RALLYE DES ALPES
In fact, the excellent if chilly Rallye des Alpes visits several mountains in three European countries
Mountains in three countries
THE RALLYE INTERNATIONAL des Alpes has existed in several forms, starting in 1929 and reaching its peak (so to speak) as the French-based Coupe des Alpes in the 1950s and 1960s. Winning it became a major feather in the cap for works competition departments and, for snow per kilometre, the ‘Alpine’ was hard to beat.
The event faded away in the 1970s but since 1989 it has been run as a regularity rally for Historic cars taking in, as in its heyday, sections in France, Italy – and Switzerland, where the Rallye des Alpes is now centred. And when we say Historic, we really mean it: pre-1964 cars are encouraged, although cars built after that but before the end of 1971 can also be entered by invitation. All the cars must be in original factory specification, and entry will be refused to cars ‘showing visible traces of rust’. You have been warned…
A 1950s Sunbeam Alpine, so named for its success in past Alpines, would clearly be an optimum steed, but whatever you drive you’ll have over 1500km of mountainous stages over five days, mostly run on roads used for the original Coupes des Alpes.
The rally starts on 17 September by Lake Lucerne, ending that day at Davos where the World Economic Forum recently debated how rich we were all going to be. The route then nips into Italy by Lake Como and back out to Italian-speaking Lugano.
The local language then changes to German and finishes in French, the final day featuring a drive through the Jura mountains to the Vallée de Joux, where Swiss watchmakers ply their craft, and a long loop through France’s Haute-Savoie. After driving along Lake Geneva the Rallye des Alpes finishes at Vevey, where prizes will be awarded during the evening’s dinner. rallyedesalpes.com
‘Entry will be refused to cars “showing visible traces of rust”. You have been warned…’