The revival of the traditional Alpine race also in 2024 / WRC

Last year, a spectacular show celebrated Austria’s only World Rally Championship, the Alpine journey, which took place 50 years ago in 1973 with the participation of the entire world rally community. The organizers of last year’s revival were “Friends of the Driftwinkel” under the leadership of Christian Weitgasser and Jörg Pattermann together with Rudolf Wallner, who was also responsible for the 2024 route last year.

Last year we followed in the footsteps of this regular public meeting mainly in the south and west of Lower Austria. After the completion of this revival, international and national participants expressed the wish for this commemoration to be held once every year. Based on this positive feedback, it was decided to organize a similar event again this year. The only route to the Waldviertel, where we traveled 51 years ago, with a start and finish point instead of Baden, now Wachauring in Melk, was changed.

This time the districts of Melk, Krems, Krems-Land, Zwettl and Freistadt are included. The rally is approximately 460 kilometers long and consists of eleven special stages with a length of 210 kilometers. About 30 kilometers of this will be run on gravel roads from the past, and there will also be two special stages on the Wachauring. Almost all stages of the Alpine journey in 1973 will be completed.

This revival will be run again for two days, like a regular rally with the cars that were used in the rally at that time. These are cars from the years 1910 to 1973, as well as a separate class from 1974 to 1985. Another “Youngtimers” class from 1986 to 1990 is also planned. (Sports Press Service)

Schedule:

August 18, 2024: Closing date for entries
13 September 2024: Management and technical acceptance
In the evening there is an official reception with many stars of the 1973 Alpine expedition and many films by Helmut Deimel.
14. September 2024:
9:01 am Start of the first stage in Melk
12:00 – 1:00 pm: Mandatory rest in Zwettel and buffet
1:01 pm: Start of stage 2
5:00 pm: Finish with stage 2 at Wachauring in Melk
Later, two Special High Stages will be run on Wachauring
15. September 2024:
9:01 am: Start of stage 3
12:00 pm: Finish with stage 3 at Lüberegg Castle
3:00 pm: Award ceremony