Day 4 – Audi R8 V10 and Passo Pordoi, Rondo Sella + Staller Sattel among others

After a good night's sleep, we headed for the Dolomites again. On our "schedule" for the day: the Sella round = 4 passes within one hour's drive.

But before we got there, some (lot's) of Kilometers on the Autostrada from Como, via Milano, Bergamo, passing Verona and heading to Bolzano. An uneventful part of today's journey, except that the V10 sound & easy drivability of the Audi R8 made the hours pass by quickly.

We finally arrived in the vicinity of our target for the day. Therefore we decided to have lunch before really getting on with the business of pushing the R8 V10 up the mountain passes.

Just by luck we stopped at the Hotel Alpenrose near Lake Carezza / Karer See.

The food was good, the scenery from the lunch table breathtaking.

Next up: Ronda Sella = Passo Pordoi + Passo Campolongo + Passo di Gardena + Passo Sella.

No pics on the way up to Passo Pordoi, as I drove, BUT let me tell you – one of my Top3 Alpine passes for this trip.

A short rest for the R8 V10 at Passo Pordoi. We brought the oil temperature up to 120°C. Nothing to worry: Red at 150°C.

With the Audi R8 V10 - you never stay alone for long. And always get positive responses.

Heading down to Arabba. Yes, sometimes you are stuck behind this…with the R8 V10 not for long though

Gives you a chance to enjoy the scenery

Same mountain, different car. The Audi R8 V10 looks great from every angle.

No pics of Passo Campolongo – more or less a drive through pass.

But here is Passo di Gardena

Wait, what have we here?

A small Brother of our Audi R8 V10 = Audi R8 V8 all white (=white side blades)

As there is still a lot on this day's agenda…

Off we go to Passo Sella

Our permanent companions in the background

More impressions Audi R8 V10 at Passo Sella

Doing the Ronda Sella counterclockwise and coming from our direction resulted in another drive over Passo Pordoi ((-:

After that we headed straight for the Staller Sattel.

The very long day is slowly coming to an end – last stop before the "Traffic light" at Staller Sattel

To give you an idea: the Spaghetti is the ONE way stretch on the Italian side

Größere Kartenansicht

Maybe you understand now, why there is a One way regulation by a traffic light.

Audi R8 V10 at Staller Sattel - waiting for the Green

From here on it was downhill towards Lienz in Tirol

It was a long day, most Km/day of the trip. But the most Alpine passes as well. Good tradeoff, if you ask me.

Größere Kartenansicht

View from our Hotel in Lienz.

What's left for the last episode:

my summarizing thoughts about our Audi R8 V10 Alpine adventure.

One thing I can give away right now: Since this trip I'm hooked to the Audi R8 V10 - THE most desirable car in the world, for me that is.

And since this trip, I am Alpine passes addicted.

As this was my 40th birthday present - from now on, every year is 40th birthday year ((-:

Who knows, maybe – with some goodwill from Audi we can surpass this trip next year.

Just imagine Audi R8 V10 Spyder + double the passes - as an appetizer:

Grimsel, Susten, Julier, Maloja, Nufenen…

Day3 / part 2 – St. Moritz & Monte Spluga, passo San Bernardino, Lake Como

After the descend from Passo Stelvio (west side) we ended up being in an Alpine elevated plain not dropping below 1.600 m (5.200 ft) and passing Ofenpass (2.149m / 7.050 ft) and Ova Spin (1.850m / 6.069 ft).

Another Alpine panorama & Audi R8 V10 sequence

We were headed for St. Moritz and passed this beautiful spot on the way.

Lake & mountains & R8 V10

Then we finaly made it to St. Moritz were we wanted to grab a late lunch.

Some impressions from St. Moritz

But what was this crowd all about?

"Bum Bum" Becker's wedding it was.
Maybe under other circumstances we might have "joined" the celebrations (-: But with an Audi R8 V10 waiting in the carpark and two Alpine passes ahead – no way!

Before we left – another Audi "classic"

Audi RS4 B5 in St. Moritz

Some impressions around St. Moritz – in "slow" traffic we really could enjoy the scenery out of the R8 V10.




Monte Spluga (2.113m / 6.932 ft.) – not much to say from my side. Not bad, but not exceptional either. Maybe we are already spoiled after Passo Stelvio

But it was good for this "beauty shoot"

Next we headed for San Bernardino (2.065m / 6.774 ft.). A lot of long sweepers, beautiful scenery and, as on most of our R8 journey – lot's of motorbikes.




After some "fast" Km on the Swiss autobahn we finally arrived in Como. Not much to tell about Como, as it was already late – we had a long day behind us with 4 2000+ m. /6.700+ ft. passes and just went for dinner. Except that I cannot recommend Palace Hotel - great location, lousy service.

This is the proof that my minimalistic packing was not really necessary. Dr. Z. had his Remowa of similar size behind the Co-driver seat. Which means, there is plenty of luggage room in the R8 V10.



Day 4 will have the 4 passes Sella round with Passo Pordoi (one of my top3 of the trip) and the last pass of the trip (with partial - traffic light directed - one way stretch) Staller Sattel.