The 30th Ennstal-Classic will take place from July 20 to 23, 2022 and offers an abundance of joy and emotions that are becoming increasingly rare these days - namely driving in the last paradise. For 30 years now, the Ennstal-Classic has been regarded far beyond the classic car fan scene as a dazzling summer event in an effort to celebrate the automobile as a cultural asset and to do so without a guilty conscience: Namely as Austria's first and so far only climate-neutral classic car rally. Appreciation for classic cars and responsibility for the climate need not be a contradiction in terms.
Driving in the last paradise means: the freedom to drive through nature's paradise obliges us to preserve it. Porsche has the largest "brand share" in the 235-car field of participants for the 3-day event with 38 starters, followed by Alfa Romeo with 22 and Mercedes Benz with 19. Exotics such as Alvis, Auburn, Cisitalia, Lagonda, Sbarro, Siata and Talbot give the event the title of a driving museum.
Driving through the most beautiful areas of Austria
On Thursday, the route leads over the Sölk Pass to Mauterndorf. The route continues to Gmünd - the birthplace of the Porsche 356 - and for the first time via the Grossglockner High Alpine Road to Saalfelden to the Brandlhof, where a special stage will be driven on a circuit. Via Maria Alm, the route finally returns to Schladming for the traditional finish at the main square.
The marathon on Friday also starts in Gröbming, the first checkpoint is in picturesque Pürgg. The convoy travels through the Gesäuse National Park to Mariazell for a lunch break and on via Lunz am See to the car town of Steyr. Before the classic cars stop at the town square, there will be a special stage at the Steyr Automotive factory premises.
From 17:00 there will be a pit stop at the main square in Liezen and then a VW special stage at the Laimer car dealership before the participants drive their last special stage at the Niederöblarn Alpine airfield and finally reach the finish in Gröbming from 18:00.
Many celebrities at the start
This year's starting field will once again include many well-known names: Dieter Quester, Wolfgang Porsche, Jo Ramirez, David Brabham, Max Welti and Jo Vonlanthen will be competing in the entire Ennstal-Classic. In its anniversary year, the Racecar Trophy is also celebrating its comeback after a break of several years: the stops are the ÖAMTC Driving Experience Center Gut Brandlhof on Thursday, the Tauplitzalm Alpine Road and the Niederöblarn Alpine Airfield on Friday and the Porsche Design Grand Prix in Gröbming on Saturday. Among the 25 participants this year are well-known names such as Tobias Moretti, Rudi Roubinek and Lauda lifesaver Arturo Merzario.
Pure Grand Prix feeling on Saturday, July 23rd in Gröbming!
The Stoderzinken hill climb, the finale of the Ennstal-Classic, the pioneers of Austrian automotive history and the Porsche Design Grand Prix of Gröbming are on the program.
The Red Bull Side Act with the Flying Bulls at 12:00 is the starting signal for the jam-packed anniversary final program.
An unprecedented demonstration drive of Austrian automobile rarities takes spectators on a journey through time to the cradle of the automobile: Marcus Wagen, Lohner-Porsche, Prinz-Heinrich Wagen, Austro Daimler Alpenwagen, Sascha Rennwagen, Gräf & Stift SR4, Steyr VI, Austro Daimler Bergmeister through to the Porsche 356 Gmünd Coupe, Denzel Sport and Formula Kaimann by Kurt Bergmann. The vehicles can be viewed from 10:30 a.m. in the center of Gröbming and then drive three demo laps on the Grand Prix circuit in Gröbming at 12:30 p.m.
At the Porsche Design Grand Prix from 13:00, the cars of the Racecar Trophy will be on show. They will be joined by the jewels from the Porsche Museum Stuttgart, driven by prominent drivers. Hans-Joachim Strietzel Stuck will be at the wheel of a Porsche 956, the endurance classic of the 80s, crime scene detective Richy Müller will drive a 911 Carrera RSR and Richard Lietz - winner of the GT class at Le Mans 2022 - will drive this year's winning car, the 911 991 RSR.
You can read more about the 30th Ennstal-Classic on the event website.
