A new era for the special interest media company began 21 years ago on a route with the Silvretta High Alpine Road at its heart: the Silvretta Classic inspired teams with dream roads and an overwhelming Alpine panorama. Supported by a perfect organization geared towards the participants and spectators, it became a unique recipe for success that has proven itself year after year: Over 190 teams are registered for this year's edition (July 4-6). The starting field is made up of classic cars from eight decades of automotive history.
The roots of all classic car rallies organized by Motor Presse Stuttgart, one of the most successful special interest media houses in Europe with Auto Motor und Sport magazine as its flagship, lie in the Montafon. Starting with the successful Silvretta Classic, the event specialists at MPS expanded the concept to a total of three classic car rallies: In addition to the Silvretta Classic, the Paul Pietsch Classic in the Black Forest, the home of publishing house co-founder Paul Pietsch, and the Sachsen Classic on the roads of the Free State of Bavaria make up the MPS rally trio.
For the golden jubilee, Motor Presse Stuttgart is opening a particularly well-stocked museum on wheels. The oldest car is a Bentley Le Mans 4.5 Litre from 1929, while the youngest car is a Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet from the 993 series built in 1992. The 50th MPS classic car rally will be attended by some well-known participants: Klaus Ludwig, one of the most successful German racing drivers, will be competing in the Montafon. The three-time DTM champion will be driving a Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evo 2 (built in 1990) in the racing version of this classic car, which is extremely popular among collectors and in which "King Ludwig" won his DTM title in 1992. He was also the overall winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the most famous endurance race in the world, three times. At the Silvretta Classic, he will start with influencer Shareen Raudies in the "hot" passenger seat.
Former Swiss bobsleigh pilot Jean Wicki will start in a legendary Mercedes "Gullwing". In Sapporo in 1972, the man from Valais won the gold medal in the four-man bobsleigh and the bronze medal in the two-man bobsleigh with his team. The European champion and eight-time Swiss champion won the bronze medal in the four-man bobsleigh at the 1968 Olympic Games in Grenoble.
Among the other gems that Mercedes-Benz Classic is bringing to Vorarlberg from its large museum collection is a spectacular orange C 111 from 1970, when many gullwing fans were hoping that the prototype might one day go into series production. However, it remained a one-off to test engine concepts and set various world records.
Two-time women's rally world champion Isolde Holderied, a former overall winner of the Silvretta Classic, will be at the start. The rally driver from Bad Baiersoien in Upper Bavaria will be firing up a 1984 Toyota Celica Supra, thus building a bridge to the racing version of the current Supra, which has just competed in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. The cabaret artist Urban Priol and the multiple German rally champion Peter Göbel form a strong team.
Classic car fan Priol will start together with the rally pro in his Renault 15 TL (built in 1971). Actress Katharina Schubert will be on the road in a classic Italian Berlinetta: together with Otto Ferdinand Wachs, she will be competing in the Silvretta Classic in a Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (built in 1957) with the beautiful Pininfarina bodywork.
The first car will start on Thursday, July 4 at 3:01 pm in Partenen. The finish line after three day sections will be on Saturday, July 6 from 2.15 pm in Schruns.
Further information on the website.
