Event
In 1929, just four years after the canton of Graubünden lifted its automobile ban, an illustrious field including Hans Stuck and Louis Chiron gathered at the Bernina Pass for the first International Automobile Week St. Moritz. They raced 16.5 kilometres of alpine tarmac at altitudes exceeding 2,300 metres—then the event disappeared into history. In 2014, collector and racing driver Kurt Engelhorn revived it, and the Bernina Gran Turismo has since become one of Europe's most celebrated historic hill climbs.
The modern course covers 5.4 kilometres from La Rösa to the pass summit, threading through fifty-two bends with 450 metres of elevation gain. It's technically demanding and visually staggering—glaciers frame the backdrop, the red carriages of the Rhaetian Railway snake along the adjacent tracks, and the sound of pre-war Bugattis echoes off rock faces. Two classes run: Competition for those chasing times, and Regularity for drivers prioritising consistency over outright speed. Eligible cars span pre-war legends to 1990s icons.
The weekend unfolds between three distinct worlds. Friday scrutineering takes place at the Kulm Country Club in St. Moritz, where alpine elegance meets motorsport preparation. Saturday and Sunday bring the timed runs on the closed pass road, with cars visible both on course and in the parc fermé. The award ceremony in Poschiavo—on the Italian-speaking southern side of the pass—concludes proceedings with a distinctly different atmosphere.
Spectating is free along the route, though the Ospizio Bernina finish area is best reached by the Rhaetian Railway from either St. Moritz or Poschiavo. For 2025's tenth anniversary, Pebble Beach-winning machinery appeared alongside factory entries—the kind of field you rarely see outside concours lawns, here attacking a mountain at full commitment.
