 911 also won the "Competition" classification. Florian Feustel sped his IROC-RSR up the 7.3-kilometre course from Langwies to Arosa in 4:27.07 minutes, setting a new track record for road cars in the process.
After adding up his three best times, the German was 46.77 seconds ahead of Markus Jörg in the 19-year-old Lotus 11 and 1:19.38 minutes ahead of Diego Bernhardi in the Ford Escort RS 2000.
Moral and actual winners
The Formula classification, on the other hand, lost some of its excitement after the first race, as Thomas Amweg's accident in the Martini-BMW MK50 03 eliminated half of the field in one fell swoop. Walter Tanner in the Ralt thus secured an unchallenged victory in the open single-seater category.
The "Ladies Cup" for the fastest of the eleven ladies in the field went to Bea Gabalthuler, who finished fifth in the "Sport Trophy" class in a Mini Cooper S 1275.
Björn Mattson, who made the long journey from Billdal in Sweden in his Austin Cooper S to compete in the "Competition" class, where he finished in tenth place, also earned a special moral prize for the longest journey.
Just like a year ago, the rain came at some point during this race weekend. But at least the rainfall on Saturday was so limited that the races did not have to be stopped and the wet track added to the excitement. This meant that the spectators were able to enjoy the full program of historic hill climb racing again after two years.
