The Grand Prix of Austria on the Rechberg attracts the best mountain racing drivers from all over Europe
258 participants from 16 nations come to the Almenland
Organizing team expects a huge crowd of fans
The Rechbergrennen, which has been held on the Rechberg in the Almenland region since 1972 and is being held for the 51st time this year, is one of the most important motorsport events in Austria and is obviously incredibly popular with the teams.
From historic vehicles and brand-new touring cars to brute formula cars, everything is represented that delights the motorsport heart.
258 entries were received by the organizers up to the last second of the entry deadline: “Some teams made it really exciting, because we knew they were coming, but the entry didn’t arrive. But now we can proudly say that we are one of the biggest hill climb races in Europe!” said a visibly delighted Helmut Schöpf, race director at the Rechberg.
The organizing trio Mario Klammer, Peter Eibisberger and Christian Ferstl add: “The fact alone that we are welcoming drivers from 16 nations shows just how famous and sought-after our beautiful race track is throughout Europe. And everything is in place for our 51st race on the Rechberg. There will be even more entertainment for the fans in the form of the renowned DJ Rene de Kleijn in the Lackner Reith between the two races on Sunday.”
A look at the entry statistics
Total number of entries: 258
EHC (European Championship Modern) 70
HHC (European Championship Historical) 40
16 nations
Austria (161)
Czech Republic (26), Slovenia (21), Italy (11), Germany (7), Slovakia (4), Croatia (5), Poland (5), Switzerland (4), France (3), Hungary (3), Spain (3), Bulgaria (2), North Macedonia (1), San Marino (1), Serbia (1).
And the entry list in category 2 features big names from the European mountain elite:
Christian Merli (ITA), Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta (ESP), Christoph Lampert (AUT), Hermann Waldy (AUT), Fausto Bormolino (ITA), Kevin and Sebastian Petit (FRA)… just to name a few. Plus Tanja Floss (AUT), Alexander Frank (AUT), Christian and Sigrid Ferstl (AUT) and Lukas Studeny (CZE).
There is an extremely good and fast starting field this year, especially in the touring car entry list. “We’ve never had such a collection of top mountain drivers on the Rechberg!” explains a visibly proud Peter Greiter, the event’s driver liaison officer.
And indeed, the Who’s Who of Category 1 has called:
PF1: Track record holder Karl Schagerl (AUT) is being chased by the likes of:
Ronnie Bratschi (CZE), Dan Michel (CEZ), Niki Zlatkov (AUT), Reto Meisel (SUI), Milan Bubnic (SLO), Igor Stefanovski (MKD), Domagoj Perekovic (CRO) and Grzegorz Rozalski (POL) – he is coming to the Almenland in a 1,000 hp (!) Mitsubishi…
The Austrians Felix Pailer, Rupert Schwaiger and Franz Kogler also want to be among the front runners. Of course, last year’s fastest lady will also be there. Kerstin Taus is already looking forward to her performance and is coming to the Almenland well prepared.
PF2: Peter Probhard (AUT), Jörg Weidinger (DEU), Martin Jerman (CEZ), Niko Pulic (CRO) Karol Krupa (POL), Kevin Raith (AUT), Thomas Strasser (AUT), Andre Würcher (AUT) are probably the fastest in this class and definitely good for a top position in the overall touring car standings.
PF3: Austria is strongly represented here by, among others: Didi Sternad, Christian Schweiger, Hermann Blasl, Jürgen Halbartschlager, Patrick Trammer, Heiko Fiausch, Andreas Miletich, Herbert Perwein and local hero Michael Auer. There will be strong competition from Marek Rybnicek (CZE), O “Play (ITA) and Milovan Vesnic (SRB).
PF4: As a local hero, Bernd Mayer wants to achieve a top result in his home race. But it’s not just his own (Austrian) ranks that are facing headwinds, with Michi Emsenhuber, Dieter Holzer, Norbert Strasser senior and Stefan Datzreiter. International competitors in this class include Bostjan Basa (SLO), Pavel Shenkov (BUL) and Matija Jurisic (CRO), the reigning European champion in category 1.
PF5: Chris-Andre Mayer is the hunted here. The man from Tulwitz naturally wants to perform well in front of his friends and fans at his home race. Some will be up against it, such as Luis Antonio Penido Lopez (ESP), Kai Neu (GER), Manfred Suppan (AUT) and Kilian Mandl (AUT), who is chasing good times on the Rechberg for the first time this year.
PF6: Victoria Schütz (AUT) puts her Golf GTI through its paces and wants to leave many a man in her wake. But with Rene Auner, Klaus Demuth, Stefan Franischen and a few other young guns, she has strong male competition.
Voices of the drivers
Christoph Lampert (fastest Austrian in 2024): “Poah, yes, I don’t know what to say, but the Rechberg is one of my favorite mountains on the race calendar. The euphoric welcome you get there, how the fans go wild when you ride up there – that’s something really special. Not to mention the return trip. It certainly won’t be easy this year. We have a new car and not much experience with it yet. That’s why I’m just going to let the training on Saturday come to me. Then a good analysis and max attack for Sunday!”
Karl Schagerl (touring car record holder, Motorsport Personality of the Year 2022): “We’re still working on the final set-up of my car, but I’m already looking forward to the Rechberg. I like the track and I thank the organizers for their commitment. It would be a shame if the Rechberg didn’t exist. The atmosphere from the many fans alone is so motivating that riding the Rechberg is a must. My goal is to be the fastest touring car again. My team, my car and I – we are ready!”
Sigrid and Christian Ferstl (a very fast couple from Eastern Styria): “This is our third time competing on the Rechberg. Although we’ve been active since 2016, it wasn’t until 2023 that it worked out. We’ll be there again this year with our formula cars. And we’re really looking forward to our home race, the fans and the unique atmosphere that always prevails.”
Felix Pailer (a Rechbergrennen without him? Unthinkable!): I probably had the biggest and most emotional success of my career here on the Rechberg…the victory in 2007. It will stay with me forever. Since then, the Rechberg has been one of my absolute favorite routes. My goal is to finish in the top 3 – that would be really nice. I’m sure the fans will cheer me up the mountain…and then I’ll be even faster!”
Rupert Schwaiger (Porsche glowers in a class of their own): “It’s amazing what the organizers have put together again this year! Now it’s our turn as drivers and we’ll do our bit to make it a success. I think I have a good chance of a top place, my car is perfectly prepared by my son as always and I’m highly motivated. The best part is always the drive back down to the valley…the joy and emotion that spills from the fans into the car is pure goosebumps every time!”
Kerstin Taus (rider and team manager): “After my success last year as the fastest lady, I am clearly fully motivated. The last few weeks have been tough. We had several projects on the go. Among other things, the two races for the Hillclimb Rally Cup, which my dad drives, and of course the preparations for the Rechberg. I will be at the wheel myself on this iconic track, because the feeling here on our home circuit is indescribable. What do I want? The same feeling as last year when my name is called out as the fastest lady at the Flower Ceremony. It won’t be easy, but with the help of the fans, I’ll give it my all!”
Hermann Waldy (formula hunter from Carinthia): “Do you see my smile? It’s such a pleasure for me to race up the mountain here on the Rechberg in front of tens of thousands of fans. What’s more, an incredible number of fast guys and girls from all over Europe come here.
I want to be the fastest Austrian – that’s my goal. This year is very interesting because I have a new car. We haven’t had much time for testing and now we have to see how the training goes. And then use these findings to give it our all on Sunday.”
The ultimate hill climb on the Rechberg will be held from April 25 to 27, 2025 as the second round of the
FIA European Hillclimb Championship (modern and historic). In addition, the Austrian National Mountain Championship (modern and historic) and the Slovenian Mountain Championship (modern and historic) will also be held.
Information for fans – constantly updated, of course – is available on the homepage www.rechbergrennen.co.at, as well as on the social media channels of Facebook and Instagram under #rechbergrennen.
