The Mille Miglia 2024 kicked off in Brescia on Tuesday 11 June, with a majestic start that saw the participants pass through emblematic towns such as Bergamo, Novara and Vercelli. The first stage ended in style in Turin, marking the start of an unforgettable adventure.
The following day, the classic cars headed south, winding their way through the magnificent Langhe region and stopping off in the charming village of Acqui Terme. This year's event innovated with an unprecedented stopover in Genoa, where participants enjoyed a well-deserved lunch. The day continued along the Tyrrhenian coast, finishing in Viareggio.
On the third day, the route took competitors to Rome, passing through Lucca and Castiglione della Pescaia for a picturesque lunch break. In the afternoon, the procession crossed Lazio, passing through Marta, Viterbo and Ronciglione, before finishing on the iconic Via Veneto in Rome.
On the fourth day, the cars continued their journey towards Orvieto and Solomeo, with another lunch break. The route then took in Siena, Prato and the Futa and Raticosa passes, ending in San Lazzaro di Savena, near Bologna. The final day, Saturday 15 June, saw participants travel through Ferrara, Bovolone and Villafranca, skirting picturesque Lake Garda and charming villages such as Valtenesi and Salò, before concluding with the traditional parade in Viale Venezia.
This year's Mille Miglia was marked by the presence of former Formula 1 drivers such as Jacky Ickx, Jochen Mass and Giancarlo Fisichella, adding a touch of prestige to the event.
The 421 teams entered covered a total of 2,200 kilometres, following the classic route from Brescia to Rome and back, in classic cars built between 1927 and 1957. In keeping with tradition, the participants followed an anti-clockwise route, like the pioneers of the first editions of the Mille Miglia.
Andrea Vesco and Fabio Salvinelli made history by taking their fourth consecutive victory in their 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS Spider Zagato. For Vesco, it was his fifth win in a row, following his success in 2020 with his father. "We're happy, how could we not be!" said Vesco. "We prepared well and were in the lead from the first stage. We did a good job and now we're going to enjoy this victory."
Behind the champions, there was a fierce battle for second place, eventually won by Gianmario Fontanella and Anna Maria Covelli in their 1927 Lancia Lambda Casaro VII Series, followed by Alberto Aliverti and Stefano Valente in a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C.
The "Coppa delle Dame" was won by the Marini-Dei Tos team, which finished 27th overall. This was Silvia Marini's eighth victory, after covering the longest section alone on the penultimate day.
The country classification was dominated by the Houtkamp team from the Netherlands, which fielded an impressive fleet of 35 cars at the start.
In the Ferrari Tribute category, Frank Binder and Giordano Mozzi triumphed with a 296 GTS. Celestino and Antonio Sangiovanni took second place in an 812 GTS, followed by Gianluigi and Federico Smussi in third place in a 1996 F355 GTS.
Mirco Magni and Alessandro Ferruta took first place in the 1000 Miglia Green with a Polestar 2, while the 1000 Miglia Experience was dominated by Ismaele and Marco Luigi Ghilardelli in a Mercedes AMG GT C.
This edition of the 2024 Mille Miglia will be remembered not only for its innovations and challenges, but also for the triumphant return of its champions.
Pictures: Dirk Ivens - Text: Mille Miglia/Dirk Ivens.
