The Classic Adelaide Rally is an international-level 'special stage' rally spanning four days which, since it was first run in 1997, has become one of the world's great rallies. The event was preceded by a field-seeding Prologue, with the classic rally cars and drivers racing the clock on special stages on closed roads, with timing to the second.

The Competition is open to cars built prior to 1990 in three classes. In addition there is a "Regularity Event", where vehicles must be driven to meet overall average speeds specified by the organisers for a given stage, a "Thoroughbred Sport" category and "The Classic Adelaide Tour", the last two for crews who want to drive over the stages without the pressure of timed competition or use of pace notes.

Over 350 cars took part this year's event but the greatest number of a single marque was Ferrari with 100 cars and there were a great selection of tipos from the most modern, 612 Scallietti, 430 and 360, to the earliest, two 250GT Tour de France cars. The larger tipos, the 365GTB4s and the modern equivalent 550/575 Maranellos made for tough work in the tighter stages where the more nimble 360 Modenas, 355s, 328s, 308s and Dinos made it look at least easier if not actually easy! Four seat Ferrari were also represented, 250 GTE, 365GT 2+2 and 400 series all putting in an appearance, plus several other tipos.

There was also a great social scene, making an exceptionally busy four days full of excitement out on the stages and good food and wine in the evenings. The countryside was as spectacular as the Ferraris so never a dull moment throughout, certainly one of the world's great rallies! Click here to go to the event website.

With thanks to Peter Everingham for the Ferrari information.

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