Vintage car

July 20, 2018

A Renault 8 Gordini (left) and Maserati 3700 GTIS Sebring (right) compete during the Stoderzinken mountain stage of the Ennstal Classic 2018 classic car rally near Groebming, Austria, 20 July 2018. The three days classic car rally Ennstal Classic includes 450 km stages each day through the Austrian mountain landscape on asphaltic roads only. Since 1993 classic cars older than 1972 models can start in the Ennstal Classic rally with an entry fee of 2.500 Euros. Participants from 17 nations, including among others China, Australia, Mexico, Ireland and Japan, compete in the various special stages with prespecified speed averages, which are monitored by secret checkpoints.

The drivers and co-drivers are allowed to use mechanical time- and distance measuring devices to check the difference from the target time to prevent penalty points. Some drivers point out that the socializing factor is much more important than the sports and completion ambitions.

In 2018 the oldest classic car of the 238 competitors is a Bugatti 37A (70 horse power, 1496 ccm) from 1928. Classic cars of 51 car brands, among others Alvis, Auburn, Devin, Iso Rivolta, Riley, Lagonda, Siata, DKW, Ballot, AC Cobra and Talbot take part in the rally. German sports car manufacturer Porsche comes up with 43 cars, Jaguar with 30 vehicles, Italian Alfa Romeo with 22 and Mercedes Benz with 19 vintage cars. EPA-Jiji Press