GstaadLife

Way back when we began this website, GL.com would spend quite a lot of time reporting the exploits of the Gstaad Automobile Club. There were two Transafricaine rallies from Paris to Dakar, another trans-asian one for charity from St Petersburg to Beijing, a day of classic endurance racing at the Nürburgring, a day of classic formula one in Monaco, a couple of local rallies in collaboration with the Gstaad Yacht Club, a couple of winter driving courses, and more than a few fun cocktail evenings. During this time GAC has evolved, not so much in member numbers -- the club remains strictly invitation-only -- but more in terms of its place on the local car scene, with December 2007 seeing the opening of a new clubhouse in Feutersoey. This summer there has been another big step for GAC with the formalization of its modern endurance racing team. Sure there were always a few club members such as Stanislas de Sadeleer and Karim Ojjeh (pictured center above) who were regulars on the grand European circuits, racing everything from classic Formula 1 to the modern prototype endurance racing of the Le Mans Series (pictured below).

But this year the prototypers got serious...with a brand new car and team setup, the addition of professional driver Phillip Peter (pictured left above), results that see them doing fantastically in the standings for a rookie team, and a shiny new website to keep up with the all the action.

The site is great, chock full of background info, race stats, exclusive photos and video, and, our personal favorite, the journal-style cockpit accounts of the races like this one from Karim Ojjeh. The Gstaad Auto Club endurance team's next race is the big one, the 24 Heures du Mans from June 13-14, and you can follow all the action on Eurosport, MotorsTV and of course at www.gac-racingteam.com.

Top: From left to right, Phillip Peter, Karim Ojjeh, and Claude-Yves Gosselin contemplate a day's racing at this year's LM P2 season-opener in Barcelona.

2nd and 3rd from top: the GAC team's Zytek 07S car, unveiled to the public at a cocktail in Feutersoey just before Christmas 2008.

Above: Stanislas de Sadeleer (left) and Hansueli Brand (right) give the check of SFr 8,500 to the sons of Chinderhuus chief Patric Bill (center), Elia and Gian.

Paris to Dakar is known to everybody - but there is a harder one: the Transorientale Rally from St Petersburg to Peking. Stanislas de Sadeleer and Hansueli Brand did it (click here for our coverage) and arrived safe and sound at the finish line in Peking. On Saturday October 25, they held a charity apéro with a slideshow and movie of their experience and handed over two checks totaling SFr 17,000 to the Chinderhuus Ebnit Gstaad and the organization Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque/Enfants du Monde. "We collected the money to help organizations that help children. If you have the luck to fullfill such a dream, you should also use the platform to pass on some of this luck", said a thrilled Brand.

Earlier this year, we followed Hansueli Brand and Stanislas de Sadeleer of the Gstaad Automobile Club as they competed in one of the longest and hardest offroad rallies in the world from St Petersburg to Peking. Now that Hansueli and Stan are back they are throwing a Transorientale Charity party which will feature a handing-over ceremony of the money collected for the Chinderhuus Ebnit Gstaad and the organization Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque/Enfants du Monde. Saturday October 25 2008 is the day, Kirchgemeindehaus Gstaad is the place (church community building opposite of the Bellevue in Gstaad), and all are invited. During the event, they will show a film and a slideshow at 16h00 and 18 h00. Mark the day in your calendars, and click on the video below for a taste of their experience...

Known as the local Land Rover man, Hansueli Brand races cars, has traveled the world, and holds grass ski-racing titles. An adventurer, a philanthropist, and a local businessman, Brand philosophizes on life, family, traditions, work and how he sees his homeland changing.

By Diana Oehrli

Not knowing anything about the world of car racing—or even cars for that matter—we asked Hansueli Brand, 48, the most naive of questions: “Have you done any Formula One racing?” A laugh creased across his face as he replied: “No not Formula One, that’s my handicap. I’m too big and too fat. You have to be under 60 kilos and measure no more than a meter 60.”

Fat would probably be the last word to describe Brand, who is tall, fit and tan. With a certain ease and joviality, Brand, gave us a tour of the Gstaad Automobile Club house in Feutersoey. President and co-founder of the by-invitation-only society of car hobbyists, Brand pointed to the member trophy windows, containing classical car racing plaques which he and club members have won over the years. Names such as the Tour Auto Lissac that Brand won in 2005 with Alex de Lesseps figure alongside the Transafricaine and Paris-Dakar rallies. Most recently, this past June Brand and his partner, Stanislas de Sadeleer, won third place in the regularity category in the Transorientale Rally, a 10,000 km-race starting in St Petersburg Russia and ending in Beijing China (click here for day-by-day race coverage).

SFr 5,469.60

"We are proud of our 3rd place in the Regularity category. As always we as a team got on so well together. The car was well-prepared and gave us no problems. Without her we would not be here. The rally was extremely challenging for drivers and their vehicles. A big thanks to all those who with their generous donations and sponsorship have helped children in need. Hansueli and Stan."

Above: Hansueli Brand (left) on the winners' podium for the Regularity category.

Account for donations: Saanen Bank, IBAN CH 81 06342016019849010

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is sponsored by ING Private Banking

Click here to read all our articles on the Transorientale, with more pictures and videos.

SFr 4,919.60

They did it: the Gstaad Transorientale 08 team arrived in Beijing, after managing to hold on to 3rd place in the Regularity category. They drove consistantly: 10,000 km over 17 days; crossing Russia, Kazakhstan and China. At first they had torrential rains which made the roads slippery, and the potholes even more difficult to avoid. Then came the intolerable desert heat and high sand dunes. The Gstaad Automobile Club team’s participation has been made even more worthwhile thanks to all the donations received to help children in need. It’s quite a feat, and here at GstaadLife.com we would sincerely like to congratulate Hans Ueli Brand and Stanislas de Sadeleer for having lived up to the challenge, and for having done so brilliantly. Well done!

Our warmest thanks go to those of you who have already made a donation to Chinderhuus Ebnit, Gstaad, and the charity organization Mecenariat Heart Surgery / Enfants du Monde.

Account for donations: Saanen Bank, IBAN CH 81 06342016019849010

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is sponsored by ING Private Banking

Gstaad Automobile Club’s rally team is sponsored by ING Private Banking Switzerland. The financial institute has partnered with GAC ever since Hansueli Brand and Stanislas de Sadeleer set off on their first rally adventure from Paris to Dakar two years ago. In the meantime ING have also taken a pole position in sponsoring F1 racing. They are Renault’s main sponsor, and also the title sponsor of races in Austrailia, Belgium and Hungary. Yet ING also shares the Gstaad rally team’s humanitarian mission. The ING 'Chances for Children' Program supports UNICEF in providing education for kids. In 2007, more than 115,000 children received schooling access through this scheme. In Switzerland, ING supports the Theodora Stiftung Foundation. This foundation is known for sending clown doctors to lighten the mood amongst children in clinics.

SFr. 4'919.60

Sweating it out in the desert with temperatures reaching 50 degrees, the Gstaad Transorientale 08 team is almost at the end of their long journey. Desite their exhaustion and some minor technical problems, all is well. Our sister blog, AnzeigervonSaanen.ch, has been receiving text messages and photos sent personally by Hansueli Brand and Stanislas de Sadeleer. Enjoy!

June 24:
“Dear people of Saanenland, dear friends. After two days in the 50 degree desert heat, we and our machines have been pushed to the limit. Here, the sand dunes are not the same as in Africa, and it’s tough going: It’s almost impossible to drive over them, especially behind trucks. We’re still ranked 3rd, but where there’s no risk, there’s no gain! Many thanks for all the donations. The kids here show so much joy. There's no place like home... Regards, Hansueli.”

June 25:
“We’re getting closer to Beijing. We’re tired and exhausted and dreaming about a hot shower! Hansueli did a good job repairing the car. Apart from both the tripmasters not working properly, she’s running well. At the moment, we’re still 3rd in the interim Regularity category, but it will be difficult to keep our place. Only three more days… Stan.

Click here to see more videos of the Transorientale 08.

You, too, can participate by making a donation. Help the Gstaad Transorientale 08 team to help children in need. SFr 4,919.60 has already been collected in favor of Chinderhuus Ebnit, Gstaad, and the charity organization Mecenariat Heart Surgery / Enfants du Monde

Account for donations: Saanen Bank, IBAN CH 81 06342016019849010

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is sponsored by ING Private Banking

After a difficult week, Sunday was hardly a day of rest for Transorientale racer Hansueli Brand: more than five hours repairing the Discovery following the car’s untimely rendezvous with yet another pothole. In fact, it had been Hansueli's co-pilot, Stanislas de Sadeleer, who drove a tad hard into an unmarked bend, slammed on the brakes... next, the pothole. The vehicle was catapulted into another enormous hole, and might still be there if Stan had not had the good sense to stay off the brakes and let the car continue careening out of the other side of the depression. Exciting stuff, and worth the risk it seems, for the team from Gstaad is now in third place in the Regularity category. Both men are determined: onward to Beijing!

Stanislas de Sadeleer and Hansueli Brand are racing in aid of charity, helping children in need. Don’t forget to make your donation to this worthwhile cause.

Account for donations: Saanen Bank, IBAN CH 81 06342016019849010

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is sponsored by ING Private Banking

SFr 4,519.60

“The last few days which have been marked by several accidents, two of which were fatal, have been very difficult for everyone,” said Hans Ueli Brand. “The race is merciless. Driving for 12 hours per day over distances of about 700 km takes a lot more than one could imagine. Even though we're doing well, safety is our main concern.” After one of the past week's stages, Brand had to repair the Discovery’s cooling system which suffered some serious damage due to the large number of potholes along the road.

On Friday June 20, Stanislas de Sadeleer sent an sms to our sister blog AnzeigervonSaanen.ch:

“We’re at the border between Kazakhstan and China; we’ve been queuing for the past three hours… and will have to wait for at least another two. We feel washed out and very tired, but our morale is good! We’re fighting! Best wishes, Stan”

Above: Rally teams made a stop in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, where they where greeted by crowds celebrating the city's 10th anniversary.

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is racing in aid of Chinderhuus Ebnit, Gstaad, and the charity organization Mecenariat Heart Surgery / Enfants du Monde. Donatations to help children in need can be made throughout the rally .

Account for donations: Saanen Bank, IBAN CH 81 06342016019849010

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is sponsored by ING Private Banking