History 1960s

1962 Rallye du Danube (Romania)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1962 Rallye du Danube

Date: October 1962

Start/Finish Location: Bucharest, Romania

Total Distance: Approximately 1,700 kilometers

Total Entries: 48 crews

Total Starters: 44 crews

Total Finishers: 32 crews

As the penultimate round of the 1962 ERC season, the Rallye du Danube carried both sporting and geopolitical weight. Staged across rugged Balkan terrain, it mixed long-distance gravel stages with steep climbs and time penalties for navigation errors — all under the watchful eye of Cold War observers. Crews had to be adaptable, strategic, and mechanically prepared to survive the shifting terrain and tight Eastern Bloc regulations.

Route

Southern Carpathians: Included foggy, steep climbs and descents on loose gravel and eroded roads.
Transylvanian Plateau: Mixed surface sectors demanded careful suspension setup and precise navigation to avoid road penalties.
Danube River Valley: High-speed regularity sections along long, open gravel straights flanked by cliffs and farmland.

The rally traversed several Romanian provinces, including the Carpathians and Danube valley. Roads ranged from mountain gravel to broken asphalt:

Fuel stops and service areas were sparse, and checkpoints were closely monitored, making strategy and route familiarity vital to success.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Eugen Böhringer & Peter Lang · Mercedes-Benz 220 SE
2nd Place
René Trautmann & Claudine Bouchet · Citroën ID 19
3rd Place
Arpad Roth & Gyula Szabó · Skoda Octavia TS

Böhringer’s victory reaffirmed his domination of the 1962 season. His ability to manage the Mercedes’ weight and torque through Romania’s roughest roads set the benchmark, while Citroën’s suspension gave Trautmann consistent pace and comfort. Privateers in Skodas and Dacias earned praise for surviving the brutal terrain.

Navigation & Challenges

The Rallye du Danube presented a rare blend of political formality and raw rallying difficulty:

  • Checkpoint Precision: Penalties were severe for missed controls; timing mattered more than raw pace in many zones.
  • Remote Terrain: Sparse service options made mechanical self-reliance essential, especially for smaller teams.
  • Weather Exposure: Autumn rain and wind in the Carpathians turned gravel to mud and made visibility a constant issue.

The 1962 Rallye du Danube stood out as a grueling Cold War-era challenge, where performance, precision, and perseverance determined survival.

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