Happy participants, enthusiastic spectators, a highly attractive field of drivers with a total of 138 historic cars and, in the end, a deserving winning team with a legendary vehicle from the pre-war era - the 20th edition of the Gaisbergrennen can be considered a success for everyone involved. And that despite the typical "Salzburger Schnürlregen".
The focus on historic technology and legendary motorsport eras long gone is in the nature of things at classic car events such as the Gaisbergrennen. And yet it is something very special that the "modern" Gaisbergrennen, which was held for the first time in 2003 in honor of its historical role model, celebrated its 20th edition this year.
Although the regularity tests of the modern era can only be compared to a limited extent with the daring races between 1957 and 1969 - not to mention the pre-war adventures from 1929 to 1933 - it is all the more part of the DNA of the internationally recognized event to uphold cherished traditions and celebrate them with great attention to detail.
Premiere for sustainable fuel
This is also the case for the 2024 anniversary edition, for which the organizer team around Thomas Matzelberger and Gert Pierer have come up with some new ideas. Both the aspect of sustainability and youth work were particularly in focus: all participating teams were provided with a contingent of 20 liters of e-fuel, which could be filled up during the vehicle inspection at Hellbrunn Palace. The basis for this was the first-time cooperation with the company P1, which produces synthetic fuel and supplies it to the World Rally Championship, among others.
Due to the short distances, many of the participating teams were able to complete the majority of the event CO2-neutral - a first for classic events in Europe.
Successful youth work
In 2024, the organizers also offered a reduced entry fee for riders under the age of 35 for the first time under the motto "Young summiteers". Unsurprisingly, this initiative also fell on fertile ground. The quota of 15 starting places was filled within a very short time. And on its 95th birthday, the Gaisberg Race was younger and more sustainable than ever before in its history.
Record number of spectators in Salzburg's old town
The event itself was once again a celebration for classic car fans - and those who want to become one. According to the responsible authorities, the number of spectators at the traditional vehicle presentation and the spectacular City Grand Prix in the middle of Salzburg's old town this year even exceeded the previous record set in 2022.
And despite the persistent rainy weather, spectator interest remained consistently high during the races on the Gaisberg and at the Salzburgring.
From a sporting perspective, the 2024 Gaisbergrennen saw the victory of a pre-war vehicle: Georg Geyer and Thomas Frik won the overall standings in a 1937 Lancia Aprilia.
Swiss driver Gian Pietro Rossetti, who covered the entire distance alone in his 1954 Maserati A6GCS/53, was voted "Man of the Race". The class of the young Gipfel Stürmer went to the team of Franz Resch and Max Glöckner in an Opel GT.
The date for the next Gaisberg race in 2025 has already been set: June 19 to June 21, 2025.
Further information can be found on the event website.
