A rally-inspired journey across closed roads, open landscapes, and the quiet joy of driving

That Drivestonia happens in Estonia is no coincidence. Few countries combine a forward-thinking, digital-first mindset with this level of space, calm, and natural beauty. Forests stretch for kilometres, lakes open the horizon, and roads cut quietly through landscapes shaped by both history and restraint. Estonia’s past is complex, but its present is confident - modern, efficient, and refreshingly uncluttered. It’s the kind of place where a driving event like this doesn’t feel imposed, but inevitable.

Drivestonia is a non-competitive, rally-style driving event built around one central idea: putting cars back where they belong - on the road, in motion, driven with intent. Set on closed Estonian asphalt B-roads, the event uses special stages with no speed limits, following a format inspired by classic rallying but stripped of pressure and performance theatre.

There is no timing, no pace notes, and no reconnaissance. Cars start at one-minute intervals and follow a road book from stage to stage, allowing drivers to focus entirely on rhythm, feel, and connection rather than chasing numbers. Across the route, roughly 88 kilometres are driven on closed roads, embedded within a journey of around 600 kilometres that links Estonia’s countryside, towns, and coastline.

It’s not about winning. It’s about driving - properly.

Drivestonia was born from a simple frustration: that too many modern car events had drifted away from the act of driving itself. Roads became backdrops, cars became static objects, and the experience increasingly leaned toward spectacle rather than substance. The answer was not to create another show, but a moving experience - one where cars are used, not displayed. Drivestonia is organised by a father-and-son duo: Margus Murakas, a five-time Estonian rally champion, and Henri Murakas. Their rally background influences the structure of the event, including the road-book format and the organisation of the special stages, while the non-competitive nature remains central to the experience.

Over the years, the event has refined its format while steadily growing in scale and ambition. Each edition has focused on clarity: fewer distractions, better roads, stronger logistics, and a more considered rhythm across the days. The 2025 edition brought together 83 participating cars from across Europe, and for 2026 the ambition is to welcome up to 100 cars - a reflection of growing interest in the event and confidence in its direction.

By the time Drivestonia reaches its 2026 edition, running from 1 to 3 July, the concept feels fully formed. The route begins in Tartu, passes through Rakvere, and concludes in Tallinn - not as a checklist of locations, but as a narrative journey. Each city adds its own texture, from academic calm to compact historic charm, before ending by the Baltic Sea in Estonia’s capital.

Estonia is one of Europe’s most technologically advanced countries, yet it remains deeply connected to its landscape. With a population of just 1.3 million, the sense of space is tangible. Roads are well maintained, traffic is light, and the countryside feels open rather than curated. Northern Estonia offers coastal stretches along the Gulf of Finland, while the routes around Lake Peipus open into long, sweeping sections framed by quiet villages and expansive horizons. The contrast between fast, flowing roads and tighter, more technical sections rewards smooth inputs and mechanical sympathy - qualities that sit at the heart of Drivestonia’s philosophy.

For many participants, the journey to Drivestonia is part of the appeal. Driving from Berlin takes roughly 16 hours; from Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, or Bonn around 21 to 22 hours. Natural stopovers such as Warsaw or Kaunas in Lithuania turn the trip into a multi-day road journey before the event even begins. For those who prefer not to drive the full distance, Drivestonia works with experienced and trusted Estonian transport partners who have handled the logistics for cars such as Kimera and Dallara in previous years. Whether driven or transported, cars arrive ready for what matters most: being used.

Drivestonia isn’t defined by a single category of car. Instead, it brings together machines that share a common purpose: to be driven. From classics and youngtimers to modern performance cars, restomods, and carefully prepared road-legal machines, the emphasis is always on involvement rather than spectacle. Past editions have attracted an international field, with participants arriving from across Europe and a strong presence of driver-focused marques. What unites the field isn’t budget or badge, but intent.

For the 2026 edition, Bonnet Magazine joins Drivestonia as Official Media Partner. Our role is not to amplify noise, but to document what happens when cars, roads, and people align. Coverage will focus on long-form storytelling and considered photography - cars in motion, mechanical details, and moments that define the experience rather than the spectacle. Drivestonia is not an event that asks to be marketed; it asks to be observed. A limited number of participation packages for Drivestonia 2026 are still available. Further details and registration can be found at drivestonia.com.

Drivestonia doesn’t try to be everything. It doesn’t need to. It exists for those who still believe that driving is a skill, a sensation, and a dialogue between car and road. In a world increasingly defined by abstraction, it offers something refreshingly tangible: closed roads, freedom on the stages, open horizons, and the simple pleasure of driving - as it was meant to be.