Gentlemen, are you ready to get back on the road? We selected five major events this month dedicated to driving passion. Among great car shows and legendary historic races, find out what April has in store for you!
Techno-Classica Essen • April 5th-9th • Essen, GER
With more than 200,000 visitors this past year, the Techno-Classica Essen is the classic car show with the most visitors worldwide, confrming the constantly increasing attention to the vintage-car and connoisseur-vehicle-scene. The success of the Techno-Classica Essen is based on the principle from the organizer S.I.H.A. to present visitors from more than 40 different nations a selection of all the best aspects from this classic car passion.
The Techno-Classica came together for the first time in 1989. It was the first great international classic show in Germany and from the start took on the pioneering role. With more than 25 German and international car manufacturers lavishly displaying their best, this event is once again the greatest worldwide show dedicated to historical veichles.
Franciacorta Historic • April 8th • Castrezzato, IT
Franciacorta Historic is the traditional spring regularity race for classic cars included in the ACI Sport calendar and scheduled in Castrezzato. Starting from this year, the race will be reserved to all cars built until 1971 in addition to a selection of collectibles and special interest cars built until 1976.
The route, always different from the previous edition, will welcome all competitors among the beautiful Franciacorta landscape and along a path of 130 km with over 50 time trials arranged to showcase the level of skill from the experienced drivers who rarely miss this appointment.
Targa Florio • April 20th-23rd • Palermo, IT
From the 20th - 23rd of April the 101st edition of the oldest race in the world will take place: the Targa Florio. The “cursa", created by Vincenzo Florio in 2017, will enter its second century with four different and exciting events: Targa Florio Rally, Targa Florio Historic Rally, Targa Florio Classic and Ferrari Tribute.
Targa Florio began on May 6th 1906 when the first edition of this competition became iconic in Italy, specifically in Sicily, where passion, traditions and attachment to this cherished event were spread throughout the world. Since the first victory by Alessandro Cagno, a young mechanic from Turin driving an Itala, there as been another 99 wins since. Targa Florio stopped only during the world wars, but besides that its glorious run has never known a break.
London to Lisbon Classic Reliability Trial • April 22nd-30th • Several locations, EU
The 3,200 km London-Lisbon reliability trial is almost here. The HERO’s (Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation) event attracts entrants from every corner of the globe and offers a range of exotic vehicles, exclusively built before 1987, that have their own specific classes to compete in for honors.
After leaving the world-famous Brooklands Circuit in the London suburbs, competitors will have to perform a series of regularity trials and tests before taking a ferry to France, where the true competition will begin. Although the route includes sections with snow and ice, it is suitable for all levels, from beginners to experts.
Tour Auto Optic 2000 • April 24th-30th • Paris-Biarritz, FR
The 26th Tour Auto Optic 2000 has a new route for the 230 entrants this year. After the traditional exhibition under the glass dome of the Grand Palais in Paris, the cars will set off for Brittany for the first time in the history of the event. After leaving the capital, the crew will set out to discover the south of France.
Every year the Tour Auto Optic 2000 highlights a manufacturer or a type of car that has been involved in the history of the Tour de France Automobile. For the 26th edition, the spotlight will be on French makes that are no longer produced, including the CG, Delahaye, Facel Vega, Hotchkiss, Jide, Pichon Parat, René Bonnet, Salmson, Simc without forgetting the famous Panhards and DBs.
Photo credits: Franciacorta Historic, Marco Galasso, Targa Florio, HERO, Peter Auto
