In only the second year after its rebirth, the Kitzbüheler Alpenrallye (5-8 June) was a roaring success with 50% more entries than in 2023 and some 188 cars tackling the challenging Austrian event.
There were high spirits as exceptional weather lasted throughout after MD of Kitzbühel Tourism, Dr Viktoria Veider-Walser, kicked off the rally at the foot of the Hahnenkamm.
The route ran via Felbertauern and Lienz among others and took in the spectacular Grossglockner en route.
Top dog in the blue riband Sport Plus class was the 1955 Jaguar XK140 of Hubertus and Hannelore Suppan, who bested Florian Kunz and Gerald Hegenbart in their 1960 Aston Martin DB4. Third place was taken by Nils Pfeiffer and Philadelphia Djatschenko in their 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SLR while 2023 winners Alexander Linz and Michaela Beznaus, just missed the podium to come fourth in their police 1972 Alfa Romeo Giulia.
The Sports class, which permit electronic rally aids, was won for the second consecutive year by Stefan and Melanie Wirtgen in a 1958 Nercedes-Benz 300SL. The pair took a comfortable vistory ahead of Stefan and Sabine Kunze in a BMW 1802 and Daniel Haffa and Marie Junkersdorf in a 1973 Porsche 911S.
Another back-to-back winner came in the Classic Trophy with the crew of Thomas Kohut and Heike Kiess again in their Mercedes-Benz 190SL They were ahead of another Mercedes, the 280SE of Peter Krieglsteiner and Thomas Linhardt, with Nadja Kiess and Alexander Stark’s VW Beetle cabrio in third.
The 38th edition of the Kitzbühel Alpine Rally will take place on 4-7June 2025.
