MILLE MIGLIA: HISTORY, ORGANISATION AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL RACE

The Mille Miglia is one of the most iconic motor racing competitions in the world, combining sporting passion, elegance and tradition. Described by Enzo Ferrari as ‘the most beautiful race in the world’, the Mille Miglia is now an event that goes beyond sport, becoming a symbol of Italian excellence and an unmissable event for collectors, enthusiasts and tourists. Its history, organisation and many interesting facts make this race unique on the international scene.

The history of the Mille Miglia

The first edition of the Mille Miglia took place on 26 March 1927, conceived by two aristocrats from Brescia, Aymo Maggi and Franco Mazzotti, together with journalist Giovanni Canestrini and Renzo Castagneto. The aim was to create a major motor racing competition that would start and finish in Brescia, crossing Italy along a route of approximately 1,600 kilometres, equivalent to a thousand Roman miles.

From the outset, the race was a huge success, attracting internationally renowned drivers and the most important car manufacturers of the time: Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati and Mercedes-Benz. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Mille Miglia became a testing ground for technical innovations and extreme performance, contributing to the development of motor racing. The race ran for 24 editions between 1927 and 1957, interrupted only during the Second World War. After the tragic accident in Guidizzolo in 1957, in which Spanish driver Alfonso de Portago, his co-driver and several spectators lost their lives, the race was suspended.

In 1977, the Mille Miglia was reborn as a historic regularity race, reserved for vintage cars produced between 1927 and 1957 that had participated in or were registered in the historic competition register. This change transformed the race from a speed challenge to a celebration of the world’s automotive heritage, while retaining its original charm.

The organisation of the race

Today, the Mille Miglia is organised by 1000 Miglia S.r.l., a subsidiary of the Automobile Club of Brescia. The event is held every year in June and involves around 400 teams from over 30 countries, reflecting its international dimension. The start and finish are in Brescia, with the picturesque setting of Viale Venezia as the nerve centre.

The route varies slightly from year to year, but maintains a loop that passes through some of Italy’s most fascinating cities: Verona, Ferrara, Cervia, San Marino, Rome, Siena, Florence, Parma and Mantua, to name a few historic stops. In total, the race covers over 1,600 kilometres spread over several days, with timed trials and checkpoints to ensure compliance with the rules.

The organisation is impressive: in addition to technical and logistical staff, hundreds of volunteers, local authorities and international sponsors are involved. The Mille Miglia is also a major media and tourist event, followed by millions of enthusiasts around the world, both along the roads and through digital channels.

Interesting facts about the Mille Miglia

The Mille Miglia is not just a race, but a cultural phenomenon rich in interesting facts and anecdotes. One of the most famous concerns the English driver Stirling Moss, who won the race in 1955 together with his navigator Denis Jenkinson in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR. They completed the entire route in 10 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds, setting an average speed of almost 160 km/h, a record that remains unbeaten.

Many of the protagonists of the Mille Miglia have become legends: from Tazio Nuvolari, capable of epic feats despite his poor health, to Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, future Formula 1 world champions. Each edition has written a page of history, intertwining engines, men and innovations.

Another interesting fact concerns the presence of women: even in the early editions, courageous women such as Anna Maria Peduzzi, an official Alfa Romeo driver, took part, racing alongside her husband Franco Comotti in 1934. Today, the Mille Miglia sees a growing participation of mixed crews, testimony to an increasingly inclusive motorsport.

The cars also have their own extraordinary stories. Many models that raced in the Mille Miglia are now priceless collector’s items, sold at auction for staggering sums. Suffice it to say that some Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and Mercedes 300 SLR cars linked to the race have exceeded $30 million in international sales.

Mille Miglia today: between tradition and modernity

The Mille Miglia continues to be a unique event, capable of attracting global sponsors, enthusiasts and tourists. The cities along the route enjoy days of celebration, with crowded squares and significant economic benefits for hotels, restaurants and businesses. At the same time, the race has become a stage for experiential marketing, with luxury, fashion and lifestyle brands finding it the perfect opportunity for visibility.

From a technological point of view, the Mille Miglia has evolved while maintaining its link with tradition. In addition to regularity trials for historic cars, parallel events have been introduced, such as the 1000 Miglia Green, reserved for electric and hybrid vehicles, a sign of the growing focus on sustainability.

The Mille Miglia is more than just a race: it is a symbol of Italy and its relationship with the automobile, a cultural and sporting heritage that unites generations of enthusiasts. With its almost century-old history, impeccable organisation and endless curiosities surrounding it, it remains today the “most beautiful race in the world”, a journey between the past and the future that continues to enchant a global audience.

Giuseppe Piro