When the starting flag fell for the first race at 07:30 on Saturday morning, June 2, not only the fuel levels but also the adrenaline levels of the drivers were at their limit: the Lenzerheide Motor Classics were being opened for the 10th time!
The memorable event began on Friday morning with the provision of the paddock, the registration of the drivers and the technical approvals. Before the drivers' briefing by OC manager Hans Orsatti, Pastor Markus Ramm - himself a passionate classic car driver - blessed those present and their vehicles.
The subsequent parade through the village with all 260 classic racing cars was, as every year, a crowd-puller, the atmosphere among the participants and the local population was fantastic as part of the traditional village festival and thanks to the wonderful weather, a record number of spectators were recorded.
On the two days, a total of 12 racing fields were used, which started in different classes with a maximum of 25 vehicles on the world's highest circuit. There was something for everyone among the more than ten thousand visitors and fans who had traveled from all over Switzerland and nearby countries: powerhouses such as the agile Fiat Abarth alternated with Maseratis or Bugattis from the pre-war era, while historic racing motorcycles were followed by fields of original Formula 1 cars and top-class touring cars.
There were also many familiar faces at the start - both from the world of historic motorsport and from current racing events. These included touring car driver Jasmin Preisig, who had just returned from a stint at the 12-hour race in Spa, and Reto Meisel, the reigning Swiss touring car champion. Where can you experience so much automotive and motoring history up close on a circuit - at the LMC on the Heide, of course!
Those of the spectators looking for an adrenaline rush took a ride in one of the 11 race cabs. The impressive vehicles - from the Ferrari 458 to the Lamborghini Gaillardo and the Porsche 911 RS - were driven by licensed professional drivers and offered an experience and thrills in a class of their own!
At the 10th Lenzerheide Motor Classics, the focus was on one topic: the future of combustion engines and thus also the continuity of the event. Around 20 drivers responded to the club's call and filled up their precious treasures with a total of 1400 liters of SynFuel, a 100% fossil-free, synthetic fuel. Even the little Abarth Zagato from 1957 with its high-powered 750 cm engine was able to complete its laps at full power without any problems.
So there are climate-friendly alternatives, but with limited availability and a liter price of over six francs, they are currently only available to a small group of enthusiasts. The LMC association, which broke new ground with its proactive approach with the participants, is confident that there will be a lot of movement in the area of synthetic fuels in the near future, especially as the initial uncertainties and fears of many classic car owners have been dispelled.
Naturally, the Lenzerheide Motor Classics are also participating with a certificate from Carbon Connect to fully offset the CO2 emissions of the entire event.
After the LMC is before the LMC: the date June 7 - 9, 2024 is already set! More information can be found on the event website.
