Alfa Monza 8C

Ferrari 500 Mondial

Ferrari 166 MM

Ferrari 250 SWB

Mercedes 300 SL

Porsche 906

pics by Sydney Brown

Trofeo Baleares de Automovil 2001
by Sidney Brown
23.3.01

Warm, sunny Majorcan Spring weather accompanied the inaugural running of the Trofeo Baleares de Automovil. Commencing on Thursday 8th and ending on Saturday 10th March, this well-supported rally for classic sports cars was based in Palma in the south of the largest Balearic island of Majorca.

A total of 109 entrants were divided into 18 classes on the basis of age, type and engine capacity; the oldest entry was a 1921 Hispano Suiza H6 and the youngest a 1975 MGB.

Since much of the organisation was German-controlled, 90+% of the entrants were of German origin, with Porsche and Mercedes being the dominant marques; 356s, 911s, 550 Spyders and a rapid 906, to say nothing of Gullwings and 300 Roadsters, seem ideally suited to this type of event.

However, of particular interest to Italian fans in general and Ferraristi in particular, the entry included both a two-cam and four-cam 275, a 1956 500 Mondial, 250 SWB, Daytona and a superb 1950 166MM Barchetta and lastly, a 512S in a class all by itself which, unfortunately, did not appear on Day Two. Other Italiana included no less than two 8C Alfa Monzas, Maserati A6GCS, 150, 300S and two rare OSCAs, one a 1600GTS and the other a roadster. With an entry list this extensive, short of listing all entrants it is only practical to "cherry-pick" cars of specific interest.

Each of the three days began and ended in the parc ferme in the port area of Palma and Day One was not unduly demanding, with a 9.30 a.m. start and a 4.00 p.m. finish, containing three special stages covering various south coast resort areas before moving inland to the more demanding mountain roads of Deya, Soller and Alaro.

Day Two concentrated on the middle and north of the island, with two special road stages and a timed Promenade Sprint in Port de Pollenca, followed by a journey over the mountain road to a lunch stop at Formentor before returning to Palma by 6.00 p.m. Day Three involved an 8.00 a.m. start and was mainly based around the Mallorcan Circuit near Llucmajor, prior to a late afternoon parade through the strees of Palma, followed by a gala dinner and prize-giving.

Overall, a very good effort for a first-time event, which the organisers are seeking to repeat annually herafter. The island offers relatively quiet roads out-of-season, with a challenging variety of driving terrain. The organisation will benefit from further experience since some of the timing was "loose" to say the least. However, with good police co-operation in closing roads (how often would that happen in the UK?) and the ideal rally weather, normal in Majorca in March, it would be good to see the event repeated annually.

A more representative entry list of European crews would also stimulate greater spectator interest. The level of Majorcan press coverage and Tourism Board sponsorship was impressive, as were the information handouts and promotion in general.

Well-worthy of a place in the Classic Rally Calendar.

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