Mille Miglia 2022 – heat kills a third of the participants

Once again, the Mille Miglia, described by Enzo Ferrari as the “most beautiful race in the world”, took participants through regions where the Italian passion for motorsport was born. The classic car rally ended with the triumphant arrival in Brescia, including the traditional parade on Viale Venezia.

By: Dirk Ivens and Guy Verhulst

Tens of thousands of spectators followed the participating cars along the course. These cars must be of the same type as the cars that competed in the original Mille Miglia. The president of the 58-member jury for the “Women's World Car of the Year” award, Marta Garcia, and Italian jury member Ilaria Salzano accompanied the car race in a Alfa Romeo Tonale, the brand's first electric SUV. It is currently celebrating its premiere at dealers in many European countries.

Alfa Romeo

With eleven victories between 1927 and 1957 Alfa Romeo the most successful brand in the Mille Miglia. Then the most prestigious road race in the world. In 1977, the Mille Miglia was revived as a classic car rally. This year it took place for the 40th time. And again a team rode in one Alfa Romeo to victory.

Like last year, Andrea Vasco and co-pilot Fabio Salvinelli were celebrated as winners. The two Italians shared a 92-year-old Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport with Zagato body. A vehicle of this type won the Mille Miglia in 1929. For Vasco this is already the third victory in a row.
Just like last year, Andrea Luigi Belometti and Gianluca Bergomi came in second with a 221 Lancia Lambda Spider Tipo 1929.

Third on the podium was car number 8 of Lorenzo and Mario Turelli in a 665 OM 2000 SMM Superba 1929. Silvia Marini and Irene Dei Tos won the 'Coppa delle dame' in a 40 Bugatti T1929. For Silvia Marini this was her first sixth win.

taste

The 1000 Miglia, an intense and demanding race, demanded great skill from the crews on 115 timed stages and 8 intermediate stages. The tests took place on the Capodimonte dirt road, on the shores of Lake Bolsena.
Four special trophies were linked to those time trials. Lorenzo and Mario Turelli, in a 665 OM 2000 S MM Superba 1929, received the Nuvolari Trophy, dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the birth of Tazio Nuvolari.
To Giovanni Moceri and Valeria Dicembre with a Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super Sport from 1928 was awarded the Trophy of the Republic of San Marino. Andrea Vesco and Fabio Salvinelli, the winners of the race, also won the City of Siena Trophy. The 'Century of the Monza Circuit' trophy was won by Alberto and Giuseppe Bachelor in a 665 OM 2000 SMM Superba 1929.

It goes without saying that this edition would be tough because of the heat with daily temperatures of around 35°C. As a result, a third of classic cars dropped out. In some closed cars the temperature sometimes rose to 70°C, causing the pilots and co-pilots to bathe in sweat. That wouldn't have been really healthy. Since the Coronavirus, the Mille Miglia has been driven in June. Hopefully the next editions will be held again in May.

Stage 1 – Wednesday 15 June
After the departure from Brescia, the cars drove towards Lake Garda where they first visited Salò, then Desenzano del Garda and Sirmione. From there they drove through the Sigurtà Garden Park, Mantua and Ferrara to finally reach Cervia-Milano Marittima before the end of the first day.

Stage 2 – Thursday 16 June

From Cervia-Milano Marittima the route led to Forlì, followed by a climb to San Marino, a descent inland to Passignano sul Trasimeno, through Norcia to end the stage with the Roman footbridge of Via Veneto in Rome.

Stage 3 – Friday 17 June

After leaving Rome, the cars had to climb up to Ronciglione and then to Siena from where they drove via Pontedera and Cascina to Viareggio to reach Parma and finish the third day.

Stage 4 – Saturday June 18

On the final day, the cars immediately started a series of tests at the Varano de Melegari circuit, then passed through Salsomaggiore Terme, Stradella, Pavia before reaching the Monza racetrack. There, the teams, together with the MIMO Milano Monza Motor Show, were able to demonstrate their skills with stopwatches and pressure switches on the track.

Traditionally, the route covers about 1600 km (1000 mi) from Brescia in northern Italy to the capital Rome and back. But this year more than 1800 km were driven. The last stage from Parma to Brescia passed places that play an important role in the past and present of Alfa Romeo. Among those places also the circuits of Varano and Monza. This last Formula 1 circuit will celebrate its 2022th birthday in 100.