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The mountain is calling: Bernina Gran Turismo

Sir Stirling Moss once said: “If God had wanted us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit on pedals?” This is especially true when climbing a mountain. Just like at the Bernina Gran Turismo, which is taking place again this weekend. Everything you need to know about this classic highlight – including a livestream.

  • Text
    Marko Knab
  • Photos
    Bernina Gran Turismo

Heaven on earth? It has to be a winding Alpine road. More specifically: the rather incomparable Bernina Pass in combination with a classic sports car. Or rather, many sports cars chasing lap times and glory. Just like this weekend, when the Bernina Gran Turismo takes place between St. Moritz and Poschiavo – reviving the fascination of historic hill climbs.

The roots of the event date back to 1929, a time of change and fascination with technology. The aim of the first races was to attract visitors from all over the world to the Engadin in summer and celebrate the still young freedom of the automobile – because it was not until 1925 that Graubünden lifted the general ban on cars. The centerpiece of this automotive week was the legendary Bernina Hill Climb, a challenging course covering approximately 16.5 kilometers, from the valley near La Rösa up to the heights of the Bernina Pass. The event quickly established itself as one of the most challenging hill climbs in the Alps. And the big names came: mountain king Hans Stuck, Louis Chiron, and others fought for glory in 1929 and 1930 and triumphed in the Bernina Hill Climb.

2015 will see the grand comeback of the race as the Bernina Gran Turismo. Not as a nostalgic replica, but as an authentic evolution: curated, stylish, powerful.

Today, classics that have made history drive along the same route, over the same curves – and in doing so, write a new chapter.

Between La Rösa and the summit of the Bernina Pass, a space for encounters, precision, and emotion is created—on a route that is not only challenging but almost poetic. This is not about spectacle. This is about the soul. The organizers' aim is not to stage an event, but to curate an experience. Every vehicle has been selected. Every driver brings personality to the table. And every moment on the route counts. No grandstands are erected around the pass; there is only a small event area at the finish line. Man, machine, and mountain – it is this reduction that leaves room for the essentials. For drivers who feel. For spectators who understand.

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And best of all: this unique show featuring automotive stars such as the Bugatti Type 35, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB “Breadvan,” the Jaguar D-Type, and rally legends such as the Lancia Delta Integrale is completely free of charge – you just have to get up early if you want to watch. This is because during the Bernina Gran Turismo, the Bernina Pass road (main road 29) between Lagalb and La Rösa is closed to public traffic on Saturday and Sunday from 7:40 a.m. All further information for spectators – including a livestream – can be found at the following links.

→ Livestream

→ Visitor information

Marko Knab

Marko Knab

Journalist & Photographer
Life writes the best stories - and Marko Knab tells them in text and picture form. His focus: people & their very own stories and cars, motorsports and travel stories. He already worked for Motorsport-Total.com while completing his Bachelor's degree in German Language, followed by a brief stint at a local daily newspaper and a Master's degree in literature and cultural theory - and ramp.

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