After a memorable 50th International Rallye des Alpes, traversing Provence to visit its traditional home in Marseille, for the 51st edition, we propose to return to a rally on less busy roads. To start, we shall discover the region of Switzerland so well known by William Tell and his fellow Swiss patriots, then pass through a tiny – but impressive – corner of Italy before exploring the Tyrol and finishing our trip in Austria. As usual, on the Sunday we shall have our documentation and technical scrutineering under the watchful eye of Walter Kammermann and the mechanics from the Emil Frey Group plus a co-driver’s seminar and an optional mini rally to make sure that you are all ready and in good condition. Please do note that the hotel for the Sunday night is included in your entry along with the other six nights in five star hotels.

First leg, Monday July 2nd
Geneva to Gstaad

To reach Gstaad, we have found some interesting new roads and Robert Rorife has made a route going among the pine forests of the Jura, then through the pre-Alps before reaching Gstaad by means of the Saanenland and the Bernese Oberland. Some among you, especially the Bentley Boys, will doubtless recall closing the bar of the Steigenberger Belvedere as dawn was breaking during a previous Rallye des Alpes. Who will it be this time ?

Second leg, Tuesday July 3rd
Gstaad to Lucerne

After the Jaunpass, what you will see today will be the chalets of the Entlebuch with their geranium-filled balconies and window baskets. The route will also show you the glacial lakes of Thun and Brienz as well as the Grimsel and Furkapass. Finally the Lake at Lucerne is indisputably the most romantic of the Swiss lakes and you may convince yourself of this as we take a ferry across it, land you in mid-afternoon in Gersau and then follow it along through Küssnacht. A short while later, once installed at the Palace Hotel near the centre of the old city, you can choose between a stroll over the famous Kappelbrücke, a visit the Löwendenkmal and its glacial garden, or perhaps you would prefer a trip on the steam-powered paddle steamer, the Schiller, whose construction dates back to Victorian times.

Third leg, Wednesday July 4th
Lucerne to Lucerne

A gourmet’s menu of roads for today’s route in the land of William Tell. We start with the tortuous Axenstrasse, a legend thanks to that fact that it was once the sole route for merchants wishing to pass over the Alps from north to south and vice versa. Then the Klausen Pass with its own motor sport history as a famous pre-war hill climb followed by a few small Rorifiades. Lunch comes every day but this day it is at Innerthal which previous competitors will remember for its witches and the infamous “driver only” regularity round the little lake which we shall be repeating again this year. More rallying then before returning to Lucerne and the rightly famous Museum of Transport (Verkehrshaus) which will make a high point of our day. You will have a good opportunity to see, among more conventional exhibits, its model trains and a complete model of the St Gotthard railway which, by the way, celebrates its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary in 2007.

Fourth leg, Thursday July 5th
Lucerne to St Moritz

In what promises to be a longer day, we leave Lucerne for the high peaks and an old friend, the St Gothard Pass on whose cobbled road we shall doubtless meet the stage coach and horses reminding us of the Alpine era before motor cars. After lunch, the route takes in the Tremola, then San Bernardino, Splugen Pass and Maloja, before arriving at what is always a big favourite of ours – and yours – the Suvretta House and Resort at St Moritz. It is hard to quantify exactly what it is that makes this such a perfect place for us to stop. Certainly the welcome extended to us each year by Helen and Vic Jakobs together with the intimate nature of its setting high amongst the snow-capped mountains gives it a unique charm. Doubtless here also the night may be a long one !

Fifth Leg, Friday July 6th
St Moritz to Seefeld

A day for dreams of rallies past as we go into Italy in search of the Ofen Pass and the Stelvio, those famous roads where Maurice Gatsonides, Ian and Pat Appleyard, the Morley brothers, Pat and Stirling Moss all fought for victory in the 1950s. The second half of the day provides a little respite from such famous roads but there is still the need to watch for points on the regularities if you want to emulate their success. Finally we come to another of the great hotels this one high in the Tyrol : the Schlosshotel Klosterbraü in Seefeld. And we plan to repeat the spectacular welcome of the rally in Seefeld’s historic streets that we made last time we visited there.

Sixth leg, Saturday July 7th
Seefeld to Salzburg (Fuschlsee)

The cols between Bavaria and Austria will provide an excellent last throw of the dice for those of you aiming for success and the award of a Coupe des Alpes. Be sure of spectacular scenery as we approach Salzburg and finally climb up to the Füschlsee high above the city. This will be the wonderful setting for our finale and prize giving. And you will have the convenience of a nearby international airport and access to the German autobahn system to put you and your car on the way home when all is over on Sunday.