We’re ready to climb the mountains at the Arosa ClassicCar 2019

This weekend, the Swiss Alps will come alive to the sound of racing cars speeding up (and down) the hill at the Arosa ClassicCar 2019. Classic Driver is joining the Alpine automotive bonanza together with the IWC Racing Team and its star driver Bernd Schneider…

If you own a classic sports car and Alpine road races are your thing, then you’re probably currently on the way to the Swiss mountain village of Arosa for its annual hill climb. In recent years, the Arosa ClassicCar has evolved into a significant event in the historic racing calendar, the 7.3km road that stretches between Langwies and Arosa delighting even the most seasoned of drivers with its 76 corners and 422 metres of elevation change.

After last year’s edition became an uphill battle against the rain, this year’s drivers, visitors and organisers will be hoping for some dry running in Friday’s practice and the weekend’s races. As always, the entrants will be divided into three categories – uniformity, competition and demonstration – and we’re already itching to see mythical racing cars such as the Maserati 250F, Lancia Delta Integrale Group A and Ferrari 512M tearing their way up the course.

Once again, a highlight of this year’s Arosa ClassicCar will be the demonstration runs of the gorgeous Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’ entered by the IWC Racing Team. After former Formula 1 pilot Karl Wendlinger took the wheel in 2018, this year it’s the turn of the legendary German touring car driver Bernd Schneider. Before the start of the racing, we spent the morning with the five-time DTM champion and IWC’s stunning brace of ‘Gullwings’ exploring the track and the spectacular roads around Arosa.

“The thing I especially love about the Arosa ClassicCar is that there’s a twisty downhill stretch, which makes it very challenging but also very special for the drivers,” Schneider explained. “Of course, the roads in this scenic landscape are all fantastic. But for me, it’s also important at such events to see so many different cars and meeting many different people. The Arosa ClassicCar is the perfect place to do this.”

We’d like to wish Bernd Schneider, the IWC Racing Team and all the participants at this year’s Arosa ClassicCar a glorious weekend of racing. You can keep an eye on all the action from Arosa by following our Instagram channel or return to Classic Driver on Monday to read our full review.