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Bernina Gran Turismo Newsletter - July 2017
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UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
Rhätische Bahn joins
Bernina Gran Prix Hillclimb
with historic trains
Photo curtesy of Rhätische Bahn AG
Dear friends of the Bernina Gran Turismo Hillclimb!

Since all members of the planning committee have now introduced themselves, it is as the head of the committee my great pleasure to announce a remarkable new step in the future of the race:

The Rhaetian Railway and Bernina Gran Turismo have agreed on operating two historic trains during the Bernina Gran Turismo weekend from 22nd to 24th of September!

Besides the obvious advantages of having a train line right to the finish of the race, now spectators of classic trains and spectators of the classic car race can celebrate together a unparalleled weekend of historic mobility at the Bernina Pass.

We are extremely thankful to Rhätische Bahn Director Dr. Renato Fasciati, his team of professionals and also thanks to the support of Mr. Stefan Engler, the chairman of the board of Rhätische Bahn. Not to forget Ständerat Dr. Martin Schmid and his team who also supported us incredibly in this venture to bring Bernina Gran Turismo to the next level.

The drivers and guests of the event will already be entertained on Friday afternoon with a ride in the one historic train to the Pass and Alp Grüm.
Photo curtesy of Rhätische Bahn AG
The general public can start on Saturday and Sunday with ten extra trains accomplishing the normal Bernina schedule during the racing time from St. Moritz to the Ospizio Bernina and further on to Poschiavo and back on regular RhB fairs with the following historic trains & coaches:

23.09.2017 (The Yellow Train)
Ab St. Moritz 09:15 ---------------- An Ospizio Bernina 09:58
Ab Pontresina 12:15 -------------- An Ospizio Bernina 12:49
Ab St. Moritz 15:25 ---------------- An Ospizio Bernina 16:17

Ab Ospizio Bernina 10:50 -------- An Pontresina 11:23
Ab Ospizio Bernina 13:53 -------- An St. Moritz 14:35
A Ospizio Bernina 18:08 ---------- An St. Moritz 18:48

23.09.2017 (Bernina Crocodile)
Ab St. Moritz 11:15 --------------- An Ospizio Bernina 12:09
Ab Pontresina 14:25 ------------- An Ospizio Bernina 15:10

Ab Ospizio Bernina 13:00 ------- An Pontresina 13:40
Ab Ospizio Bernina 16:00 ------- An Pontresina 16:45

24.09.2017 (The Yellow Train)
Ab St. Moritz 08:25 -------- An Ospizio Bernina 09:12 ------- An Poschiavo 10:00
Ab Poschiavo 13:55 ------- Ab Alp Grüm 14:48 --------------- An St. Moritz 15:48

24.09.2017 (Bernina Crocodile)
Ab Pontresina 09:15 ------------- An Ospizio Bernina 09:58
Ab Ospizio Bernina 10:50 ------ An Pontresina 11:23

One historic train will go to Poschiavo to allow spectators to attend the Award Ceremony.

 
Photo curtesy of Rhätische Bahn AG
The history of the Rhätische Bahn is dating back to the late 19th century when brave and forward minded engineers developed a plan to bring public transport to the Engadine valleys. For sure without this endeavour the automobile and its roads may not have been encouraged to become a guest in this wonderful Swiss place.

To our knowledge there is nowhere in the world a historic hillclimb which partners up with historic trains, let alone to have a parallel route towards the pass. We feel honoured to team up with this Swiss legend of transportation during the Bernina event. And who knows where it may all lead us in the coming years?

Did we speak about UNESCO World Heritage territory? Please read more about our partners on https://www.rhb.ch/en/home and http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1276/.

It is indeed breath-taking to imagine historic trains and historic cars in the autumn sun (yes, this year we will have sun on the race weekend) with the panorama of the Engadine mountains and especially the Bernina behind us.

For those already registered: we are delighted to see new faces this year and for those who have not enrolled: please get going! During summer, the remaining spaces in the starting grid will surely fill up.
I was in England to race at Chateau Impney last weekend. Very nice event, even though in my case the driver was the limitation, not the car. Lovely people, great environment, important cars, fun racing. We all had just wished that after 40-50 seconds with four runs it was not all over yet.

At the Bernina we will have again six runs this year, in two blocks on mornings and evenings and that is each way the 5.7 km with 448 meters vertical height and more than 50 curves.

Enough curves for showing your skills on the hill. Unthreatened by other competitors, it is you against yourself and the mountain road. Expect the same standards as last year, we even sharpened safety concept together with the race director.

There is no safer way to race your classic vehicle on the mountain and maybe no more action on a weekend out there as well!
Stay tuned for more news during the summer. You might be surprised what else will be going on!

In this sense I wish you all a good start into the summer break. The time of waiting for Bernina is done to some 70 days and I close this newsletter also this time with Steve McQueen: “Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.“

See you on the Bernina,
Yours,

Florian Seidl
www.bernina-granturismo.com
Copyright © 2017 Internationale St. Moritzer Automobilwochen AG, All rights reserved.


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