Gallery by Dave Brassington. For hi-res images please contact: info@autoaddicts.co.uk
The thirty-fourth Mille Miglia, the most famous street race of all time, was held from Thursday, 19 May, to Sunday, 22 May 2016. According to the tradition begun in 1927, the race course begins and ends in Brescia and takes place in four legs all over Italy, before and after the halfway point in Rome. With its unique combination of tradition, innovation, creativity, elegance, and scenic beauty, Mille Miglia is a symbol of Italian excellence for the whole world.
With 900 participants and 450 vintage cars the Mille Miglia has grown into an extraordinary spectacle, which this year was won by Italian duo Andrea Vesco and Andrea Guerini at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Zagato made in 1931.
Along 1800 km of roads, Vesco and Guerini positioned themselves in front in the thirty-fourth Freccia Rossa event, ahead of Luca Patron and Elena Scaramuzzi, in second place in the category, in an O.M. 665 Superba Sport 2000 CC from 1926, with 50,088 points, and Giordano Mozzi and Stefania Biacca, who placed third in an Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Gran Sport from 1933, with 49,262 points.
This years special category, reserved for entirely female crews, was won by Silvia Marini and Saskia Stoeckkelmann in a Riley 12/4 Sprite from 1936 who were awarded the Women’s Cup. They were ahead of the female teams of Loes and Annemarie Van De Velve, in second place in the category, in a Lagonda M 45 Rapide and ahead of two professional drivers, Susie Wolfe and Ellen Lohr, who placed third in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.
The race began in Brescia and involved four legs: the first was Thursday, 19 May, with arrival in Rimini. The second leg included Rome on Friday, 20 May. On Saturday, 21 May, the Freccia Rossa reached Parma, the third stop on the 2016 race course of the famous Mille Miglia. Sunday, 22 May, upon arrival in Brescia after the fourth leg, the chequered flag finally was waved for 450 classic automobiles. Before arrival at the finish line, the Freccia Rossa involved some timed trials in the Monza Autodrome. Victory belonged to the team of Maurizio Colpani and Pietro Giuseppe Grumelli, in a Bugatti T37. Second place went to Tiberio Cavalleri and Cristina Meini, at the wheel of a Lancia Lamda, and third place went to Kioto and Junko Takemoto in a Bugatti T 40. The winners received their awards from Ivan Capelli, President of ACI Milan.
The 2016 Mille Miglia race along the main streets of Brescia introduced a trophy in honour of Roberto Gaburri, the first president of 1000 Miglia Srl., whom sadly passed away in January. The trophy, presented in memory of his passion for vintage cars and his dedication in leading the company that produces the race, went to the team of Argentinian Juan Tonconogy and Italian Barbara Ruffini in a Bugatti T 40 from 1927.
The Freccia Rossa also announced other award winners, the participants in the Ferrari Tribute to Mille Miglia and the Mercedes-Benz Mille Miglia Challenge, reserved for more modern models from the two auto manufacturers: the two trophies were respectively won by Enzo and Elio Garelli in a Ferrari F12 from 2016 with 19,128 points and by Walter Perotto and Mauro Ellena at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL from 1957 with 19,133 points.
