They are regarded as the secret love of all motor sports fans. Experts wistfully remember reckless manoeuvres on narrow hairpin bends: mountain races have always had a unique charm all of their own, and this sprint discipline has a long history in Austria as well. The "International Großglockner Races“ of the 1930s are legendary. They will now be revived with the "Großglockner Grand Prix 2012“ and the "Alpen Challenge 2012“. On 19-22 September in Zell am See, at the foot of the highest Austrian mountain, fans of classic motor sports events can look forward to an exciting double bill with many racing classics.

The fascination is never-ending: 92 bends, 14 hairpin bends and a climb of 1300 metres over the 15 kilometres of the spectacular Großglockner Hochalpenstrasse between Ferleiten and Fuscher Toerl make the Großglockner Grand Prix a tough challenge for man and machine. On Thursday and Friday, a training round and three competition rounds (carried out as regularity tests) will determine the winner on a track which the design engineer Ferdinand Porsche raced in the 1930s and which Porsche later used as a test track. Fifty pre-war cars, five Veritas vehicles and 20 racing cars from the 1950s and 1960s will be on the starting grid. The Hochalpenstrasse will be closed during the mountain race. However fans who are early enough can take up places in the designated areas along the track and experience events close up.

Porsche will of course be there at the starting line. In the drivers' paddock, Porsche Classic will provide detailed information about the availability of Porsche Classic Genuine Parts and about the maintenance and restoration of classic Porsche vehicles. Porsche Exclusive & Tequipment specialists will display several show vehicles and provide advice on personalisation options at Porsche. The Porsche Museum will also showcase itself in the drivers' paddock in Ferleiten, and is sending several vehicles to the race. Driver’s Selection by Porsche Design will round off the diverse offerings with a large selection of Porsche accessories in the Event Truck.

In parallel to the mountain race, the "Alpen Challenge" will take place on Friday and Saturday. At this Oldtimer Rally, which will be held as a regularity test, the focus will be on the pleasure of driving through the wonderful scenery. The two stages are 170 and 160 kilometres long and both start and end in Zell am See, leading along the entire Großglockner Hochalpenstrasse (48 kilometres), through the Land of Salzburg, Kaernten and the Hohe Tauern National Park. Sixty vehicles from model years 1920 to 1980 will be taking starter's orders. More information can be found at www.grosser-bergpreis.com.