History

It was not before 1864 that the Glarus cantonal parliament commissioned the senior civil servant to plan a road over the pass. Construction of the 46.6 km long road from Altdorf to Linthal started in 1893 and it took six years to complete. In 1899 the Klausen mountain pass was opened for pedestrians and carriages. The 4.8-meter-wide road with the generously-sized curves and a maximum gradient of less than nine percent was meant to serve military purposes.

Like most Alpine passes in Switzerland, the Klausen pass remained for the time being closed for cars that spiralled with effort to the top. Free passage was given only to stagecoaches and heavy timber haulers. In 1922 a pioneering spirit captured the world of car racing. Spectacular racing cars thrilled the crowds at various races in France, Italy and England. Seeing that Switzerland couldn't lag behind. During this year, a car called Alpin was allowed to cross the pass. The Klausen pass was to become a testing place, as it would not be available again at home and abroad so soon. The first Klausenrace was advertised neither with a programme brochure nor a poster. Although it was still under the "disguise" of a mountain test drive, 14 real racing cars took part.

No other mountain section in Europe fascinated spectators and racers more than the 21.5 km long gravel road from Linthal via Urnerboden to the top of the pass.

The best racers in the world came together every year from 1922 to 1934. Their spectacular performances and their incredible records may have been forgotten by many. But still: A yellowed photograph or an old poster is enough to evoke the memories of performances of Caracciola, Stuck, Nuvolari, Chiron and all the other memorable names at the Klausen. The speedsters on fire-spitting racing cars chased and hurled, hissing and roaring on the gravel road over the Urnerboden, into the wild gorge, up to the target, the summit of the Klausen pass. The Klausenrace has long become a legendary event and the racers heroes. To commemorate the historic Klausenrace, the Klausenrace Memorial was launched. The commemorating event has been held four times so far: 1993, 1998, 2002 and 2006. It thrilled motorsport fans and classic car enthusiasts from all over the world.