The most beautiful race in the World. Enzo Ferrari
The Mille Miglia
The 2019 Mille Miglia will take place over three days in May from 15th to 18th.
The Mille Miglia is one of the most prestigious car races in the world, a fusion of tradition and innovation that is typical of Italy. In the ’50’s the Mille Miglia was described as the “most beautiful race in the world” by the most prominent figure in the world of motor sports, Enzo Ferrari. During the 80’s while assisting in the race revival in the 80’s in Modena it was Ferrari who came up with probably the most apt description of the race ,“a museum in motion, unique and charming, in a beautiful framework of jubilant visitors.”
The Mille Miglia is a race that blends Italian history, culture, creativity, charm and style with the stunning Italian landscape, to produce an event that appeals to not just motor enthusiasts but to every person with even a hint of a romantic nature.
History of The Mille Miglia
On March 26th 1927, seventy seven cars competing in the inaugural Mille Miglia departed from Brescia, the cradle of Italian motorsport, on a 1650km circuit, which had a turning point in Rome. After 24hrs and 4 minutes, an OM 665 Sport driven by Ferdinando Minoja and Giuseppe Morandi, the first winners of the Mille Miglia Cup, crossed the finish line in Brescia having completed the course with an average speed of 77km/h.
Fifty Five cars of the seventy seven cars made it to the finish line thus marking the event a resounding success and ensuring that it would become one of the most important events on the motoring calendar.
The Mille Miglia cup was competed for 24 times between 1927 and 1957, with World War 2 causing an interruption to the annual event. BMW , Mercedez and Lancia all enjoyed success but the race was mostly dominated by Alfa Romeo and Ferrari which both enjoyed extended reigns.
Famous names including Gianni Marzotto and Stirling Moss have had there names on the cup.
Rebirth of the Mille Miglia
The race was banned after two fatal crashes in 1957 but was reborn twenty years later it as a TSD rally. The race since 1977 is limited to vintage car models of took part in or completed registration for one of the speed editions of 1927 to 57. 430 teams, from 35 countries, representing 61 manufacturers will compete in the 2014 edition of the Mille Miglia.
The course has varied of the years but it has always had it’s start and finish line in Brescia, it’s halfway point in Rome and a stretch which takes the race past Lake Garda. This year on the 15th of May visitors to Lake Garda will have the chance to see the cars driving through the Lake Garda towns of Desenzano, Sirmione and Peschiera. If you are visiting Lake Garda this May then you must make a point of getting to one of these towns to experience the spectacular phenomenon that is the Mille Miglia.
The Mille Miglia is described by the official Mille Miglia website as:
A lively and bubbly mix of sport, culture, tourism, performances, and international friendships, held in locations that are among Italy’s most artistic and historical gems. It is these places, along with their architectural and natural beauty that made the Mille Miglia become much more than a simple revival but brought the race to an insurmountable dimension. In addition to being a spectacular automotive event is a phenomenon that encompasses social and cultural customs, and is considered by those who currently manage it as “a smashing media event”.
More Information of the Mille Miglia
Click for the Mille Miglia 2019 race map
Click for the Mille Miglia 2019 race program.
Click to see the event in our event calendar .
Check out this and more Lake Garda events on our Lake Garda Events Calendar.
[…] take you down the 4km peninsula. Sirmione is the location of the first time-check on the famous Mille Miglia road race. You could park up for a while to reccy the moated island, one of the most visited parts […]
Hi, Can anyone tell me if the Mille Miglia is passing along the lakeside in Desenzano.
Many thanks Geoff.
Hi Geoff, here you can find the exact route of the mille miglia cars as they pass through Lake Garda. The first time check in Sirmione is a great place to be if you want to get a really good look at the cars. Hope this helps. Roy