The Classic Marathon is coming home

The Classic Marathon is coming back to its home of Greece, as Marathon was the scene of a Greek victory over the Persians in 490 BC. Modern running races and indeed the Classic Marathon historic motoring event title are derived from the fact that Greek messenger Pheidippides ran from the battlefield at Marathon to Athens (22 miles) with the news of a great victory. Tragically the messenger collapsed and died on delivering the news, but he was surely a forerunner for the original Olympic movement in 776 BC!

Whilst that was centuries ago, The Classic Marathon Rally plate signifies a mere 40 years of historic rally history, but to rally enthusiasts it symbolises a legendary motoring contest over the mountainous passes, sinuous winding roads with huge drops and staggering scenery. Hill climbs and summits, dizzying descents punctuated by severe hairpins epitomise this unique challenge. Whether Classic Marathons have been waged over the Dolomites, Alps or Pyrenees, this represents the thrill of international long-distance rallying. A feat for those that conquer the event.

The Classic Marathon 2027 will encompass all those elements, but from the base of western civilisation in Greece where rallying enjoys its own incredible World Championship history with the Acropolis Rally, and where a national rallying scene and love of historic motoring still thrives today.   

The last Classic Marathon in 2025 from Geneva to Biarritz elicited favourable comments from top navigator Ian Canavan part of the winning crew with Paul Bloxidge, as he summed up the Classic Marathon; “The Classic Marathon was everything I want in an event. It was both a challenging and competitive six days across some of the very best driving roads Europe can offer and we are delighted to finally take a close win after such a tough endurance event, just what the Classic Marathon is about. “

From the 12-18^th September 2027, the Classic Marathon will be back on home turf for seven legs and 2200 kilometres of pure competition over breath taking mountain passes and the allure of great Greek driving roads. The surfaces will range from smooth tarmac to smooth gravel as competitive regularities and tests unite the crews in an extraordinary driving challenge. 

Although the event has evolved in the forty years since the first Classic Marathon in 1988, it still holds endurance at its core, driving and navigating across some of Europe’s finest roads and mountain passes are the heart and soul of this event. However, the event does allow for a good social side as it is essentially a daylight event.

In 2027 the event returns to a location last used in 2018 when HERO-ERA ran one of the most enjoyable and challenging Classic Marathons and will once again explore the birthplace of western civilisation, Greece. This mountainous country lends itself to fantastic driving roads, each turn bringing a challenge for both driver and navigator.

The event will bring a real flavour of the Aegean and a rare and unique chance to compete against like-minded crews over this fabled rally ground.

The rally will start from an historic site in the Athens area and from there a straight forward first day is planned to take crews northwest to Delphi and a chance to consult the Oracle! The terrain then becomes more rugged on Day Two as teams explore the mountains of Central Greece before finishing in the shadow of the amazing clifftop monasteries at Meteora, a backdrop often seen in the World Rally Championship.

Climbing ever higher, a challenging third day behind the wheel will take the rally cars up high to over 2000 metres to enjoy a series of lonely mountain roads through the spectacular Pindos Mountains before descending to the coast and the overnight hotel close to Patras.

Day Four combines the mountains of the Peloponnese with the opportunity to visit a few historic sites before heading to the coastal resort of Kalamata, famous for its olives. Here it is hoped, crews can enjoy two nights in the same hotel, as the next day the rally will be discovering the wild and rugged coastlines of the beautiful Mani region before returning to Kalamata.

Day Six and crews head back east towards Athens and the final overnight stop at Nafplio with its coastal breezes and blue seas, bringing this Greek odyssey towards its conclusion. The final day offers even more breath-taking scenery and superb driving roads as we make for our final destination back to the outskirts of metropolis of Athens for the luxury of the finish hotel on the coast overlooking the Saronic gulf.

Clerk of the Course for the Classic Marathon 2027, Guy Woodcock commented; “ I am excited to be returning to Greece in 2027, the last Greek Marathon in 2018 was tremendously well received and gave us some awesome driving roads and competition twinned with quiet roads. With the wonderful scenery and roads for the 2027 event, I am sure it will attract crews wishing to return and new competitors who will relish what we have to offer in September next year. Entries could be at a premium, so I suggest if you are thinking of competing you get your entry in as soon as possible to secure a space.” 

Above Athens sits the Acropolis, the ancient citadel that was once the start and finish venue for the famous WRC Acropolis Rally. It reflects not just an ancient civilisation but modern rally history as the 32^nd Classic Marathon returns home.

The first Pirelli Classic Marathon was flagged away from London’s Tower Bridge in 1988, in the true spirt of Marathons. It was the start of something very special. The ambitious plan to drive across Europe captured not only the imagination of countless enthusiasts, but also many of rallying’s past heroes – Stirling Moss, Roger Clark, Timo Makinen, Paddy Hopkirk, Paul Easter and Willy Cave to name but a few were all were keen to come out of retirement to relive former glories.

Now there is a chance for potential entrants to savour that same sprit in the form of the 32^nd Classic Marathon across the rallying tableaux that is wonderful country of Greece in 2027.