Some entries are particularly surprising. Brazilian Mauricio Marx will be taking part in the Kilomètre Lancé from September 8 to 10, 2023 with his 1951 Porsche 356 Cabriolet. The car arrives in the state capital by plane from Sao Paulo. From there, the 42-year-old drives on the road.
In 1954, the 356 with its 44 hp 1.3 liter engine was on the race track for the first time and won its debut on the Interlagos circuit, about twelve kilometers outside of Sao Paulo. After a hill climb in Estrada de Santos in 1958, the Porsche became an everyday car and was sold to the current owner's family in 1963.
The bodywork, covered only with a clear coat, shows the traces of the 356's eventful history from the early days of production in Stuttgart. It is the oldest Porsche in existence in Brazil.
No road is too arduous - Twelve Porsche diesels come to St. Moritz and celebrate Le Mans
All types of vehicles and all drive technologies are welcome at the Kilomètre Lancé. This diversity is what makes the opening event of the St. Moritz International Automobile Week so special. It can also be a little crazy. That is why the organizer has invited a Porsche diesel demonstration run with a Le Mans start, in honour of the 100th anniversary of the famous race track on the Sarthe.
Twelve tractors will be lined up at an angle to the track. The drivers face each other like athletes before a sprint and run to their tractor after the start signal. This starting procedure was invented in Le Mans in 1925, but was abandoned decades later for safety reasons, as the drivers would otherwise have to fasten their seatbelts while driving. However, the "red noses" built according to the "Porsche system" do not have seat belts. This means that the drivers can concentrate fully on being the first to cross the finish line 1000 meters away.
The Porsche tractor friends from South Tyrol and the Allgäu region are undaunted. They are traveling on wheels and crossing the Julier Pass. They will be taking part with the Porsche diesel model series with two to four cylinders. Manfred Krämer is even bringing the 40-kilometer per hour "Evolution" prototype to the start.
All starting places for the special tractor race have already been allocated. However, interested parties can still apply for the other special classes "Formula 1" and "Gullwing" as well as for the classes for special motorcycles and automobiles, which are divided into pre-war and post-war. This link will take interested parties directly to the online entry form.
Embedded in the International St. Moritz Automobile Week
"We define the Kilomètre Lancé as a mobility festival," explains Tobias Aichele. The organization manager of the Kilomètre Lancé continues: "We have the professional umbrella of the St. Moritz International Automobile Week, the tradition of the event dating back to 1929, one of the most desirable locations in the world in St. Moritz, and a unique selling point in Europe with the approximately 1.8-kilometre-long Engadin Airport runway, which is also suitable for record-breaking vehicles. This cocktail leads to the magic of the event."
All six events of the International. St. Moritz Automobile Week (ISAW) are summarized on the joint website.
