After our hectic three day dash from London to Rimini, we made our way to the 'My Special Car' Show on Saturday to take a look around the cars on display, while the Autodelta team discussed their car with the stream of visitors. The Rimini show, this year set in an attractively designed, brand-new exhibition complex, always draws the excellent and the most outrageous of tuned cars.

Highlights this year include the Giorgetto Giugiaro designed Croma 8ttoV, which has taken centre stage on Fiat's stand. First shown at the Geneva Salon exactly a month ago, this one-off car offers both Maserati V8 power and superbly tailored luxury, and for the first time the car was available for close up examination. Dedicated to the late Gianni Agnelli, it is exactly the understated road rocket that would have been just the taste of the legendary former Fiat Group Chairman.

Having recuperated from our journey, Saturday - day five of the Autodelta 'European Tour 2005' - saw yet another packed itinerary, and more legendary Italian places to visit. San Marino was scheduled in the morning to visit an Alfa Romeo dealership while taking in the principality's famous tourist sights, and the afternoon would see a visit to Imola, to observe Ferrari Challenge practice.

First then it was to San Marino, a tiny independent republic perched high in the mountains just inland from Rimini. At only 61.2 sq km it is the third smallest state in Europe (after the Vatican and Monaco), while it also claims to be the world's oldest republic, founded, according to local legend, by a stonemason called Marino in 301AD.

The foot of the mountains that San Marino sits astride is reached by a fast road that starts in Rimini, and so we chased along this highway we with the two Autodelta 147 GTA AMs, and the Maserati GranSport.

The climb up to San Marino seemed to last for around 15 kilometers, and it was here that the superior torque inherent in the Autodelta-built 3.7-litre Alfa V6 engines shone right through. The two 147 GTA AM cars effortlessly glided up the steep, twisting mountain road, while the GranSport snapped at their heels. Riding that morning in the blue 147 GTA AM, we hardly noticed the sharpness off the ascent. The much improved torque patterns offer the driver a choice of higher gears, in this case it was Autodelta boss Jano Djelalian, who drives each of his creations, enthusiastically, and with a big grin fixed on his face.

Having observed the stunning views available from the top of the mountain in the glorious sunshine, and having drunk in the history that shouts out from the medieval streets and high castle walls, that are all so well preserved, we dropped back down from the summit to pay a visit to the local Alfa Romeo dealership, Righi.
 

Proprietor Eraldo Righi has been selling Alfa Romeo's in San Marino since 1975. A traditional family business he has built up a strong reputation in the principality, through providing customers with an excellent service, helped by his obvious enthusiasm for the marque. The spacious, modern showroom, which literally clings to the steep hillside, provides an awesome panoramic view, down the rolling hills and out across the Adriatic Sea, a view unlikely to be matched at any other Alfa Romeo dealership.

The Autodelta team's attention is immediately grabbed by a stunning red Alfa RZ which nestles between the Alfa 147, 156 and 166 models that litter the showroom. In perfect condition, it has just 300km on the clock.

We race back to Rimini for a brief lunch stop, before an afternoon appointment to watch a Ferrari Challenge practice session, beckons us. The weather is getting warmer, the sunshine even brighter, and the rolling Italian countryside looks well tended and lush as we roll into Imola, home of the 'Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari', the long time host of the San Marino F1 Grand Prix.

Second only to Monza in Italian racing folk law, the foundations of the modern race circuit can be traced back to the late 1940s, and Italy's post-war road building programme. Four local motor racing enthusiasts came up with the idea of linking these roads into a race track, and suddenly an international circuit was born. As such, the track cuts right into the town of Imola, itself a beautiful Italian town, even more picturesque today as it basks in the bright spring sunshine.

We arrive as the Ferrari 360 Challenge racers are taking to the track for afternoon qualifying. The 400bhp V8 engined cars scream around the high-speed Imola circuit, their Pirelli control tyres keeping them firmly glued to the track, while their engines howl as they rev to their limit. It's intoxicating stuff, standing in this motor racing amphitheatre, where countless legends have taken shape.

Then its back to Rimini, this time though we leave the Autostrada behind, taking the famous Via Emilia, absorbing the luxurious picture-postcard Italian countryside, as we head back to our hotel and the completion of day five.

by Edd Ellison & James Granger in Rimini