From January 12 to 14, 2023, the Schladming - Dachstein - Gröbming region - in short, the Enns Valley - will once again belong to classic cars and their fans. At the 26th edition of the legendary winter rally, the classic car scene is sending out a strong signal of life in difficult times: More participants than ever before!
63 cars from six nations (two of them from Great Britain!) on 20 different car brands: the Planai-Classic has never had so many participants. The organizer duo Michael Glöckner/Helmut Zwickl are delighted: "A clear sign that the fascination of classic cars is losing none of its luster, even in difficult economic times."
All cars older than 50 years
The youngest vehicles in the starting field date from 1972, which is where the line has been drawn for years. The oldest car is a Healey Silverstone from 1950, driven by Planai veterans Gabi and Johann Kofler. And anyone who knows them knows that: The car is of course a roadster, so it's open-top.
Unknowns: Weather
It's hard to predict what the weather will be like in mid-January in the Enns Valley. Experience from recent years predicts: wonderful snowy roads on the Dachstein and the Planai, whether there will also be post-Christmas snow flurries on the connecting stages, the local starts in Gröbming or Schladming, in short: on 250 kilometers of route through the most beautiful nature, remains to be seen.
The program
The Planai-Classic has moved to the middle of January and will take place from January 12 to 14. After the rally check and the starting grid in Schladming, the first evening is traditionally spent on the Dachstein.
The second day offers an ambitious program with exciting new features, including a repeat of the stage up the Dachstein in daylight for the first time and ending in the evening with a glorious night challenge at the Gröbming trotting track, whose 70th birthday will be celebrated in style.
The third day is also traditionally dedicated to the special stages at the Niederöblarn Alpine airfield and the mountain stage on the Planai, where in recent years the overall standings of the Planai-Classic have been decided literally in the last few meters.
Further information can be found on the event website.
