Mille Miglia – The Most Beautiful Race in the World

Just the mere mention of the Mille Miglia evokes alluring images of historic classics racing through exquisite Italian villages and countryside vistas. It’s an event steeped in tradition that not only respects the legacy that it has cultivated but also epitomises the sheer levels of passion involved in motor racing. Since its humble beginnings the Mille Miglia has remained true to that initial expression of adventure and innovation and remains a truly unique event in the motorsport calendar.

This year marks the 40th edition of the re-enactment of the fabled Mille Miglia, with competitors taking to the roads of Italy from the 15th to the 18th of June. The Mille Miglia has always fascinated us here at Car & Classic and is definitely one of those bucket list experiences, so join us as we take a closer look at this most prestigious and legendary of racing events.

So What Is It?

The Mille Miglia differs from most other motorsport contests in that it is run currently as a regularity race. This means that instead of focussing on outright speed and lap times it is instead necessary for competitors to complete the course as close to a specified and pre-determined time as possible, with the emphasis on precision and average speed rather than driving as quickly as possible. This has been the format since 1977 and historically the Mille Miglia was a more traditional out-and-out dash from start to finish, but we’ll get to that.

As you may have guessed, depending on how good your Italian is, the Mille Miglia covers a 1000 mile (approximately) round trip beginning and ending in Brescia in Northern Italy, through some of the most picturesque landscapes the country has to offer. To be included, participants must adhere to strict guidelines as far as the cars themselves are concerned with entry limited to vehicles produced no later than 1957 which had competed in, or were registered to take part in the original series of races between 1927 and 1957. Not only that but of all of the world wide applications received hoping for a chance to take part only a few hundred will be accepted, with the final group of entrants being decided by a dedicated selection committee. Oh, and there’s also a €10,000 fee on top of the comprehensive list of paperwork and documentation required. Not exactly a “run what ya brung” kind of deal.

This year sees the race split into four legs spanning four days respectively from the 15th to the 18th of June. Competitors begin in Brescia, as is tradition, before heading east to Lake Garda and finishing the day on the Adriatic coast. From here, on day two, the route winds south ending with a parade through Rome. Day three takes the racers all the way up to Parma via Siena before heading to Monza on day four for some time-trial shenanigans and then on to the finish line back in Brescia. It is known as the most beautiful race in the world for a reason.

Where It All Began

The first official Coppa Della Mille Miglia was held in 1927 but Brescia was no stranger to racing at that point, with competition in the city going as far back as 1899 when a 6km speed race was organized around its outskirts. Brescia and a passion for motorsport were inexorably linked from that point onwards and the by the following Monday the Brescia-Mantua-Verona-Brescia 223km race was run.

What followed these initial races was a series of high profile motorsport events that put the northern Italian city firmly on the map as far as motor racing was concerned. These included the very first Coppa Florio in 1904 and the inaugural Italian Grand Prix in 1921 and the eyes of motorsport fans the world over were fixed directly on the Italians and Brescia. From the midst of this furore emerged the four founders of what we now know as the Mille Miglia. An eclectic mix of racing drivers, journalists and sports managers these four musketeers came together with the shared goal of creating a new race from Bresica to Rome and back again.

Conceived as a way for manufacturers to show off their cars and with an entrance fee of a single Lira the race was also open to anyone, regardless of wealth or status. Competing over the course of 1,000 Roman miles the demanding circuit attracted the world’s best drivers, all hoping to take home the win and the glory that followed. Out of 77 starters in that first race that particular honour went to Giuseppe Morandi in his O.M. 665 Superba who crossed the line in 21 hours, 4 minutes and 48 seconds, with an average speed of 77.238 kmh.

It was official – a legendary race was born and continued to thrive until 1957 whereby it was deemed too dangerous following two tragic and fatal crashes and was subsequently and unceremoniously banned. The course went through numerous changes over this period, going from a figure of eight route to a more circular one but always keeping to its original spirit and providing non-stop racing, through countryside and cities, along mountain passes and coastal roads, all to the delight of drivers and fans alike.

The Cars and a Notable Win for the Brits

We touched upon the entry requirements for cars earlier and while this may seem like quite a limiting factor it still allows for a wide and varied range of historic vehicles. This year’s drive features over 400 cars, representing many different manufacturers from Ferrari to Mercedes and Alfa Romeo to Salmson so there’s something to whet the appetite of most classic car fans.

We definitely have a few favourites from the bunch, including a Porsche 550 Spyder RS and a Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport but each hand-picked vehicle brings something special to the table. That’s a huge part of what makes the Mille Miglia so captivating; seeing these museum-worthy classics actually being driven. Properly. And that’s exactly how it should be. It’s an eclectic mix, including a handful of military vehicles, and you can see the full entry list of cars and drivers for this year’s competition here.

It would be remiss of us not to mention Sir Stirling Moss at this point and his incredible triumph in 1955. With motoring journalist Denis Jenkinson as his co-pilot Moss would complete the course in a record-breaking 10 hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds at an average speed of 97.96 mph. This legendary drive was achieved behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR and marked the first time a Brit had taken the win. Jenkinson’s account of the race can be found online and is definitely worth a read. It’s a fantastic, first hand narrative of an incredibly skilled driver pushing it to the limit on an extremely demanding course and if it doesn’t get your blood pumping then you can’t really call yourself a true petrolhead.

A Lasting Legacy

As mentioned, the Mille Miglia is now run as a regularity race, paying tribute to the spirit and essence of those original 24 races. An homage to a legendary and iconic event, today’s Mille Miglia is still a huge draw for both competitors and fans of motor racing alike. It represents an opportunity to re-live those glory days, using the same exact cars that were driven to the edges of their capabilities around the beautiful scenery of one of Europe’s most alluring countries.

The organisers of the Mille Miglia not only wish to preserve the rich heritage of such a prestigious race but they also have one eye firmly on the future too. Since its inception the Mille Miglia has always championed the best and brightest of the automotive world, bringing the latest, most technologically advanced cars of the era to the roads of Northern Italy. This culture of improvement continues today with the Mille Miglia Green – a race for alternative fuel cars which utilises the same route as the historics but with a focus on sustainability.

Whatever the case, whether talking about the cars or the event itself the Mille Miglia truly remains the most beautiful race in the world and one that we’re sure will persevere and prosper as the lines between the past and future continue to blur.