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Alfa relives history in the Milan-San Remo Cup

Alfa 6C

Alfa Romeo took part in the recent Milan-San Remo Cup (10-12 March 2006) - a revival of the original race held from 1906 to 1973 and which attracted all the most famous carmakers and the top drivers of the day. This year marks the centenary of the event and, given Alfa's significant role in the original event, it was wholly appropriate that the company be a part of it again - as the slogan created for the revival event said: 'You missed it one hundred years ago… Be there this time!'

The Milan-San Remo Cup has become the opening event of the season for historical cars and is part of the calendar of classic international events, but the event held an additional attraction for Alfa as the second Alfa Romeo Trophy was planned to run at the same time. The Milan-Sanremo Cup involves 14 regularity trials on a beautiful 400 kilometres route that winds through some of the loveliest places in Italy: from the Monza race track to Piazza del Duomo in Milan, from Piazza Ducale in Vigevano through the Lomellina area to the Golfo del Tigullio, and finally all along the coast to San Remo, the City of Flowers. The race runs from Piazza del Duomo, terminating in Lungomare Italo Calvino in San Remo the next day.

Apart from the competitive side of the race, it represents a return to the past for the more than 200 cars entered, from Europe, Japan, the Russian Federation and the United States. The entrants included a large group of Alfas, entered officially and privately, which have written some of the most glorious pages in international motoring.

Alfa competed with the official 'Alfa Romeo Historic Motoring' team, and with seven precious cars loaned by the Alfa Romeo Historical Museum. These included a splendid Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super Sport of 1928, driven by Luciano Viaro and Michaela Mair; the couple from Friuli who won the last two Nuvolari 2005 Grand Prix, in the car which won the '1000 Miglia' in 1928 with Campari-Ramponi. Other teams included Mazzuoli - Axel in a 750 Competizione of 1955, Massino Tammaro leader of the 'Frecce tricolori' aerobatic display team, in a 2000 Sportiva of 1954 with journalist Sandro Chiaramonti, and journalists Francesca Grimaldi and Rossella Labate in the 6C 1750 Gran Sport with which Nuvolari and Guidotti won the Mille Miglia in 1930.

Alongside the official Alfa Romeo Historic Motoring vehicles were two teams from the Alfa Romeo Italian Register, driving a 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet Touring of 1943 (Rotundo-Riva), and a Giulietta Sprint Speciale of 1961 (Gilardi-Gilardi). Finally a Giulietta Sprint Veloce competed, driven by Macrì-Ferrecchi for the Portello Stable, which competed in the Carrera Panamericana and won its class. Alfa Romeo also collaborated in other initiatives parallel to the Milan-San Remo Cup. For example, Alfa 159 customers were part of the event, following the same itinerary as the cars competing, while the public were able to test drive several new Alfa models throughout the weekend in Rapallo, Savona and San Remo.

© italiancar.com.au 19/03/06