The 2012 “L’Impérial - Rallye d’Exception” took participants on an exhilarating journey through Iceland, the land of Vikings and legends. The circuit revealed the stark beauty of this majestic island just south of the Arctic Circle, much to the delight of the tour’s participants.
Land of fire and ice
Iceland is a land of breathtaking contrasts, replete with geysers, glaciers, strikingly lunar volcanic landscapes, wildflower-covered prairies, fjords, icebergs, and quaint fishing ports. The island’s festive summer ambiance is accentuated by the seemingly-endless nights. The perfect backdrop for an Imperial Classic Car Tour, with each day unfolding like a new chapter of Jules Verne’s A Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Exceptional scenery for an unforgettable driving experience
Driving through Iceland’s often-surreal fairy-tale landscapes is both electrifying and enjoyable. After departing from Reykjavik, the tour made a first stop at Höfn, a small port town surrounded on three sides by the sea and located at the foot of Vatnajökull, or the ‘Glacier of Rivers’, the largest ice cap in Iceland and the third-largest in the world. The road to Höfn, first bordered by sand lagoons, then winds its way along the sea, which reflects a mirror image of the spectacular Álftafjörõur fjord. Tour participants got to enjoy a boat tour of the 260-meter-deep Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, where they marvelled at the myriad shades of blue – from radiant turquoise to deep cobalt – reflected in the passing icebergs. After a visit to Skaftaffell national park, tour participants took several small roads though an expansive desert of sand and volcanic ash to reach Kirjubæjarklaustur.
They then travelled along the Myrdalsjökull glacier to Vik, traversing stark new landscapes of sand and lava. Arriving at Skógafoss, or ‘Forest Falls’, tour participants beheld this immense 25-metre-long, 62- metre-high waterfall on the Skóga river. Next in line was another waterfall, Gullfoss, or ‘Golden Falls’, named after the delightful rainbows that form when the sunshine hits the waterfall’s mist. The gushing hot spring at Geysir, also known as The Great Geysir, was another highlight of this part of the trip. Several more surprises were in store for participants before returning to Reykjavik: Þingvellir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its visible fault line where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet; Reykholt, or ‘Smoke Valley’; and Snæfellsnes peninsula with its impressive volcano. Iceland’s magical, pristine landscapes were the undoubtedly the star of the 2012 “L’Impérial - Rallye d’Exception”, which gave participants a genuine once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Download the full record of the rally
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This is the opportunity to reflect on a very unusual journey.
L’Impérial Classic is the only French company to offer vintage car rallies worldwide, combining not only speed but also the art of living and passion for cars.
These rallies, each centred on an exceptional destination, offer splendour, sophistication and true French style and elegance. These watchwords go hand in hand with the quality and originality of the hospitality on offer.
L’Impérial Classic could be nothing other than top of the range, and is today a major player in the vintage rally world. It combines receptions and private visits, fascinating spectacles in unique sites with tailor-made organisation, providing travel through sumptuous countries to explore culture and hitherto undiscovered sights.
L’Impérial Classic retains its fundamental principles, the guarantee of its success and its trademark : unique routes, precise preparation and « haute couture » style, trips which offer each participating team the chance to live their dream.
As a new decade dawns for l’Impérial Classic two outstanding new projects have been announced (the South Africa in 2016 and the end of the world : New Zealand in 2017).