Legendary WRC cars and stars celebrated in Germany

Stig Blomqvist was just one of a list of world championship stars attending the event, the Swede returning to the wheel of an Audi quattro as he remembered a world title won four decades ago this season.

Finns and former team-mates Marcus Grönholm and Harri Rovanperä were a big hit, with the former being reunited with a Toyota Corolla WRC he drove in 1997 while the father of two-time world champion Kalle was back in the driving seat of a Peugeot 307 WRC for the first time since 2004.

Fellow stars of the sport, Kalle Grundel, Bruno Thiry and Nicky Grist were also among a 160-strong entry which thrilled crowds in the Volcanic Eifel region.

Organiser and renowned rally photographer Reinhard Klein was delighted with the 12th edition of the event, saying: “We have had 95 different vehicle types from 30 different car brands and 130 different liveries – we have been able to present a unique range of cars from the history of rallying.

“And with this edition, we have been able to take another big step towards modernisation, with Super 2000 and World Rally Cars included – this means our range of cars now runs from the 1960s to the recent past.”