Modena Cento Ore 2017 competitors are preparing to depart for this year’s four day event which will take competitors through Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany: from Rimini to Florence, Forte dei Marmi and Modena. There will also be three races held at the Misano, Magione and Mugello racetracks and 12 hill climbs on roads closed to normal traffic.
The Route:
The 2017 Route The route will cross Italy from east to west with a chain of spectacular legs, that the public is invited to come and watch. The marvellous cars will set out from Rimini on June 7th for their first challenge on the track at the Marco Simoncelli Misano World Circuit, and then drive through San Marino, Sasso Simone and Simoncello Regional Park, Pennabilli, the Spino Pass, Chiusi della Verna, Bibbiena, the Croce ai Mori Pass, Casentino Forest National Park, and the Consuma Pass.
The second leg will set out from Florence on June 8th and cross the Impruneta region to Magione Racetrack. It will continue the drive through Lisciano Niccone, Cortona, and Arezzo before returning to Florence.
On June 9th, the Cento Ore leaves Florence for the Mugello Circuit for an adrenalin rush on the racetrack, before driving through Garfagnana, Barga, il Ciocco and Pietrasanta. The leg will finish at Forte dei Marmi, one of the most famous resorts on the Versilia coast.
Leg four will set out from Forte dei Marmi on June 10th and cross the Apuan Alps, entering Emilia across the Abetone Pass and bringing the day to a close at Modena, the heart of the ‘Motor Valley’. At Modena, the procession of cars will parade through Parco Novi Sad before reaching Piazza Grande, where the public will be able to watch the arrival of the splendid cars as they line up below the Ghirlandina bell tower.
Ranking:
Results are calculated by adding the times of the track races together with the times of the special stages. There is also a ‘regularity’ stage held after the speed trials, following the same programme but with a more relaxed approach, with timed track races and average speed trials on roads closed to normal traffic, for crews who would rather relax and enjoy the drive.
Who is taking part:
The organisers have confirmed one hundred successful applications; 65 of these will take part in the speed trials and 35 will follow in the regularity section. 18 motor vehicle manufacturers will be represented with Ferrari taking the lead, carefully selected to reflect the celebrations of the Maranello firm’s 70th anniversary.
There are 29 crews from the UK and dozens more drivers, to name a few; previous winners Phillip Walker and Howard Redhouse will be looking to take the top prize in the classic class as they have previously in the Jaguar E-Type. Katarina Kyvalova also enters with her Jaguar E-Type Semi lightweight. No less than four Ferrari 250 GT SWB are on this year’s entry list including Joe Macari and Adrian/Nicholas Beecroft from the UK. We waved off our 1954 Healey 100/4 to be the only 100 joining the event which starts next Tuesday. Porsche crews always fair well and this year Mark Sumpter enters with a Porsche 904 Carrera GTS and should be looking keen. Ben Cussons returns with a Porsche 911 S and Karsten & Sarah Le Blanc join the Porsche posse in a 3.0 RSR. Jeremy Cooke and Mike Dowd also return to the event after crashing out last year in their Lotus Elan 26R. You can find out how we all got on in two weeks time!
Full entry list can be found here
The Modena Cento Ore is the only Italian event in 2016 that was nominated for the Rally of the Year at the International Historic Motoring Awards, the “Oscars” for the best classic car events in the world! For the second year running, the Cento Ore was on the shortlist of the best events in the world.
The programme is further enhanced by sampling the finest foods and wines of the four cities that will be hosting the rally: Rimini, Florence, Forte dei Marmi, and Modena.
