DIRECTOR’S CUT THRILLING 100 MILES IN THE ALPS
Anyone who is passionate about the most beautiful roads in the world knows without a doubt that a large part of them can be found in Europe, including breathtaking scenery such as the San Bernardino Pass, the Stelvio Pass or the Atlantic Road. Whether it’s Europeans’ attention to detail or subsidies for road construction, the result is pure driving pleasure. And so the tour takes us to our neighbors in Switzerland. Switzerland has some incredible tracks to offer, living up to its reputation for applying the same precision to road construction as it does to watchmaking. Those who take the time to explore the country (even if only with Google Earth) will find wide asphalt and concrete tracks that wind through a mix of alpine escarpments, rural villages, and peaceful farmland. Every chicane, every embankment, every straight seems to be made for a fast ride. However, the speed limits must be strictly adhered to: the Swiss motorways (as well as all the secondary roads and passes) are peppered with enough flashes to make every lead foot feel like they are being followed by paparazzi at every turn and kilometre after kilometre.
If you follow us – Gohm or Bentley – on social media, you probably already know that we are always on the road alone or with our customers in Italy or in the Swiss Alps, with mountain tours, ski trips and also a good portion of mischief on the program. Even if our journey cannot be compared to the dangerous trade routes for which Switzerland was notorious, especially in the 19th century, we want to remember it at least as our own daring adventure with the freshly fallen fresh snow, the gigantic snowdrifts and the highly dramatic rides. One section at the end of the journey will stay with us forever – and this is where our story begins.
MISSION POSSIBLE EVERYTHING WENT WELL
The distance from Gstaad, the well-known ski resort in southwestern Switzerland, to Geneva, our destination and starting point, is around 160 kilometres, depending on the location. From the very beginning, we ignored the given route and relied entirely on the dynamic navigation system, which, after a short and (as we suspected) malicious calculation, suggested a winding route. A fascinating Grand Tourer Cabriolet with an unmistakable touch. The luxury grand tourer with style and character inspires at first glance. Despite the snow and the large amount of horsepower as well as the approaching departure time home, the solution seemed perfect. And we were right: during the journey, the route repeatedly offered us the opportunity to test the limits of the convertible – for example, when we climbed snow-capped mountains and crossed part of the breathtaking Susten Pass when open, or when our path led us over unique panoramas into mist-shrouded valleys. A dream vehicle, but we have never been more grateful for the all-wheel drive. Finally we reached the highway, rushed past the occasional flashing speed trap and daringly mixed into the traffic towards the city, finally arriving just in time for the agreed departure of my passenger to the USA. Although we both would have liked to stay another week to explore Switzerland further, the Bentley GTC, the espresso-driven driving speed and the clicking of the cameras (this time our own) provided a romantic-magical backdrop for what is likely to be a surrealist photo essay that we have been able to capture in snow, storm and sunshine so far.
Editor’s Pick:
There is even more to discover in Switzerland: GREAT ART #DIETER MEIER
