More than 40 classic cars, no younger than 1972, will start the 27th Planai Classic in Schladming on January 11. Around 320 km with 36 special stages are on the program.
The Enns Valley with its side valleys, the Dachstein and Planai roads as special stages, the Niederöblarn airfield and the Gröbming harness racing track, Imlauer Hotel Schloss Pichlarn and a SS in the center of Schladming: these are all the backdrops for the classic car event in the Schladming-Dachstein region at the beginning of January.
Nostalgia meeting
The organizers report that this year again rare vintage cars such as: Healey Silverstone, built in 1950 the oldest car in the field, which will be driven by pilot Johann Kofler without a soft top,
various VW Beetles, NSU TT, Volvo Amazon, Porsche 356, Ford Cortina, Lancia Fulvia, MG B, Saab 96, Austin A35, Mercedes-Benz 200, BMW 2002 ti, Datsun 240Z, Trabant 601, Ford Mustang, etc. In addition, "Strietzel" Stuck will be driving a Porsche 912.
The program
On Thursday, January 11, the rally team will make its way from Schladming to the Türlwandhütte at an altitude of 1700 meters on the Dachstein. The target time for the mountain stage will be adapted to the road conditions. Afterwards, the opening evening will take place at the Sporthotel Royer in Schladming.
On Friday, January 12, the race starts at 09:00 am at the main square in Gröbming. The Dachstein will be conquered a second time, then it's off via Filzmoos and Eben to the lunch stop at the Dorfwirt in Forstau.
Back in the Schladming-Dachstein region with various SSs where the 40 km/h average must be maintained to the tenth of a second and with stamp controls in Aich and Assach, the day ends as part of the exciting Night Challenge on the Gröbming trotting track before continuing to the cozy evening event at the Häuserl im Wald.
On Saturday, January 13, the special stage, which has already become a tradition, will take place on the runway of the Niederöblarn Alpine airfield. The field will then set off in the direction of Imlauer Hotels Schloss Pichlarn, where the participants will be treated to delicious refreshments before continuing on to the stage towards the Planai middle station.
Highlight Planai
The infamous Planai mountain classification with two runs from the middle station to the finish at the Planaihof is a challenge for drivers and vehicles every year.
In recent years, it has often snowed heavily - exactly the kind of weather that the drivers of a winter rally love so much when it comes to scoring points for overall victory.
Final Challenge in the center of Schladming at Wetzlarerplatz for the first time
For the first time this year, a final challenge with a special stage will take place directly in the center of Schladming.
There, the riders have to prove their skills one last time. Afterwards there is the "Flower Ceremony" for the top three in the Rathauspark. Afterwards, the 27th Planai-Classic comes to a fitting end with the award ceremony in the Hohenhaustenne.
Further information can be found on the Planai-Classic website
