for those with a head for numbers, the 52nd Rally des Alpes, held following a three-year hiatus, will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first great motor rally to take place in the Alps – the Austrian Alpenfahrt. But before you accuse us of boring you with numbers, remember that the Rallye des Alpes is one of the most highly regarded European historic events, which is as fun 
to take part in as it is challenging.

The 1910 Alpenfahrt started small but swiftly grew into a major rally, with manufacturers such as Fiat, Benz, Opel, Mercedes, Vauxhall, Audi, Darracq, Laurin & Klement, Daimler, Cadillac and Rolls-Royce battling hard for victory. The centenary event will undoubtedly be just as hard fought.

The FIVA Category A Rallye des Alpes has been running in its current form for the past 20 years, and is going from strength to strength. And so it should – the friendly event covers no more than 200 miles per day, and starts at Geneva. Then the cars head out to Interlaken via Haute-Savoie and its gentle cols.
After the mellow introduction the real rallying begins in the
Pas de Morgins, before heading for the Jaunpass and several other of the best passes, preceding the overnight stop in the beautiful Interlaken ski resort.

Each of the following four days is equally as challenging – and stunning – offering participants perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really experience the high points of the Alps from behind the wheel. Highlights include Grimsel, Furka, Saint-Gotthard, the Oberalp Pass to Andermatt (made famous by its appearance in the film Goldfinger), Appenzell and, on the final day, Bernina Pass and Pontresina to the end at St Moritz.

The Rallye des Alpes caters for participants of all levels of experience – and with that in mind, clerk of the course and ex-Austin-Rover motor sport manager John Davenport will be
on hand before and during the event to assist and advise. As 
a trans-Alpine adventure, few rallies come more complete, whatever the numbers…