Gareth Burnett and Jez Haylock have won the Endurance Rally Association’s Alpine Trial for the second time, while at the wheel of a 1934 Talbot 105 Alpine that took part in the event in its inaugural year.
Burnett and Haylock also scooped the coveted Alpine Cup, an award reserved for the crews which manages to keep a clean sheet during the rally.
The all-British team were pressed hard by John Abel and Leigh Powley in their 1937 Lagonda LG45, who finished second and also finished without penalties, while third place went to the 1937 BMW 328 of Peter Lovett and Rob Henchoz.
Alpine Cups were also awarded to Clint and Brad Smith, who drove a 1938 Jaguar SS100, and Paul Wignall and Guy Woodcock, who campaigned a 1929 Alvis Silver Eagle.
The Spirit of the Rally Award was won by the Czech pairing of Jan Hradecky and Dana Hradecka, who competed in a skeletal 1936 Jawa Aero Minor 1, a lightweight racer conceived and built during WW2.
Kate and Sophie Wickham topped the standings in the Concours d’Elegance for their stunning 1934 MG TC, while the TT Award – standing for Tin Top – went to Tony and Pauline Mather’s 1937 Citroën Traction Avant.
This year’s Alpine Trial began in the town of Divonne-les-Bains near the Swiss border, and took in the entirety of the Jura Mountains before heading into the Alps and towards Mont Blanc and the finale in Annecy. Crews and classics were thoroughly tested thanks to a challenging route devised by Keith Baud, which included rocky hairpins, remote Alpine passes and impossibly steep mountain climbs.
“Another fantastic three days of historic rallying,” said ERA director Fred Gallagher. “The route continues to offer exciting competition for those who want it, challenging roads that you’ never find on your own, and a stunning backdrop for equally stunning cars.”
