Eight stages, 900 kilometers through four federal states, fragmented into around 50 exciting special stages, which also include two airfield competitions and 5 laps of the Red Bull Ring GP circuit in Spielberg: The 32nd edition of the Ennstal-Classic from July 17th to 20th is definitely not a coffee run for the automotive gems.
With new highlights and tried-and-tested stops, the Ennstal-Classic route will once again shine with sophistication, beauty and entertainment in 2024. As usual, the Ennstal-Classic explores the limits of what is possible with the cars of yesteryear on the roads of today, with, as always, unrivaled sporty special stages that demand a lot from both driver and navigator. Special attention was also paid to the feasibility for pre-war vehicles when planning the route this year, which included adapting the sections between 30, 40 and 50 km/h to the respective special stage. But first things first:
Thursday, July 18: Prologue
The four stages of the first day lead from the start ramp in Gröbming over the Radstädter Tauern to the traditional stage town of Mauterndorf, from where the route continues over the wonderful Turrach - a beautiful mountain range.Carinthia via the wonderful Turrach - a pass with a long tradition of historic motorsport - and on to the Hochrindl and Gurk for a lunch break in Taggenbrunn. The afternoon brings the special stages at the ÖAMTC site in Mölbling/St. Veit an der Glan and at the Red Bull Ring, where you set your own target time within 5 laps after a short stay in the paddock.
The route then leads in the atmospheric evening light over the Sölk Pass back to Schladming, where the first day of riding ends after around 430 kilometers.
Friday, July 19: Marathon
Starting again in Gröbming, the second day of the EC 2024 leads to Gmunden for the first time, where the historic vehicles visit the Toscana Park and linger on the wonderful peninsula in Lake Traunsee. The route then continues over challenging stages on small side roads to Steyr, one of the stage highlights of the entire event for the 16th time, where a record number of spectators were again counted last year. From Steyr, the route continues via Waidhofen and Ybbsitz to the easternmost town on the route and the fourth federal state: Lunz am See in Lower Austria.
Back over the Wildalpen and through the Gesäuse, two airfield special stages follow one after the other: first at the Trieben airfield, then at the Niederöblarn Alpine airfield, from where it's back to Gröbming after around 450 kilometers.
Saturday: July 20: Final
The first item on the program on Saturday morning has also been a tradition for several years now: the mountain test on the Stoderzinken. Afterwards, the works of art made of sheet metal and gasoline, along with some special exhibits, will gather for the Porsche Design Grand Prix in Gröbming before the winner of the Ennstal-Classic 2024 is determined in the final stage. The last few years have already been full of suspense, with the result always decided in the final meters.
The new measuring procedure, which was used for the first time last year, has become established and has massively increased the number of special stages, a long-cherished wish of many participants. And this year, as already mentioned, the cutting speeds will be sensitively readjusted to ensure equal opportunities for all participants from all age groups as far as possible.
The anticipation is great, the preparations are underway, we are looking forward to driving in the last paradise from July 17th to 20th at the Ennstal-Classic 2024.
Further information and the possibility to register can be found on the Ennstal-Classic website.
