- The event once again drew the attention of hundreds of people who didn’t want to miss the passage of the vintage vehicles
- This edition will be remembered for the unprecedented images of the parade passing by the Columbus Monument
On Sunday, April 6, the Barcelona–Sitges International Vintage Car Rally celebrated its 67th edition. Months of preparation by the participants were finally behind them, many of whom mark this unique event’s weekend in red on their calendars each year.
Once again, for most entrants, the Rally represented the best opportunity to showcase their historic jewels on wheels. The uncertainty caused by the weather in the previous days completely disappeared in the morning, thanks to a radiant sun that announced a practically summer-like day.
Shortly after 10:30 a.m., the organizers gave the signal for the drivers to start their engines. The cars began their route punctually after the flag drop by Xavier Marcé, Councillor for Culture and Creative Industries of the Barcelona City Council, and Aurora Carbonell, Mayor of Sitges.
Growing antiquity
Of the 76 cars registered (plus 11 motorcycles), almost three out of four were over a hundred years old — a trend expected to continue growing, given that, to officially participate in the Rally, cars must have been manufactured no later than 1928 (or 1938 in the case of motorcycles).
Particularly noteworthy was the reunion with the 1927 Ford T owned by Santiago Peribáñez, a unit registered in Zaragoza that took part in the Rally’s very first edition back in 1959. Also drawing attention were the two vehicles contributed by Škoda, the event’s sponsor: a 1926 Laurin & Klement and a 1930 Škoda 645, which joined the parade but out of competition due to its later production date.
As the oldest model among all entrants, the 1901 Renault Type G, owned by César Pau Alentorn, once again had the honor of setting off first from Barcelona’s Plaça Sant Jaume, as it did the previous year.
This time, it headed along Jaume I Street instead of the traditional route through Ferran Street, La Rambla, and Plaça Catalunya. The ongoing works on the central boulevard forced a change of route, and for the first time in its history, the Rally took Via Laietana to pass alongside the Columbus Monument.
The event unfolded smoothly for the vast majority of vehicles. In case of difficulty, the organization had support from the members of Ribes Motor Club, who accompanied the convoy on motorcycles to assist participants and, if necessary, wait for the tow trucks provided by RACC to bring them safely to Sitges.
There, hundreds of spectators awaited them, enjoying the activities organized at the Heineken 0.0 and Škoda tents while waiting for the vehicles to arrive.
2025 CLASSIFICATIONS
GROUP I – Up to 1908
1st – No. 4 Juan M. Carbonell – Chenard Walker Sport – 1907
2nd – No. 6 José Orriols – Wolseley Siddeley – 1908
3rd – No. 5 Serge Rinero – Peugeot 92 Sport – 1907
GROUP II – From 1909 to 1914
1st – No. 8 Michelle Miresse – Unic Phaeton C2 – 1909
2nd – No. 16 Jean Pierre Gelis – Panhard Levassor X19 – 1913
3rd – No. 11 Vicente Ramos – Ford T – 1911
GROUP III – From 1915 to 1920
1st – No. 25 Eliane Fougere – Delage CO – 1917
2nd – No. 22 Alexis Llaveria – Delahaye Type Coupe – 1917
3rd – No. 19 Luis Sousa Ribeiro – Ford T Speedster – 1915
GROUP IV – From 1921 to 1928
1st – No. 40 Humberto Ros – Fiat 501 – 1923
2nd – No. 39 Quim Martí – Ford T – 1923
3rd – No. 43 Jaume Vila – Hispano Suiza T48 – 1924
MOTORCYCLE CLASSIFICATION
1st – No. 9 Javier Serrano – Harley Davidson WL 45 (737cc) – 1937
2nd – No. 8 Miquel Juncosa – Saroléa 600cc Super Sport – 1936
3rd – No. 4 David Gómez – Norton ES2 – 1936
RACC AWARD FOR THE YOUNGEST PARTICIPANT
No. 64 – Lorenzo Calsina
FRIENDS OF VETERAN CARS AWARD FOR THE OLDEST DRIVER
No. 68 – Domingo Torné
CATALAN FEDERATION OF HISTORIC CARS AWARD
No. 63 – Santiago Peribáñez – Ford T 1927
CLASSIC MOTOR CLUB DEL BAGES AWARD FOR THE OLDEST CAR
No. 1 – César Pau – Renault Type G – 1901
VETERAN CAR CLUB AWARD
No. 53 – Anton Ferrer – Amilcar CGS – 1924
ELEGANCE AWARDS
1st – No. 51 Antoni Isern
2nd – No. 21 Arderiu Freixa Family
3rd – No. 40 Humberto Ros
4th – No. 27 Josep Muntaner
5th – No. 26 Olga Torras
MOTORCYCLE ELEGANCE AWARD
1st – No. 9 Javier Serrano
CHILDREN’S ELEGANCE AWARD
Motorcycle No. 11 – Oliver Gómez Car No. 2 – Biel Llaveria
GEMMA TOSCAS AWARD FOR THE MOST ELEGANT LADY
Mdme. Gelis (No. 16)
The 2024 Barcelona–Sitges International Vintage Car Rally is organized by Foment de Sitges, with the collaboration of the Sitges and Barcelona City Councils. It was sponsored by Caves Pere Ventura, Heineken 0.0, L’illa Diagonal, Menkes, RACC, and Škoda.
Partners include Autòdrom Terramar, Aucat, Cochesafondo, El Garrofer Camp, and Ribes Motor Club, as well as the ACV, the Antic Car Club de Catalunya, the Association of Vintage Car and Motorcycle Enthusiasts, and the Catalan Federation of Historic Vehicles.