Via Gallica Pre-War Rally 2024 | Events

27 September 2024 Redazione Events, News

As a child, when you go on holiday with your parents, you rarely notice the differences between countries like Italy and France. It’s only when organising rallies for classic cars that you are confronted with just how stark those differences really are.

In Italy, you’re welcomed with open arms and almost anything is possible—sometimes to a degree that can be slightly unnerving. In France, however, people tend to be more reserved, and the countryside feels deserted, as though everyone has moved to Paris. Hotels often struggle with insufficient staff, making it quite the challenge to find a charming château with enough rooms that is also well-managed.

When even the French themselves joke about how beautiful their country is, but lament the fact that it’s inhabited by the French, you know there are issues to be concerned about.

With this in mind, the first Via Gallica Pre-War Rally took place, tracing a scenic route from Reims to Angoulême, the historic host of the annual Circuit des Remparts festivities. This event is an eccentric weekend of automotive passion set in the heart of the old city. Thirty pre-war cars from nine countries gathered at the starting point of this relaxed five-day rally. France, with its extensive network of smaller, picturesque roads, all beautifully mapped by Michelin, provided the perfect setting. The route meandered through fields, over hills and mountains, past canyons and rivers—from the Champagne region in the north, through desolate landscapes, to the château-dotted areas near Beaune, and finally across the Massif Central.

Each day offered the pleasure of driving through stunning landscapes, punctuated by delightful surprises in the form of scenic lunch spots and charming overnight stays. By Friday, we arrived in Angoulême for a first exploration of the town, just in time for the vibrant weekend of automotive revelry. On Saturday, we joined the event’s rally alongside more than 300 historic cars. The day was impeccably organised, culminating in a lavish dinner where no expense was spared to create a truly extraordinary culinary experience.

Sunday brought the exhilarating street races, best enjoyed from one of the grandstands, basking in the sun with a refreshing drink in hand—a perfect end to an unforgettable week.