The 1000 Miglia 2018, the thirty sixth re-enactment of the legendary road race that took place between 1927 and 1957 has entered the final countdown.
The 450 cars taking part in this edition will leave Brescia in just two day's time (Wednesday 16 May and return to the city of the Lioness in the afternoon of Saturday 19 May.
Four legs (from Brescia to Cervia - Milano Marittima, from Cervia - Milano Marittima to Rome, from Rome to Parma and from Parma to Brescia) will cover 1,700 kilometers of Italian roads characterised by evocative and artistic landscapes, with the involvement of vintage cars of extraordinary historical, technical and sporting value, from 72 different car companies.
For the fifth consecutive year 10 cars belonging to the Military category will be attending, led by representatives of the Armed Forces.
The race will once again be the prologue of two collateral events reserved for 130 modern cars: the Ferrari Tribute to 1000 Miglia and the Mercedes Benz 1000 Miglia Challenge.
The 725 crews registered to the race come from 44 different countries all over the world. The applications coming from Italy represent 28% of the total.The nationalities of 208 people out of 1450 registered is still unknown at the moment: in some cases, these are vehicles registered by car companies, who wait until the last to reveal the participants names; in other cases, for security or confidentiality reasons, the names will remain covered by an "X" even during the race.
The cars that participated to one of 1000 Miglia races, held from 1927 to 1957, number 99.There are 121 crews are on the waiting list, ready to substitute for possible no-shows entries. The substitution of a car will take place with another vehicle model as similar as possible to the original one.
Applications come from 44 countries while the crews accepted come from 36 countries around the world.
Italy keeps on being the most represented country with 405 applications and 254 crews accepted, that represents 28% of the total. Holland is in second place, with 199 applications and 127 accepted, followed by Germany (147 applications, 74 accepted) and the United Kingdom (109 applications, 62 accepted). Meanwhile, the participation of Belgium (85 requests, 54 accepted), United States of America (71 requests, 51 accepted) and of Japan (29 requests, 26 accepted) are growing year over year. Numbers indicated may change when the names - and nationalities - of the people currently identified by an "X" in the enrolled list will be disclosed.
The most represented car company is Alfa Romeo with 47 cars, followed by Fiat with 42 and Jaguar with 34 while Mercedes-Benz and Lancia will have 33 entries apiece. Also to look out for will be Ferrari with 16 entries, Maserati with 10, O.M. with 11, Cisitalia with 8, Siata with 7 and O.S.C.A. with 6.
“[The] 1000 Miglia this year opens an important decade, which will lead to the 100 -year milestone,” says Piergiorgio Vittorini, President of Automobile Club di Brescia. “The Freccia Rossa will have to further increase its charm, crossing the boundaries that sees it as an exceptional event that lasts a few days, managing to involve its audience for fifty two weeks a year.
“The tools necessary for this process are in its salient somatic features, summarised in one word: beauty,” he continued. “1000 Miglia will live through initiatives, publications and exhibitions in various Italian cities throughout the year.
“Thanks to 1000 Miglia Srl, the company owned by ACI Brescia that organizes the race, the Freccia Rossa will also appear in two other events: 1000 Miglia Green, thought for electric - powered cars, and Coppa delle Alpi by 1000 Miglia, which will contribute to the internationalization process of the brand,” Vittorini added. “In the winter time, It will cross four countries on the two fronts of the Alpine mountains. 1000 Miglia Srl and the Automobile Club of Brescia will not be alone: thanks to recent agreements, we will count on the support of the most important Italian automobile institutions, such as ACI Sport and the Italian Automobile Club Storico, besides - at international level - FIA and FIVA.”
Meanwhile, Giuseppe Cherubini Vice, President of the Operating Committee 1000 Miglia 2018, notes: “[The] 1000 Miglia is a unique and fascinating journey to discover the cultural and architectural beautiful landscapes of our country, an unforgettable experience for those who do it and for those who look at it. This year, there are many new features on the traditional Brescia - Rome - Brescia route, which will see Cervia - Milano Marittima, Rome, Parma as a stopover: we will return to Passo della Cisa (it on ly happened once in 19 49); we will go to Milan, where for the first time, in Piazza Duomo, the stamp control will take place; finally, the crews will pass for the renewed Alfa Romeo Historical Museum, to enter the Autodromo di Monza for the last lunch on the actual race track.”
The Route
From Brescia to Rome and return in four days, 1743 kilometers, 112 time trials and 6 hourly average tests.
First leg from Brescia to Cervia - Milano Marittima (Wednesday May 16th)
As the first car starts at 2.30 pm from the platform of Viale Venezia the 1000 Miglia 2018 will begin, destination Cervia - Milano Marittima. Along the way, the cars will cross Desenzano and Sirmione del Garda, enter the Parco Giardino Sigurtà and, passing through Mantua and Ferrara, will reach Comacchio to head to Ravenna and end the first day of competition in Cervia - Milan o Marittima.
Second leg from Cervia - Milano Marittima to Rome (Thursday May 17th)
From Rome, the cars of the 1000 Miglia will cross Pesaro, the Republic of San Marino, San Sepolcro and Arezzo, where there will be a short stop for lunch; it will re - start towards Cortona, Orvieto and Amelia to reach Rome ending leg along via Ve neto, before reaching the selected accomodation .
Third leg from Roma to Parma (Friday May 18th)
Departure early in the morning for the 3rd long leg: in one breath from Ronciglione, Lake Vico, Viterbo, Radicofani and Siena up to Monteriggioni for lunch. The return journey will resta rt towards San Miniato and “Mura di Lucca” and, going back towards Pietrasanta, it will touch Liguria at Sarzana, crossing the Passo della Cisa, and reach Parm a, the city which will host the crews for the last night.
Fourth leg from Parma to Brescia (Saturday May 19th)
The shorter leg will show two new features of the 1000 Miglia 2018 route: through Salsomaggiore Terme, Piacenza and Lodi, the cars will head to Milan, crossing the heart of the city: the stamp control provided in Piazza Duomo will give to all the participants a unique landscape for the first time. From Milan towards Arese, the crews will stop at the renewed Alfa Romeo Historical Museum, to enter the Autodromo di Monza for the last lunch on the actual race track. The final stretch will see the passages from Bergamo, Chiari and Ospitaletto before crossing the finish line, in the early afternoon, on the Viale Venezia platform: a well-deserved arrival after 1743 kilometers in four days through the most beautiful Italian landscapes.
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