Syd Stelvio Day 1 – Divonne-les-Bains to Valence – 392km
There was a definite autumnal feel to proceedings as the 2025 Classic Marathon got underway this morning in Divonne-les-Baines. For anyone unfamiliar with Div-les-Bes, it’s within shouting distance of Geneva, or if you don’t fancy yelling, an 80-euro taxi ride. Each way. With costs like that involved in visiting the Swiss corner, it’s no wonder we began proceedings on the French side of Lake Geneva. It also meant a shorter run to up to the Alps, which would largely provide the backdrop for the first day’s competition, as the rally headed towards Valence.
In fact, there were just 33 kilometres to the first regularity, the climb up to which was a slippery affair after constant overnight rain. The cloud clung to the slopes of the valleys, engulfing the mountainsides as the cars made their way up into the foothills of the alps, occasionally obscuring the road. The first competitive section of the event ended up being obscured as well, by a closed road that forced the regularity to be terminated after the first timing point. Post re-route the morning continued in a similar vein, descending and ascending the valleys, under leaden skies, before the first circuit test of the event ushered up a chance to blow out the cobwebs, though with its tarmac slippery under tread there was a certain amount of caution from the drivers as they went about their business of setting a time on two circulations of the Circuit Jura-Sud. Two of the gaggle of Porsche 911’s entered into this event would ultimately share the bragging rights for fastest around the track, with Thomas Koerner and Udo Schauss, and Julian Adams and Grant Edwards both stopping the watch at 2 minutes and 6 seconds, topping Class 6 and 7 respectively. It wasn’t just the 911’s that were quick though, in fact some were perhaps going a little slower than others, such as Matthew Polk and Amy Gould, though they were at least travelling under their own steam after being towed into scrutineering yesterday with an oil light showing on the dash. The oil light turned out to be a handbrake light and once released the 911 had a whole new lease of life. It’s easily done though, a fact that Dick Baines in car 32 will concur with.
A pair of regularities would follow the test, after a long link section that plotted a course through a variety of alpine towns and villages, as the road climbed and descended. The weather was switching from bright sunshine to cloud and mist almost as quickly as the cars could eat up the miles, and one competitor’s experience of the stunning surroundings could easily be very different from another’s. For a lot of crews on reg two though, there seemed to only be a dark cloud following them, as a series of tricky slots bamboozled most of the rally. First there was the classic ‘long way round a triangle’ at a junction, that actually routed the cars through a lay-by rather than keeping them on the road, and this was closely followed by a right turn into the undergrowth, with a timing point at the end of a track that had more in common with a trek through the jungle than a rally. Cars were travelling in all directions looking for the slot, but for those who managed to get it right they were rewarded for their faith in the road book by the sight of marshals Nick and Hazel Pullan, with a clock in one hand and hedge-trimmers in the other.
After all this there was another regularity that took the cars over the famous high pass of the Grand Colombier, with stunning views at the top and a tricky descent down through the forest and mist, with many a bicycle and motorcycle to dodge, before each crew was able to stop for a well-earned break from the car at lunch. After a chance to catch their breath, the afternoon would see a further two regularities being contested by this year’s crews, though there would be plenty of transit between them, such was the distance covered today.
The run up to the fifth regularity was one of the day’s highlights, with a sharp climb out of the L’Isère valley up to the spectacular balcony road of the Gorges du Nan. Anyone with an aversion to heights would not have been advised to look over the edge of the stone walls that lined the road, best to keep eyes on the road and avoid any oncoming traffic on the narrow tarmac that cut around and through the walls of the gorge. After this brilliant piece of road it was easy to forget there was still a reg to complete, which was a climb in itself, that took the road higher still, though without the dramatic drops. A keen foot was needed to propel the lesser powered cars up the climbs whilst maintaining the required speed, a responsibility Renault 4 driver Vincent Hayes was taking very seriously, indeed the machine was rolling so much through the corners rumour has its navigator Peter Rushforth was getting his knee down on the apexes.
It had certainly been a first day to remember, and as the evenings destination of Valence came into view everyone was keen to know how people had done. Well, first out of the blocks was also first on the timing sheet, with top spot being occupied by last year’s champion Mark Godfrey and new navigator Bart den Hartog. Four seconds behind them were the Baines, father and son Dick and Harry, despite putting a flint through the sidewall of their new Porsche 911. Third place, thanks to an early deployment of a Joker, are Malcolm Dunderdale and Anita Wickins, this time campaigning a bathroom suite green Triumph TR8, that apparently goes like hot-snot and looks like it as well. In truth though, there is very little in it at this stage, with not many seconds separating all those in the top ten, and beyond.
Tomorrow there are a mere 371km to cover, but with six regularities and a test there will no doubt be plenty to talk about once the cars make it into the night-time halt at Millau, let’s hope that the end of day two isn’t a bridge too far for any of the chasing pack.
Syd
