Terre di Canossa
Northern Italy 19-22 April
CARS FROM THE home nation dominated the Terre di Canossa, with Italian metal taking the top five spots. First home for the sixth year in succession were Andrea Vesco and Manuela Tanghetti in a 1934 Fiat 508S Balilla Sport, ahead of Fabio Salvinelli and Guido Ceccardi in a 1930 Fiat 514MM and John and Chelly Houtkamp in a 1928 Lancia Lambda T223. First non-Italian car home was the Riley Sprite of Argentinian entrants Luis Angel Zerbini and Silvia Susana de la Iglesia, while the top British crew of the 36 taking part was Frederica and Simon Kirkpatrick in tenth.
In all, more than 100 crews representing 16 different nations started the eighth running of the rally, which boasts a ‘unique combination of sport, passion, tourism, culture… and all of it eco-friendly’. It ran on the picturesque roads of Emilia-Romagna, Liguria and Tuscany, and included 60 timed trials and six average-speed sections on all manner of terrain and with a huge range of speeds, from the fast section at Monte Marcello to the scenic Cento Croci pass.
The first day’s driving from Salsomaggiore Terme took the teams towards Forte di Marmi via the Verano circuit and Bocca di Margra. Saturday’s spectacular loop from Forte di Marmi took in Pisa as well as a parade through the walled city of Lucca. On the final day, participants wound their way to Reggio Emilia via the Cerreto Pass.
The awards ceremony was hosted by event partner Ruote de Sogno with the winners being presented with Cuervo y Sobrinos watches. Six ‘modern’ Ferraris also took part in the rally, with the 458 Speciale A of Franco Serventi and Daniela Maccini coming out on top. Only seven of the cars on the rally were built in the current millennium, however, with almost half the total entry coming from the pre-war (20) and 1948-57 (30) eras. Alfa Romeo was the main marque with 15 cars, ahead of Ferrari and Jaguar, but five of Fiat’s eight representatives finished in the top 12. Clockwise from top right Proteus C-type going well; Maserati chases Lancia; Fiat 514MM of Salvinelli/Ceccardi; Collins/Steele Ace; Ciarallo/Chiari Alfa Giulia Spider.