Magazine Relive this year's GP Ice Race in 66 snow thawing images Winter related articles

It was reminiscent of one of those Netflix celebrity hangouts shows. Almost everyone who is worth anything in the European classic car scene and belongs to the growing club of eccentrics who use their classics all year round was in Zell am See from last Friday to Sunday. Either to dare to dance on the ice yourself or to be pulled over the GP ice course by a crazy tractor on skis. Which was said to have been traced and perfectly groomed by the mysterious tractor driver named Hermann on the premises of the local airport.

The sound of engines filled the valley in which the town of Zell am See is located on this long weekend. They are said to have been heard even up to the summit of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier in neighboring Kaprun. Those who were lucky enough to belong to the inner circle of participants, invited guests or the media witnessed the cars that were behind this acoustic presence and shredded many a layer of ice on this automobile winter holiday. And there was a lot to admire.

From eleven (!) Porsche 550 Spiders to the freshly restored Aston Martin Bulldog driven by Richard Gauntlett to a whole horde of rally bugs (beetles). The latter jumped almost as far as the factory Audi RS Q E-Tron flown in directly from Saudi Arabia for the Dakar Rally, which still had some desert sand in its cracks.

Audi also presents the S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron. A one-off for US drift artist Ken Block, who is said to have been spotted there. Also worth mentioning were the always cute and immensely entertaining Meyers Manx dune buggies. The company was recently revived by car collector Philip Sarofim (who is also behind the Aston Bulldog restoration). Our favourite? A black Testarossa, driven daily by its owner this winter, looking like a very fast slab of granite sliding between the snow banks.

In addition to the action on the ice, there were overflights with several planes and helicopter flights over the Grossglockner, where the team behind the GP Ice Race plans to open a restaurant soon. To introduce his curious concept of scrap metal, exemplified this weekend by a de Tomaso Pantera, standing in a purpose-built “outdoor living room” furnished with Porsche Design furniture. Those who can't afford a Type 35 Bugatti had the chance to try The Little Car Company's "baby" version - a steal at just $70,000.

If viewing the images makes you suffer from a severe case of FOMO, so you fear you've missed something important, don't worry - the GP Ice Race will be back next year. In the meantime, you can stock up on the special edition Porsche Design watch or a new limited edition Porsche Design sports shoe.

Photos: Stefan Bogner / Curves Magazine