3rd July 2024
The fifth in Rally the Globe’s much-loved Carrera series produced both familiar and first time winners. Simon and Juanita Brien took top honours in a fiercely contested Classic category in their exquisite 1963 Jaguar E-type while the Pre-War category was dominated by Martin and Olivia Hunt in their 1937 Frazer Nash-BMW 328.
For Simon Brien it was back-to-back Carrera victories after he won last year’s Carrera Riveria but it was the first with wife Juanita on the maps. For the all-conquering Hunts it was an even more impressive hat-trick of Carrera category wins.
After spectacular successes on the Iberian Peninsula and through the wonderful landscapes of both France and Italy, this time the Carrera Bavaria treated participants – all driving iconic, pre-1977 cars – to ten unforgettable days exploring the smooth asphalt roads and National Parks of southern Germany.
The meticulously planned 1,355-mile (2,170kms) route took crews through the lakes and valleys of the Black Forest and on, via the shores of Lake Constance, to the dramatic mountains spanning the Austrian border.
As a convivial ‘Carrera’ category rally, the entire event was set on Tarmac surfaces with the emphasis also on fine dining and great camaraderie as well as entertaining excursions to wineries, motor museums and other places of outstanding interest along the cleverly-conceived way.
Spicing up the journey, nine Speed Tests at private venues such as the Porsche Experience Facility at the old Hockenheim Grand Prix circuit and 25 road-based Regularities added the competitive excitement, together with numerous Time Controls to keep the convoy in order.
With the pre-event paperwork and technical checks completed, 28 intrepid crews headed out from the impressive Schlosshotel in Kronberg im Taunus towards a mid-rally rest day in the spa town of Bad Wörishofen. With crews and cars revitalised it was onto the finish and mountain panorama of the Kempinski Berchtesgaden.
As usual the entry list featured a mouth-watering cocktail of vintage and classic machinery with the mighty German automotive industry well-represented on home soil by four Porsche 911s, two Mercedes plus a pair of dual nationality BMW-engined Frazer Nashes.
British marques were also out in strength with AC, Aston Martin, Austin-Healey, Bentley, Jaguar and Morgan to the fore while eye-catching Ferrari, Lancia and Maserati models provided the Italian exotica. A V8 hearted Mustang added some American muscle while a Datsun 240Z trailblazed the arrival of Japan as an industrial heavyweight.
Right from the outset, the competition in the Classic category was intense. Clint and Dawn Smith set the early pace in their gleaming 1961 Jaguar XK150 but, by the end of day three, the Brien’s black E-type led by the slenderest of margins with the white 1965 Porsche 911 of Steve and Jenny Verrall now hot on the heels of the two jostling Jaguars.
As the brewing battle reached the stunning backdrop of snow-capped mountains, the pacey Porsche had edged ahead and, after a slow start, the 1973 Ford Escort Mexico of Ean and Alison Lewin was also right in the mix and adding further to the excitement.
With just eight seconds of time penalties separating the fast four at the front, the final day’s quartet of crucial Speed Tests staged at the Saalfelden Experience Centre and Brandlhof Driving Centre high up in the Alps would prove decisive. Pushing a little too hard, the Porsche spun across a stop line costing the Verralls vital seconds and ensuring victory for the E-type crew.
“We came here with no expectations but today has been a great day,” admitted a delighted Simon Brien. “My son Jack and I have done a few events together, and we won the Carrera Riviera last year and the Generations Rally this year, but it’s my first Carrera event with Juanita, and she did unbelievably well. It’s been another superb Rally the Globe event with a great route, brilliant organisation and fantastic hotels.”
With little serious opposition among the Pre-War entry and eventually only two finishers, the Hunts led throughout and, instead, focused their attentions on trying to beat the Classics – a feat they almost pulled off.
“This time round, there wasn’t a lot of vintage competition but I wasn’t content to sit on my laurels,” explained Martin after clocking up his third Carrera win on the bounce. “Spurring us on we set our sights on beating Simon and Juanita, but they pipped us by one second in the end.”
As well as the overall winners, two discretionary awards were presented at the prize-giving dinner. The Spirit of the Rally going to Tomasz Dzitko and Bea Siwek who faced huge problems just finding a car to get them to the start line but still completed the adventure… albeit in an unclassified Nissan GTR!
The Against All Odds trophy was handed to Brian and Catherine Scowcroft, who also had a difficult road to the start line, after their scarlet 1972 Ferrari Daytona broke down on the ferry leaving the UK. Resolutely they got the problem fixed and joined the rally, albeit two days after the start.
Rally Director Fred Gallagher was delighted with the fifth Rally the Globe Carrera, which had clearly been very well received by those partaking. “There has been a wonderful spirit among the crews from the moment we left Kronberg all of the way to the end. We have seen some amazing scenery, had great competition and enjoyed a lot of fun along the way,” said Gallagher.
Clerk of the Course Mark Appleton, who had expertly overseen the sporting side of the event, was equally pleased. He said: “The Regularities and Tests have been superb. We’ve driven some great roads and visited some phenomenal circuits. The competition throughout incredibly close and yet always friendly and I congratulate all those who joined us on what was a truly amazing Carrera Bavaria.”
Looking ahead, Rally the Globe has already announced that its sixth Carrera event will see a return to Spain next summer and entries for the 2025 Carrera Andalucia will open shortly. In the meantime, all those keen to reserve themselves a place on what is sure to be another hugely popular event can pre-register their interest.
Indeed, Rally the Globe’s calendar is filling up fast. Next spring’s Generations Rally is already at full capacity with a reserve list in place and only a few places remain available for the 2025 running of the much-loved Vintage Shamrock. For those seeking even more adventure, entries for Rally the Globe’s incredible Islands of Japan Marathon are also now open.
Next up, though, the hard-working Rally the Globe team returns to the astonishing wonder of the Alps in late September for the start of the Austria to Athens Challenge – an incredible two-week driving adventure through the less-explored parts of the Balkans, for which the last few remaining spots are still available.
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