Day 2

We were reluctant to leave the splendours of the Swissotel behind, but duty called, and we were on the road shortly after 8 o’clock. A mere nine kilometres down the road we found our first Regularity of the day, and it turned out to be a cracker, pleasing us equally on both sides of the car. A pleasant run through the usual Czech traffic-free roads took us to a coffee stop at a very welcoming golf resort.

The following timed section had quite a few more junctions than seen up to now so we spent quite a bit of time ensuring the speeds set were appropriate to the conditions, safe yet enjoyable.

Our selected lunch spot had proved to be difficult to contact in the run up to the recce, but our local helper Pavel saved the day, and we got a very bright welcome from the proprietress and chef, along with her daughter and boyfriend, both fluent in English, and working in the local agriculture industry. We expect an interesting spread of local delicacies in the heart of the countryside next June.

Having had such a successful morning we weren’t prepared for such a difficult beginning to the afternoon. Long and time-consuming road works led us to a string of unsuitable Regularity roads along the German border that were either too fast, too busy, or both. We retraced our steps and started again finding a short, but interesting section on smooth asphalt roads through a forest.

Our last afternoon in Czechia finished with an 800-metre closed road test on private land and a Regularity through open farmland taking us to the frontier with Austria. An abundance of beauty parlours and nail salons before the border persuaded us that such things are cheaper in the former country. Our hilltop hotel was only six kilometres into Austria but already we were aware that things looked quite a lot different.

Day 3

Setting off into Upper Austria it became immediately apparent that the country was considerably more manicured than what had gone before. There were more hills but not yet the mountains that we knew lay ahead in the days to come. Suitable Regularities were certainly easier to find and we were somewhat spoiled for choice. Our preferred morning coffee stop turned out to be in a maze of narrow streets so we carried on until the town of Pierbach, where a mere 400 metres after the end of a section we found a wonderful Gasthof with more than adequate parking. The young owner was more than happy to welcome the event.

Day 5

Today was very much a day of two halves. The first part saw us going into the high Austrian Alps where there is almost always only a single road going from valley to valley, so not suitable for Regularities but superb for scenery. Along the way we found a number of distractions; an early morning Passage Control at over 1800 metres before a great run south over the Radstädter Tauernpass, known for its breathtaking scenery and historical importance, having been a vital route through the mountains since Roman times.

After descending the Katschberg Pass our late morning stop was in a town of great motoring importance, Gmünd. This is where the first cars bearing the Porsche name were built between 1944 and 1950. There is a small but fascinating museum on the site and we have built time into the schedule for those who wish to explore the exhibits or go for a coffee nearby.

Now feeling the need for some competition, we entered the Turracher Höhe area where we set our first Regularity of the day on a splendidly twisty toll road that finished exactly at the planned location for our lunch halt. We can confirm that a Wiener Schnitzel tastes especially good in the sunshine at 1900 metres above sea level.

The roads and scenery thereafter were both sensational, so we kept the schedule relaxed to allow participants to enjoy both in a leisurely manner before a couple of short Regularities on the way into Velden and our luxury hotel on the shores of the Wörthersee, our home for the next two nights.

Day 7

Having spent our “rest” day inspecting hotels, arranging route notes and waypoints, and planning the four days to come, Jim and I were happy to be back on the road early Tuesday morning.

We had a great start to the day, remarking that the first Regularity was probably the best of the event so far. Just after the finish line, our proposed morning coffee stop was a beautifully located Gasthof with a very enthusiastic proprietor. One final Austrian section followed before we approached the border with Slovenia on a very minor road. The border posts on both sides were completely deserted as we entered the event’s fourth country.

It never ceased to amaze us how the look and feel of our surroundings could change so rapidly when crossing a border but again they did. Our proposed lunch halt proved unsuitable, but we found a suitable alternative nearby and fully refreshed we tackled an early afternoon pair of Regularities. Our afternoon stop was a restaurant perched on a hillside overlooking a beautiful lake. Private parking and a very welcoming family made sure we left feeling this was an ideal spot for the rally to pause.

From there we had only a Test venue at a driving school to look at before arriving at our overnight halt in Rogaška Slatina. This elegant town is famous for glass production but even more so for its natural mineral water which has the world’s highest concentration of magnesium. After sampling, Jim decided he prefers that metal in his wheels and I stuck with tonic!

Day 8

After the joys of Day 7 today was a bit trickier. Things started well with a decent Regularity, a well-placed café, and a fine Test in another driving school.

Our chosen lunch venue turned out to be at the bottom of a ski jump and the young owner promised to serve the rally a light, but typically Slovenian, lunch.

We struggled with Regularities in the afternoon, some being too busy, others too bumpy, and some just too narrow. After much toing and froing we managed to find something suitable for a Carrera before we bypassed the capital, Ljubljana, in search of a final Test venue of the day. Here motorcyclists were completing their obligatory biennial safety course and travelling considerably slower than we expect our more enthusiastic competitors to be doing next June.

There only remained a pleasant run through the countryside to the Croatian border, where again we didn’t need to stop, and the descent into Opatija. The sun was shining, the Adriatic deep blue, and the rally hotel superb. It was a great end to the day.

Day 9

Today was planned to be full day tour of the Istrian Peninsula, but a chance find made us change our minds. The first Regularity, 12 kilometres outside Opatija, was excellent and just the right length for such an event. A second, slightly shorter one followed, after which Jim spotted a good-looking establishment over his right shoulder. We stopped and found a newly-opened boutique hotel and restaurant. Thinking this a great venue for a coffee stop we met the owners who were delighted to hear our plans.

Encouraged we headed south towards a kart track on the outskirts of Puka, which I suspected would be a simple touristic pay and drive facility. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Neither of us had ever seen such a place. The track, while not wide enough for full scale racing, was encouragingly long and rose and fell over a grassy hillside. The staff were superb, and we will run a pair of Tests that we are sure will be one of the event’s highlights.

It was now that we changed the plan and decided to return to the morning hotel where we decided the event would have lunch and situate the end of day Time Control. From there we followed the Adriatic coast for 35 kilometres back to Opatija. It was a beautiful drive, and competitors will have the chance to stop at their leisure and explore the many bays, coves and seaside villages. An excellent conclusion to a short but terrific day.

Day 10

Our final morning started with a run to the north and east round the coast and passing through Rijeka, where the contrast between the adjacent commercial and leisure boats struck us as unusual. We then climbed through countryside overlooking the sea to a kart track that Jim thinks will make for a challenging and enjoyable Test.

Our first Regularity will be the famous Platak special stage, one of the highlights of Croatia’s World Rally Championship event. This twisty downhill section was traffic free for us and will be a good opportunity for crews to fight for those final seconds.

A final, lakeside coffee stop came ahead of a pair of relatively short sections before we joined the highway for the final run into the country’s capital Zagreb. The splendid Esplanade Hotel will be our finish venue. Jim and I ended our trip in more modest surroundings but considered our trip to have been a job well done.

We both look forward to seeing you in Prague.