# Twelfth Austrian Rallye Legends Sets the Stage for Upper Styria Gathering

**By Luca Bertolini**  \nPublished September 13, 2026  \nUpdated September 13, 2026

> With international entries already arriving seven weeks ahead of the deadline, Admont prepares for the 12th edition of the Austrian Rallye Legends powered by ARBÖ.

## Upper Styria Prepares as International Field Takes Shape

The Gesäuse region surrounding the community of Admont is preparing to host the 12th edition of the Austrian Rallye Legends powered by ARBÖ from September 24 to 26, 2026. Celebrating a rallying heritage in Upper Styria that spans 50 years, the historic event continues a tradition established in 2014 by the organizing Gutternigg family. With seven weeks still remaining before the official entry deadline, drivers and teams representing nine separate nations have already confirmed their participation.

## A Decade of Milestones in the Gesäuse Mountains

Since its inaugural running in September 2014 across Windischgarsten and Admont, the gathering has developed into Austria's flagship historic rally event, drawing drivers, historic cars, and fans to the alpine roads of Upper Styria. The event's trajectory highlights a decade of historic rallying milestones across the National Park Gesäuse and Pyhrn-Priel regions:

- **2014 (Inaugural Edition):** Established the foundational format spanning Windischgarsten and Admont.
- **2015 (2nd Edition):** Expanded across Pyhrn-Priel and Gesäuse, headlined by Raphael Sperrer behind the wheel of a Seat Cordoba WRC.
- **2016 (3rd Edition):** Marked Herbert Grünsteidl's comeback and Kurt Adam's farewell rally, though the event was halted early following a fatal accident that severely injured the co-driver and claimed the driver's life.
- **2021 (Return):** Returned after a pandemic hiatus with nine special stages, featuring rally veteran Raimund Baumschlager in the Skoda Kreisel RE-X1.
- **2024 (10th Anniversary):** Celebrated ten editions with 15 special stages and more than 110 teams representing 14 nations.
- **2025 (11th Edition):** Featured 93 European teams tackling 12 stages under ideal weather conditions.

## Iconic Machinery on Technical Alpine Stages

Managing historic rally cars across Upper Styria's mountain topography requires careful trade-offs between stage setup, spectator safety, and mechanical preservation. The narrow asphalt ribbons and rapid elevation shifts around Admont, Hall, and Weng im Gesäuse offer a rigorous test of driver control and vehicle balance.

Route adjustments have frequently been utilized to optimize event logistics. In 2021, organizers adjusted the Friday schedule to feature a dedicated shakedown run in the reverse direction along a section of the Hall stage. That operational change meant omitting the Oberweng section and the Gleinkerau circuit stage from the itinerary, concentrating action around Weng im Gesäuse and the final section of the Hall circuit.

Throughout its history, entry lists around Admont have brought together a wide array of historic machinery, local drivers, and gentlemen drivers. Baumschlager—a long-time personal friend of the Gutternigg family—has remained a prominent figure, alongside other notable machinery including Kris Rosenberger's Ford Fiesta WRC and Herbert Grünsteidl's historic VW Beetle (VW Käfer). As late September approaches, Upper Styria once again prepares to welcome the international rally community to the Gesäuse roads.

## Sources

- [ir7.at](https://www.ir7.at/content/news_kategorie_historic.php) — original
- [forum.ewrc.cz](https://forum.ewrc.cz/node/678927) — original
- [downshift.cz](https://downshift.cz/austrian-rallye-legends-2021/) — original