When madness collides with the highest level of prestige imaginable, where does it end up? On a frozen lake in one of the most luxurious winter resorts on the planet: St. Moritz. This is The Ice, and it ticks absolutely every box.
Picture this: the craziest cars from every generation, worth millions and millions of euros, casually driving on a frozen lake. Let that sink in for a moment. Multi-million-euro automotive icons, sideways on ice. It’s something the average mind simply can’t comprehend, yet it’s very real. We’re talking about cars like the McLaren F1 GTR, Nissan R390 GT1, Porsche 996 GT1, Ferrari F50, Bugatti Bolide, and many more. Machines that usually live behind velvet ropes or in climate-controlled collections are unleashed onto ice, right in front of your eyes.
The origins of The Ice
The roots of this incredible event go all the way back to 1985. To mark the centenary of a historic sporting event, a group of British members of the competition, led by Scotsman Keith Schellenberg, celebrated in a very special way. They drove a handful of cars, their Vintage Bentley tourers, onto the frozen lake for the very first time.
What began as a bold vision slowly transformed into a goal. The goal became a project, and the project was shared, proposed, and discussed. Over decades, local and international authorities debated whether this idea could truly become reality.
Eventually, enthusiasm grew. The municipality of St. Moritz and Badrutt’s Palace immediately supported the concept, followed by partners and sponsors who provided the decisive backing. The result is what we now know as The Ice: a one-of-a-kind automotive spectacle unlike anything else in the world.
Legendary cars and legendary owners
Let’s take a closer look at some of the participants and their cars.
One that truly stood out was the Nissan R390 GT1, owned by none other than former Formula 1 and Le Mans driver Érik Comas. His R390, proudly wearing the iconic Pennzoil livery, was converted to be street-legal back in 1997. Comas raced the R390 GT1 at Le Mans in 1997 and 1998, and nearly three decades later, he was driving one across a frozen lake in Switzerland. That alone is insane.
Another absolute highlight was the first-ever Koenigsegg, the CC Prototype, which made the journey all the way from Dubai. Seeing the very first Koenigsegg in person is on another level entirely. This historic “Egg” didn’t come alone either, it was joined by the CC850, Jesko Attack, Jesko Absolut, and the infamous candy red Agera R, which could be spotted driving around town.
From Porsche, one car completely stole my heart: the 996 GT1. This is without question the craziest street-legal Porsche ever built. Just look at it, the wide shoulders, the massive rear wing, the proportions. It screams in every possible way.
Bugatti on ice… Because why not?
As if that wasn’t enough, imagine this: not one, but three track-only Bugatti Bolides driving on ice. Yes, that actually happened. A red one, a blue one, and a black one, all unleashed onto the frozen lake. Completely surreal doesn’t even begin to describe it.
And it didn’t stop there. At the Bugatti booth, three Veyrons were on display, parked right next to two Rimac Neveras. The people attending were just as insane as the cars themselves, we’re talking about Mate Rimac and Christian von Koenigsegg casually being there.
A show in the sky
The action wasn’t limited to the ground. Above our heads, we witnessed a stunning performance by the Patrouille Suisse, flying their F-5 Tiger jets in tight formations. It was nothing short of spectacular.
From time to time, various private jets also flew overhead, casually reminding everyone of the pure luxury surrounding this place. One aircraft that really stood out was the DC Aviation Malta Airbus A318-112 ACJ Elite, with the perfectly fitting callsign “9H-ICE.”
The king of the show
For me personally, the true king of the event was the McLaren F1 GTR wearing the legendary Lark livery. Seeing it out on the ice, covered in snow, being driven the way it was meant to be driven, that image is burned into my memory.
And it wasn’t the only F1 present. There was also a road-going McLaren F1, finished in a gorgeous dark blue. Two F1s in one place is already rare. Seeing them in these conditions is something else entirely.
Even now, just thinking back and writing about what we experienced last weekend feels unreal. Did this really happen? It’s absolutely insane, in the best possible way.
Rally legends unleashed
We also can’t forget the rally cars. Machines like the Porsche 959 Dakar, Audi Sport Quattro S1, and Lancia Delta S4 were driven completely flat out. When these cars came flying past, you were instantly covered in snow. The sound, especially those brutal turbo noises, was next level and sent chills down your spine.
Should you go to The Ice?
So, should you go to The Ice in St. Moritz? Absolutely. Without hesitation.
This is something you have to experience in person. Just make sure you pack seriously warm clothes, because temperatures range between -10°C and -15°C, especially in the mornings when the sun hasn’t reached the lake yet, it gets brutally cold.
In the afternoons, particularly on Saturday, we were blessed with magnificent blue skies and sunshine, which made the cold much more bearable.
There is an overwhelming amount to see and experience. At times, it almost becomes too much, the entire town is alive, and everywhere you look there’s something incredible happening. Your mind can barely process it all in the moment. Thankfully, Sunday gives you some time to reflect, as the main event takes place on Friday and Saturday.
Final thoughts
To sum it up: we had an absolute blast at The Ice. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime type of experience, even if you’re lucky enough to attend more than once.
Now, we’re ready to let spring and summer arrive, enjoy warmer temperatures, and see more incredible cars out on the roads again. But one thing is certain:
We’ll be back next year. See you there.
Photos by DAX.Photography
