Via Flaminia Classic

The Dolomites rally

The Dolomites are a beautiful Italian mountain range that lends itself perfectly to a unique rally: the Via Flaminia in 2024. If you like well maintained roads (mostly) and driving through woods and in between high mountains, then this is the rally for you.

We will depart from the Italian wine region ‘Veneto’, an hour’s drive from Venice. From here the route continues north towards the southern Alps where we will be able to take a closer look at the impressive mountains. A route through a valley-like national nature reserves.

We stay for two night in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the center of the Dolomites. We drive a wonderful loop through the eastern area. Around the Marmolada Mountains, also called the ‘King of the Dolomites’, thanks to its highest peak (Monte Antelao 3263 meters) and around the  Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites with Monte Cristallo (3221 m), characterized by its pyramid-shaped mountain tops towering into the sky. 

Driving the Dolomites is not complete without doing the Sellaronda with the Passo Sella, Passo Compologno and the Passo Pordoi. But first we drive up what is my favorite, the Passo Giau at 2236 meters. The views from the top are just breathtaking, from here you can see the highest peak of the Dolomites, the Marmolada.

We park our cars in front of our hotel, on the Piazza Walther, the main square of Bolzano. Thanks to the local Veteran Car Team. In the evening we are free to discover this old town on the crossroad of many civilizations.

Leaving what we know as the Dolomites, we continue west and take one of the many passes which used to have its own hill climb a century ago. The Passo Gavia ( 2621 m) stands really out from all we have done so far. Most of the way up is a single lane road. It is the tenth highest paved road in the Alps, but don’t assume it is only the tenth most challenging road. The views are exalting. It is quite a change from the wider and more busy roads in the Dolomites.

In Sondrio we stay in a typical Via Flaminia hotel, the Grand Hotel della Posta, full of character, full of history and in the middle of town.

After the highlights of the week, the drive back to our last comfortable hotel in Verona is just a leisurely drive. 

During the rally we mainly take the ‘smaller’ roads where you can drive at a stable pace. The mountain passes can be evocative, but should be doable for your classic car. During the days there is enough time for some cultural exploration, a coffee stop and a picture.

There are 29 places available for cars up to 1980.

For teams with a combined age under 100, there is a 1% discount for each year below 100, with a maximum of 15% (reference year 2024). They may also bring a younger car, one year for every two years their combined age is less than 100 years.