The LEGENDS GRAND PRIX combines the unforgettable touring car and single-seater races of the 1970s and 1980s on the Salzburgring with the automo- tive future. And that against the magnificent backdrop of the cultural city of Salzburg with its mountains in the background and its lakes in the vicinity.
The Salzburgring track, opened in 1969, can be regarded as a legend itself. In early days, heroes like Graham Hill, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jacky Ickx, and, of course, Jochen Rindt and Niki Lauda raced here. Rindt celebrated the last victory of his short but stellar career at Salzburgring on August 30, 1970 in F2 – six days before the tragic accident happened at Monza.The 4255 meters long Salzburgring is surrounded by wide natural grandstands in beautiful scenery.
Starting with the first Legends Grand Prix in 2025 (Oct. 2-5) a new era of vintage race car events will be presented. It will focus on demonstration runs but no races to minimize the danger of damage to historic machinery which witnessed the greatest times of racing in the 20th century.
DRIVERS & VEHICLES
To provide owners of high-quality and valuable original racing cars the opportunity to showcase their treasures at LGP, appropriate classes are formed, and demons- tration runs are held. This allows, for example, owners of historic Formula 1 cars to participate.
There will be classes for pre-war racing cars, formula cars, touring cars, sports cars, and racing cars – spanning from the 1920s to the early 1980s, including the DRM era. A total of 250 starting positions will be allocated, and owners of the respective vehicles can apply for them starting from October 2023.
DESIGN of the PADDOCK AREA
Apart from the pit facility, where current racing trucks can also be parked (out of direct sight), there will be no modern vehicles on the racetrack premises. This is, of course, with the exception of the necessary support vehicles and future concept cars. For each racing vehicle, a 5 x 5 m pagoda tent will be provided in the paddock area, allowing ample space for equipment, seating, etc. Each tent will have a vintage-style information board with details about the driver and the car.
In addition, the paddock area will be adorned with vintage racing transporters, service vehicles, emergency vehicles, and other appropriate vehicles. Alongside a historic petrol station, the- re will be a dedicated space for families with children, resembling a historic “fairground.” Children will have their own races with pedal or soapbox cars.
Modern cars, vans, trailers, and service vehicles will be parked in a separate, secured area outside the premises, and a continuous shuttle service will be available for the participants.
Participant catering will be provided in a separate tent, offering various dishes and drinks throug- hout the day. A bus shuttle service using vintage buses will be arranged to transport participants to and from partner hotels.
Museums and manufacturers will have the op- portunity to showcase their vehicles, including future concepts or concept cars, and their history in special tents or pavilions.
Joachim Althammer, CEO of Legends GP Inc.,
Edelweiß Classic and the historic Rossfeld hillclimb says:
“In the midterm, we want to establish the Legends GP among the top five classic series in Europe. Entries of renowned events in Britain, Germany, Italy, and France shall be present in Salzburg as well. The region of Salzkammergut just 20 kms outside the city of Salzburg around historic Salzburgring can offer everything to participants and visitors in terms of culture, astonishing landscape and culinary experience”.
Similar to the Goodwood festival, Legends GP will showcase a historical fair which will present a complete setup including carousels, pagoda tents and sales stands. Local culture will be embedded in the event to give visitors the chance to travel through earlier times in a pleasant and convenient atmosphere. To experience an era again is therefore the philosophy behind Legends GP.
Arno Zensen, head of sports Legends GP Inc. and former team principal of team Rosberg in DTM, adds:
“By organizing Legends GP we present a new event in historical context to enrich the international stage of vintage race cars. We expect up to 250 cars which will run on four days in eight categories from the 1920s to 1985 – from the legendary Silberpfeile of Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz to group 5 cars of Deutsche Rennsportmeisterschaft (DRM). At the same time, however, we open the window for glimpses into the automobile future by offering a stage for innovation to leading manufacturers. Thus, we focus on the combine of tradition with modern times”.
Report by legends-gp.com
