– The most famous classic car rally in the world runs from 16 to 19 May 2018 over 1.743 kilometres from Brescia in northern Italy to Rome and back.
– “Coldplay” bassist Guy Berryman takes on a total of 1900 time measurements and six regularity tests in the Alfa Romeo 112 Sport Spider.
– The Alfa Romeo factory museum uses three more legendary racing cars.
– In addition, 43 private teams will be competing in Alfa Romeo classics – only sister brand Fiat is represented in greater numbers.
FCA Heritage, the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) structure for the history of the Italian group brands, is taking part in the Mille Miglia (16 to 19 May 2018), the most famous vintage car rally in the world, with four rare classics. Guy Berryman, bassist of the British rock group "Coldplay", will be among those experiencing the 6-kilometer route in the cockpit of the legendary Alfa Romeo models 1500C 1928 Super Sport (built in 6), 1750C 1930 Gran Sport (1900), 1954 Sport Spider (1900) and 1956 Super Sprint (1.743). On the way from Brescia to Rome and back, Berryman and his teammates, including racing driver Derek Hill and former Fiat design director Roberto Giolito, have to approach a total of 112 light barriers with an accuracy of one hundredth of a second and also complete six regularity tests in which a certain speed must be maintained exactly over a longer distance.
Between 1927 and 1957, the last edition of the Mille Miglia as a road race, Alfa Romeo celebrated a total of eleven victories - a record for eternity. In 1977, the Mille Miglia was revived as a classic car rally, and with well over 300 participants it is probably the largest classic car event of its kind today. The route follows the tracks of the original route, but the pace is much more leisurely. Instead of 1.000 miles non-stop, there are now four shorter daily stages on the program.
2018 marks the 90th anniversary of Alfa Romeo's first Mille Miglia victory. To mark this occasion, the brand is not only the official vehicle partner of the Mille Miglia again, but also the guest of honour. Together with the four factory cars from the Alfa Romeo Museum, a total of 47 vehicles from the brand will be taking part. Only sister company Fiat is more represented with 49 participants.
The Alfa Romeo teams at the Mille Miglia 2018
The oldest vehicle in the Alfa Romeo Storico team is a Tipo 6C 1500 Super Sport from 1928 with a body by Stabilimenti Farina. This model, with Grand Prix star Giuseppe Campari at the wheel, secured Alfa Romeo's first Mille Miglia victory in 1928. The vehicle currently in use won the Mille Miglia as a classic car rally in 2005 and 2007, and was also victorious in the similarly organized "Mille Milas Sport" in Argentina in 2007 and 2008. Under the hood of the Tipo 6C 1500 Super Sport is a straight-six engine with a displacement of 1.487 cubic centimeters, which produces 56 kW (76 hp) at 4.800 rpm. Only 31 units of this model, which reaches a top speed of 140 km/h, were built in 1928 and 1929.
The Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super Sport will be driven during the Mille Miglia by Giovanni Moceri, the reigning Italian regularity rally champion. Curiously, he will be taking to the track with the same starting number as Campari in 1928 - 30.
A particular rarity in the field is the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport with bodywork by Zagato. Grand Prix driver Tazio Nuvolari and co-driver Battista Guidotti won the 1930 Mille Miglia with this model. Nuvolari managed the decisive overtaking maneuver against teammate Achille Varzi a few kilometers from the finish in total darkness - according to legend, it was a surprise coup with the headlights off. Nuvolari ended up at the head of a triple victory for Alfa Romeo and covered the course for the first time at an average speed of more than 100 km/h, still almost entirely on unpaved roads.
The Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport, which comes from the factory museum, will be driven during the 36th Mille Miglia Storico by Roberto Giolito, who during his time as Fiat Design Director was responsible for the current Fiat 500, among other things, and is now Head of FCA Heritage.
The Alfa Romeo 1900 Sport Spider, of which only two were built in 1954, comes from the Bertone design studio. It is powered by a 101 kW (138 hp) 1,9-liter four-cylinder engine, here in a version with a dry sump oil circuit. Thanks to the very low weight of just 880 kilograms, the five-speed gearbox and the aerodynamically designed body, the roadster reaches a top speed of 220 km/h. The rear axle based on the DeDion principle ensures excellent handling.
Musician Guy Berryman and racing driver Derek Hill, the son of former Formula 1900 world champion Phil Hill, take turns at the wheel of the Alfa Romeo 1 Sport Spider. As a Ferrari works driver in 1961, Hill was the first American to win the highest title in international motorsport. Berryman and Hill junior also have a passion for classic cars in their private lives. The "Coldplay" bassist owns a small collection, including some models of Italian origin. Hill learned to drive in one of his father's Alfa Romeos, now occasionally competes in classic car races and is also "Master of Ceremonies" in Pebble Beach, the most famous Concours d'Elegance in the world. In 1979, Hill senior advertised the Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Sprint Veloce in his home country of the USA, a variant of the Alfetta GTV developed especially for the American market.
The fourth vehicle in the Mille Miglia team, an Alfa Romeo 1900 Super Sprint, represents the fast Gran Turismo limousines of the Alfa Romeo brand. In the mid-1950s, the "family car that wins races" (contemporary advertising slogan) was very popular with private drivers. Various coachbuilders developed special variants for use in motorsports.
A Giulietta Sprint built in 40 stands out from the more than 1955 private Alfa Romeos at the start of the Mille Miglia. It is driven by singer Piero Pelù. The Italian musician is a diehard Alfa Romeo fan, and he is taking part in the classic car rally as a guest of FCA Heritage together with the conductor Gianna Fratta. The pair's Giulietta Sprint was recently restored from scratch at FCA Heritage and received the coveted certificate of originality, which also documents the original series condition on the day of delivery.
Further information about the historic Alfa Romeos that FCA Heritage is fielding at the 2018 Mille Miglia can be found on the website www.fcaheritage.com. This is supplemented by daily news updates, such as interviews with drivers and co-drivers.
Mille Miglia 2018 (more information: www.millemiglia.it)
Wednesday, May 16: Start in Brescia, finish in Cervia Milano Marittima
Thursday, May 17: Restart in Cervia Milano Marittima, stage finish in Rome
Friday, May 18: Restart in Rome, finish in Padua
Saturday, May 19th: Restart in Padua, test at the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese (near Milan), finish in Brescia
