From the presence of the models and colors that have written the history of the automobile to the presence of an extraordinary guest - "Cipi" Celio, legendary white and blue striker, monument of Leventine ice hockey: Sunday, June 18, 2023 was a special day. Sunday, June 18, 2023 was a special day, as two seemingly different worlds came together in the Gottardo Arena, which are actually very similar because they are driven by the same engine - an unbridled passion.
And that's exactly what made the fifth edition of the Gottardo Classic so special, as the new CEO of Ambrì-Piotta Hockey Club, John Mischkulnig, explains:
"It was a team game, guided by a common, genuine desire: to bring the spirit of the valley to life in the new "multifunctional" home, even outside the field hockey season - because the Gottardo Arena, with the whole biancoblù family, is not just the story of a club, but a piece of history, a cross-section of cultural and sporting life."
And it was in this spirit that the five players of the HCAP first team spent the day with the attendees - Daniele Grassi, who drove a spectacular Alfa Romeo GTV 6 US version, was the trailblazer forYannick Brüschweiler, Kyle Demuth, Josselin Dufey and Lionel Marchand signed autographs and took part in various activities inside and outside the arena. This allowed the hosts to convey first-hand the uniqueness of the Gottardo Arena in Ambrì and its large white and blue family. The guided tour of the arena, the control room and the changing rooms allowed the crews of the magnificent vehicles participating in this edition to touch a reality that, like their beloved cars, speaks of history, passion and identity.
A day to remember
In the presence of the mayor of the municipality of Quinto, Aris Tenconi, as well as 94 classic and vintage cars, also from the north of the Alps and the nearby peninsula, the sponsors, partners, supporters, fans, friends were present in large numbers and spectators intervened - on and off the track.
In the morning, after breakfast, a briefing and the always coveted and awaited "Gottardo Classic welcome bag", the crews set off on two routes with breathtaking scenery, one longer and one shorter, to then challenge each other in the afternoon in the regularity race , on the Gottardo Arena course.
The longest route involved around sixty crews for 4 hours and 166 km between Biasca, Corzoneso, Leontica, Cancorì, Nara, Lucomagno, Disentis, Oberalp Pass, Andermatt and Passo del Gottardo.
Around thirty crews from Faido, Carì, Tarnoggio, Osco and Faido took part in the short route, which lasted an hour and a half and covered 43 km.
For lunch, Gottardo Catering - the Arena's catering service - offered the opportunity to taste delicious local specialties, choosing between traditional, vegan and fondue menus, to then leave room for the numerous activities, always accompanied by the legendary DJ Walter: from the mini-golf putting green with the valuable advice of the golf pro from Andermatt Golf Club to professional driving simulators, test drives, special karts and bouncy castles for the little ones. And for those who have been longing for ice, there was the opportunity to try their hand at an entertaining curling tournament in the arena. The day ended with the award ceremony for the winning cars and a prize draw organized by Andermatt Swiss Alps, which gave one of the lucky guests an overnight stay at the magnificent "The Chedi Andermatt".
So this is the balance of an exciting day full of unpublished works and stories of those who have made history. All against the backdrop of a unique landscape, that of Ambrì, made even more special by the "I Corni d'Or" exhibition.
Finally, it is worth highlighting the fact that this year, for the first time, the Gottardo Classic was held under the patronage of the municipality of Quinto and the collaboration of Bellinzona and Valli. Special thanks go to them and to the more than 30 sponsors, partners and friends of the event who made all this possible!
The winners
Regularity classification
1st place: Porsche 365 Roadster from 1961
2nd place: Mazda MX-5 from 1998
3rd place: Alfa Romeo Sei from 1984
4th place: BMW 2002
5th place Mercedes-Benz 500 SL from 1991
Special awards
L'equipag de püsee luntan: Mini JCW PG3 from 20021 La machina püsee vegia: Chevrolet Chevy from 1956
Fair play: Chevrolet Camaro SS/RS 396 from 1967
After the success of Gottardo Classic 2023, all eyes are now on 2024. Of course, the intention is to repeat the event with new captivating surprises.
To keep the engines warm, the Lugano Classic 2023 is scheduled for 21 and 22 October 2023 - same organizing committee, different type of event. Classic and vintage cars will always be the protagonists, but this time in Sottoceneri and for two days: on Saturday there will be an exhibition of spectacular cars in the beating heart of Lugano, while Sunday will be dedicated to an impressive panoramic tour.
Further information can be found on the event website.
