Brescia, May 17, 2009
“The legend has won. After last year's enormous
success, the world's greatest road race has surpassed
itself to become even greater”. With these words,
Alessandro Casali, President of the Organizing
Committee of the Mille Miglia, began his
congratulatory speech at the Awards Ceremony which
took place this morning at the Teatro Grande in Brescia.
The winners of the XXVII revival of the Mille Miglia are
Carlo and Bruno Ferrari in a Bugatti Type 37 from 1927
who triumphed over their Argentine rivals- Carlos
Sielecki and Juan Hervas in Bugatti Type 35 A from
1926-with only a two point lead. Coming in third were
the winners of last year's Mille Miglia, Antonio and
Luciano Viaro, in an Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super Sport
from 1928.
The race left from Brescia on Thursday. Among the
famous faces to be seen among the drivers were the
Prince of Orange, Geronimo La Russa, Walter
Burani, Arturo Bombassei, Massimo Ameduni and
Mika Hakkinen who drove among the accompanying
cars in a flashy Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss presented at
the Salon in Geneva.
Great were the emotions of another famous Formula 1
racing car driver, David Coulthard, who, when he
arrived in Ferrara at the end of the first leg, stated, “I
am proud to participate in the Mille Miglia. It is truly a
special event, though very tiring and difficult. There
are so many regularity trials, and we got to Ferrara
tired and dirty. I don't care if I win, because I just
want to take part and have fun. For me it's a great
honor to drive the car that took Stirling Moss to
victory in 1955, considering that I am one of his
greatest fans.”
When they get to Ferrara the crew of Luciano and
Antonio Viaro are in first place. Some of the classic cars
have already been forced to give up the race, but in the
morning, the rest leave for Rome. At the stop in S.
Sepolcro, the Secretary General of the Mille Miglia,
Sandro Binelli, meets the Prince of Jordan, Maijilis El
Hassan. The meeting, highlighted by the presentation
of the Mille Miglia seal by Binelli to the Prince, comes to
a conclusion with the promise to study in depth a Mille
Miglia Tribute in Jordan for 2010.
Friday evening, the cars reach Rome on the second leg
of their journey. Still holding on to first place are the
Viaros. A crowd of more than 10,000 people wait for
the arrival of the first cars at Castel S. Angelo. Among
them is the “godmother” of the event, Manuela Arcuri,
and many familiar showbiz celebrities among whom,
Lorenzo Flaherty, Tiberio Timperi, Roberta Garzia,
Flavia Vento, Maria Monsé, Pamela Camassa and
Filippo Bisciglia, and Davide Ricci. Rome welcomes
the cars, and the Colosseum and the Roman Forum are
lit up for the party.
Yesterday, that is, Saturday, the Mille Miglia leaves once
again for the last leg to Brescia. The action becomes
more riveting, and the crew of Kristian Ghedina moves
up from 118th place to 68th. “I am living this
experience on pure adrenaline,” he explains, “and I am
really pleased with my results. My car is fantastic,
even though driving a BMW 328 Touring Coupé dating
back to 1939 is definitely not child's play. And I must
say, it does make me feel proud. This is not the first
time that I am taking part in this magnificent race, and
every year, the organization outdoes itself, like the
warmth of the people.”
Even though his ranking was not up there, David
Coulthard, who came in 243th, explains
enthusiastically, “I am really happy. Driving through all
those marvelous cities and small towns of Italy is an
incredible experience. You see the cultural, artistic,
and natural wonders of this stunningly beautiful country.
It is difficult to describe the feelings I had in Rome or,
say in Siena, even though the real adrenaline is on, is in,
the route. Only in Italy can a race like this be found. A
race that brings families out and crowds of people along
the roads.”
Mika Hakkinen echoes his feelings. “This is the third
time I am taking part in this race, and each time is filled
with yet more passion. I would like to give my
compliments to the organization, and my thanks to the
volunteers and to the police forces. Everyone gives it
their all, to make the event a great success. And I must
say they have succeeded.”
Yesterday evening, the arrival in Brescia. This morning,
the Award Ceremony at the Teatro Grande where the
President of the Organizing Committee, Alessandro
Casali, along with the Secretary General, Sandro Binelli,
the Mayor of Brescia, Adriano Paroli, and Savina
Confaloni gave the trophies to the winners. “This year,
the participation of the public along the route was just
amazing,” Binelli exclaimed, “and what a close finish!
Just two points between first place and second. This
shows the importance of the competitive aspect of the
Event.”
“The Mille Miglia,” added the Mayor of Brescia, Adriano
Paroli, “has once more shown itself to be a race for the
people. It is one of the few events that manages each
year to out do itself.”
Alessandro Casali ended the Award Ceremony with the
words, “I would like to thank once more all the
government bodies, our partners, and everyone who
worked to make the Mille Miglia 2009 such a great
success. We still have the last stops on the
International Roadshow to look forward to, as we take
the Mille Miglia's Freccia Rossa out across the globe as a
symbol of Made in Italy and of Italian Lifestyle.”
The Mille Miglia 2009 is also a charity event. At the Gala
Dinner, on Wednesday, in Brescia, the Organizing
Committee worked with the Italian Red Cross to gather
approximately 40,000 euros to build a nursery school in
Onna, the town destroyed by the earthquake in Abruzzo
on April 6.
The Mille Miglia 2009 took place under the patronage of
the President of the Italian Council of Ministers, the
President of the Italian House of Parliament, the Minister
for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Economic
Development, the Minister for Cultural Activities and
Works, the Minister for Agricultural, Food and Forest
Policies, the Minister for Youth, ICE (the Italian Institute
for Foreign Trade), the Industrial Association of Brescia,
Bresciatourism, the Mille Miglia Museum, the City of
Brescia, the Province of Brescia, the Region of
Lombardy, the City of Rome, the Province of Rome, the
Region of Lazio, the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of
Solferino, and the Italian Red Cross. Thanks also to the
support of A2A, Chopard, Stefano Ricci, Sixt, Allianz,
Berlucchi, Grana Padano, Shüco, Bosh, Richard Ginori,
Georgsmarienhütte Holding GmbH, State of Art, Alitalia,
Arclinea, Dimmidisi, Brixia Expo Fiera di Brescia, Flos,
Next, Quadriportico, Siglacom, Rubinetterie Bresciane,
Foresti, Rcs Pubblicità, and Rds.
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