Many had already written it off, but the Klausen Race is to be resurrected. The next event is planned for September 25 to 27, 2026. Approvals in principle have been granted by the two cantons of Glarus and Uri, and now it's time to get down to business so that the historic automobile and motorcycle mountain race can take place as planned in around 600 days.
Legendary racing events
The toughest mountain test in Europe at the time took place between 1922 and 1934. The major car manufacturers and racing drivers competed for race victories on the 21.5 km route from Linthal to the top of the Klausen Pass.
They had to negotiate an altitude difference of 1260 m and 136 bends. Around 20,000 spectators were on hand to watch the daring drivers race their cars up the pass over gravel, scree and cobblestones in under 20 minutes.
Five memorial races so far
Of course, the great hill climb tradition was remembered many years ago and historic events began to be organized on the original route from 1993.
Five memorial races were held up to 2013, with another commemorative event taking place in 2022 as a show ride, since when the racing engines on the Klausen have been silent.
Return in the year 2026
The "Klausen legend" is unbroken and Klausen Historic GmbH with Christian Walti and Alexander Roosdorp has set itself the goal of reviving the old tradition on September 25-27, 2026. From then on, the Klausen race will once again take place regularly (e.g. every two years).
Focus on the essentials
The Klausen Race 2026 is to be organized as a sporting, historic hill climb with racing and regularity categories. It will be open to cars and motorcycles from the pre-war period; whether post-war years can also take part is still being discussed. Over 400 racing cars are expected. The organizers are hoping for international participants, as was the case with the Memorial Hill Climb races from 1993 to 2013.
For young and old
It is important to the organizers that the people and businesses of the region can be involved and that the event brings together younger and older fans of the racing technology and progressive thinking of the time. The Klausen Race once had an international appeal and the most modern racing cars of the time were on site. There should also be room for young people and concepts are being developed to involve the next generation.
It goes without saying that the Klausen Race 2026 will be organized in accordance with the applicable environmental protection regulations and will be geared towards sustainability. The focus is on "moving cultural assets" and there is no better way to demonstrate this than with the Bugatti 35, Alfa Romeo P3 or Amilcar of the 1920s and 1930s.
However, there is still a lot of work to be done before the car acceptance can take place on September 25, 2026, and the biggest challenge now, after the basic approvals, is to secure sound financing for the major event. We wish the organizers every success and are already looking forward to the days at Klausen.
Further information can be found on the Klausenrennen website.
P.S. Memories of previous events:
