'The Junkers plane which German mechanics fly behind the participants of the Challenge'. Katowice was one of the last stops in the 9537.4 km rally of this event, organised in Warsaw. Clearly the Challenge International de Tourisme was not just a friendly meeting of some private pilots. Ex D-2468, this was a goverment-operated Flugbereitschaft aircraft. Lufthansa aircraft name Joachim von Schröder does not seem to be worn. Photo from: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe

Interesting comparison between the Fi 97 and the Messerschmitt Bf 108, D-IMUT / 14. Photo from: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe

The 1934 Challenge International de Tourisme was organised in Warsaw but here the Polish and German participants are seen in Berlin, one of the first waypoints in a 9537.4 km rally: roughly Warsaw - Brussels - Casablanca - Tunis - Rome - Vienna - Prague - Warsaw. The Polish machines are RWD-9s and PZL P-26s. The RWD-9 did very well: Jerzy Bajan in SP-DRD won the general classification of the Challenge, Stanisław Płonczyński in SP-DRC, top left, came second and Jan Buczyński in SP-DRE took fifth place overall. In the background are the German Fieseler Fi 97s, Klemm Kl 32s and Messerschmitt Bf 108s. All five types were designed specifically for this event.

Short take-off trial over an 8 m (26 ft) high barrier at the international contest for touring aircraft. Kurt Bayer in D-IBYR was 12th in the final classification. Photo from: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe

The Bf 108 was designed for the 1934 Challenge International de Tourisme and four examples took part. The Bf 108s won the maximum speed and fuel consumption trials, but did less well in the slow trials. Karl Francke in the V4 prototype, D-IGAK, ended tenth overall. This particular aircraft was powered by an Argus As 17B engine. Photo from: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe

The Challenge International de Tourisme was a European touring aircraft contest. The fourth and last edition was organised by the Polish Aero Club in 1934. Nationalism ran high and new aircraft were designed specially for the event, including the Fi 97. Its wing had high-lift devices similar to those of the Fi 156 Storch. Five Fi 97s, perhaps the total production, took part in the Challenge. Argus As 17-powered D-IPOS / 19, on the left , took third place behind two Polish RWD-9 aircraft. D-IVIF / 17 had a Hirth HM 8U. It was flown by the engine maker's brother, Wolf Hirth, a well known glider pilot and builder. Number 24 is a Klemm Kl 36. Photo from: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe