5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MILLE MIGLIA

Three significant birthdays to celebrate

Italy’s greatest road race turns 90 this year, and the 2017 edition also marks the event’s 35th year as a regularity road rally. It’s also 60 years since the last of the original race-format events in 1957. Significant cars from the race’s history will take part to mark these special anniversaries.

Actually, there’s a fourth!

Ferrari turns 70 this year too. As a result, the competing cars will be preceded everywhere they go by a cavalcade of Ferrari road cars, forming a ‘moving museum’ display.

Not to be outdone...

Serial Mille Miglia winner Mercedes-benz is hosting its own Mille Miglia Challenge event, recalling the 1955 race when it won in the Sports, GT and Diesel categories. The Challenge is a special class for Mercedes cars within the rally.

And this year, it’s flat-out

The organisers are increasing the number of time-trial stages to 112 out of 130 in total. This will include autotests in Verona, Castelfranco Veneto, Ferrara, Pistoia, Busseto and Canneto sull’oglio. The final high-speed stages will be on the runway of Ghedi Military Airport.

Best of all, it’s free to enjoy

Participants’ entry fees may be exorbitant – €7000 plus VAT – but this most spectacular of classic events takes place on public roads so, for spectators, it’s free to watch. Go to 1000miglia.eu to find a map showing where the cars will be between May 18-21, then get your hotel booked!