The 6th edition of the Quote Challenge is crossing Europe this week. Although Quote resigned as main sponsor after the 2005 rally most people still remember the Quote Challenge by the name of it’s predecessor. This year organiser Sjoerd van Stokkum aimed for the best of the best with ‘The Ultimate Edition’. 30 teams driving exotic supercars started in Germany last weekend and made their way through Eastern Europe. The start location was kept a closely guarded secret until the very last moment. The Challenge is the second rally this year, and thereby follows the Cannonball Run Europe, to run without stickers.
The start of the Challenge 2007 was last weekend at the Kempinski Hotel Heiligendamm in Germany, from there it was autobahn most of the way to the capital of the Czech Republic: Prague. Monday the Challengers continued to Bratislava for lunch and finished the day in Budapest. Budapest is host to the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix and therefore a visit to the Hungaroring circuit couldn’t be skipped. We visited this track during the Top Run earlier this year and it’s definitely our favourite track in central Europe. After some time on the track the Challengers followed in our skidmarks and drove from the Hungaroring to Zagreb. Between Budapest and Zagreb you will find some of the worlds finest highways with very little traffic.
Among the participating cars are many exotics: Ferrari 599 GTB, McLaren SLR 722, Ferrari Enzo and Aston Martin DB9 to name a few. Today a Bugatti Veyron joined the group for the last days of the rally. The grid for this 6th edition of this Quote Challenge 2007 is equally exclusive as impressive and rivals high ranking rallies like Carbon Black and the Gumball 3000, maybe not in sheer quantity but in quality.
Update 1: 29 August 2007
Currently the teams are staying at the island Hvar in Croatia after a scenic drive from Zagreb to Split today. For more information and updates about the Challenge 2007 visit our Quote Challenge forum!
Update 2: 29 August 2007
Without stickers and secret start location or not, the German autobahn polizei was still hot on their tail when the teams headed over the A1 to the start last weekend.
Update 3: 30 August 2007
Videos: Ferrari Enzo, Enzo & Enzo. The Bugatti Veyron in Split and more cars arriving in Split.
Update 4: 31 August 2007
After a relaxing night at the Croatian Island of Hvar the Challengers took the ferry back to Split and drove the famous Croatian highways north towards Trieste. The Challengers followed the same route as Top Run through Slovenia on the way to Venice where they arrived last night.
Today is the last day and only a short drive from Venice to Milan.
More about the Quote Challenge: