Castel Driving Days 2025 - Driving pleasure, mountain passes and golden October

I had deliberately planned half a day for the first day. No marathon to greet me, but a gentle but atmospheric start. From Castel, the route led through the Passeier Valley up to the Timmelsjoch - Austria's highest road border crossing at 2,474 metres and the only passable crossing of the main Alpine ridge between Reschen and Brenner.

The road connecting the Ötztal and Passeiertal valleys was only opened to traffic in 1968 - decades of road construction under the most adverse conditions lie behind this route. In October, however, it almost belongs to us alone: empty hairpin bends, quiet pass roads, only the sound of the engines and the view of the autumn-coloured slopes of the Texel Group Nature Park.

After a coffee break at the impressive Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum right at the top of the pass - one of the highest museums in Austria with 350 exhibits - we headed back south.

But not directly: a diversion took us to the Plonerhof winery in Marling, where our sommelier Ivana Capraro appeared especially for us and organised an exclusive tasting together with the winemaker's family. It was a calm, beautiful start - and in the evening, anyone who wanted to met up with me at the bar for a welcome aperitif.

Short briefing in the morning, roadbooks explained, then we went to the vehicles. For me, the choice was clear again: my beloved BMW 3.0 CSL - a classic that makes even more sense on these roads than anywhere else. At 222 kilometres, the second tour was the second longest of the driving days and it had everything you'd expect from a good driving day: varied routes, surprising views and a lunch that was too good to finish quickly.

From Castel, the route led over the high road to Vöran and Mölten down to Terlan - always towards the sun, beautiful. Over narrow roads up to Steinegg, then through the flowing route between Birchabrugg and Aldein with autumnal glowing colours on every slope. Then the view down into the Adige Valley and over the vineyards of South Tyrol's south - a panorama that breathes.

Lunch at the Panholzer restaurant, idyllically situated on the edge of the South Tyrolean wine landscape, was one of those moments when nobody wanted to get up. Sunshine, warmth, Daniel Giuliani's cuisine. We sat and sat.

But the highlights afterwards were motivating: the steep rock face of the Mendel Pass, where the engine noise was reflected back like in an amphitheatre, and the wide high plateau near Fondo, from where the route leads over to the Ulten Valley - a route that simply invites you to ride out. Out of the valley through autumnal countryside down to Lana and back to the Castel. Everyone is thrilled.

I had something planned for this day: I was taking my Dallara Stradale with me for the first time. A car that raises questions before you get in - and provides answers as soon as you drive it. The seating position is so low that you feel like you're sitting right on the road.

The handling is so direct that every bend goes straight to the core. I had to get used to it first. But from midday onwards, it was warm enough to drive with the tyres open. And in the Dallara, "open" really means "open" and nature, including the sounds and smells, is all around you. I was euphoric.

We were accompanied on this day by photographer Patrick, who captured the participants on the passes. From the shady Passeier Valley, we headed up to the Jaufen Pass - at 2,094 metres, the northernmost Alpine pass in Italy and one of the most beautiful connections between Merano and the Eisack Valley. A short refreshment stop at the new Edelweißhütte hut at the top of the pass, then down towards Sterzing. But just before that: turn right onto the Penserjoch. This stage has stuck in my mind. 2.211 metres high, hardly another car far and wide, a flowing, beautiful stretch of road, and the view of the Sarntal Alps that goes on and on. We lingered together at the top and enjoyed the view.

Down through the Sarntal valley and then up to Klobenstein on the Ritten. There, the brothers Werner and Hannes Pirbamer welcomed us to their charming restaurant with great food and warm hospitality. Afterwards: through the back roads of Bolzano, up the corkscrew bends to Jenesien with a dream view over the provincial capital, onwards via Mölten and Hafling back to Merano. An eventful day that will stay in your head for a long time.

Tour number four is a tradition at the ride days. It is always the same - and always different. The big Dolomite tour with eight passes to Cortina d'Ampezzo and back, over 300 kilometres, the longest day. Photographer Patrick was there again. I had planned an earlier start.

From Bolzano: only dream roads. Past the Rosengarten, over the Niger Pass, along the Latemar, over the Karer Pass down into the Fassa Valley - in October in quiet tranquillity, hard to believe for anyone who knows the valley from summer. Up to Passo Fedaia with the Marmolada on the right, its glacier glowing in the autumn light. Over beautiful mountain roads to the Passo di Giau - for many in the group the most beautiful ride of the tour. 2.236 metres, 55 hairpin bends, the panorama of the Ampezzo Dolomites in all directions. A pass that also became a legend in the Giro d'Italia.

In Cortina d'Ampezzo, we saw the intensive construction work for the Winter Olympics - but we weren't stressed. Lunch at the Dolomiti Lodge, in the fresh air, with a view of this mountain theatre. Too beautiful to get up. And yet: four more passes still lay ahead of us. Falzarego, Pordoi and Sella Pass - in autumn in colours that can hardly be put into words. Through Val Gardena, over the Panider Sattel, along the Eisack Valley to Bolzano, then back to Merano on the motorway. As every year: a great finish.

In the evening, I invited everyone to the traditional "Driver's Table" at the bar. Everyone came - including the co-drivers. We reviewed our impressions, talked about lines, bends, engines and moments. The kind of petrol talk you only have with like-minded people.