The 2024 edition of the Mille Miglia recently ended. The 421 competing crews, with their vintage jewels built between 1927 and 1957, covered 2,200 kilometers, measuring themselves in 144 Time Trials, 8 Media Trials, 30 Stamp Controls and 21 Time Controls.
Emanuel Piona, a true enthusiast and profound connoisseur of historic cars, President of www.garedepoca.com, was the "special correspondent" of Olympia Waters. Emanuel finished the race in an excellent 21st place, in his 1926 Bugatti T37.
You, who are an authority on historic car competitions, as well as a successful driver with a long CV, tell us: is the Mille Miglia really the most beautiful race in the world?
Undoubtedly yes, the numbers speak volumes: those of the participants, those of the aspiring participants – since there are many who try in vain to register every year – and those of the supporters and enthusiasts who crowd the entire route, covering every crew with their warmth.
The title of "top" race is also linked to the beauty of the route and the fact that it reaches the historic center of some of the most precious villages in Italy.
Like Solomeo, the hamlet of cashmere and harmony in Umbria, the cornerstone of Brunello Cucinelli’s family, entrepreneurial and spiritual life. Here we visited the Church of San Bartolomeo and the Aureliana Neohumanistic Academy, until we reached the heart of the company.
What was the most significant innovation of the 2024 edition?
I believe reaching Genoa, a city never touched by the race. The capital of Liguria welcomed us in style, with typical dishes of the local cuisine and with a warm sun, after a particularly gloomy approach stage, penalized by the weather. Even more unique was the stage that took us from Genoa to La Spezia. Unforgettable both for the breathtaking beauty of the Eastern Riviera and for the incredible opportunity to enter the military arsenal, which hosted us for the stamping between two armored ships. A truly emotional moment.
How much time and what level of preparation are needed to participate in the Mille Miglia?
It depends on what type of race you want to experience. There are those who participate as tourists, precisely to enjoy the experience and wonder of the race, and those who instead have a more competitive intent. In this second case – which is mine – training is essential, above all to find the right feeling with the car for the delicate precision passages on the pressure switches, which make the real difference in the time tests. From a physical point of view, it is no walk in the park: waking up at dawn and 14-15 hours of driving a day – in cars perhaps built in the 1920s – put a strain on the back in particular. But the satisfaction repays the effort, and even the little sleep.
What are the “competing” cars in the 2024 edition that you would have liked to drive?
You'll be spoiled for choice, because the Mille Miglia is a paradise for classic car enthusiasts and you can find true masterpieces of Italian style.
If we talk about competition, certainly the 1929 Alfa Romeo 6c 1750 Ss Spider Zagato, which won for the fourth consecutive time. It’s an incredible performance car. I would also have loved to drive the ‘38 BMW 328, a superbly elegant car, or the Ferrari Barchetta. These cars are now unattainable, they are so precious (from 4 million euros up) and are becoming increasingly rare in competitions. Collectors don't want to run the risk of them getting damaged during the race.
Classic car competitions are also a way to experience places in a more authentic way and discover new, perhaps less well-known, destinations. Do you have any other races to recommend to fans?
The Gran Premio Nuvolari is in some ways similar to the Mille Miglia, but more accessible. It is held in September and has Mantua, a UNESCO heritage city, as its arrival and departure point. Its route passes through Rimini, the city of Fellini, and the Tuscan pearls of Pistoia, Siena and Arezzo.
A real gem is the Gran Premio Terre di Canossa, which takes place along the thousand-year-old streets of the Grand Countess Matilda, Queen of Italy in the 12th century. A driving experience around Forte dei Marmi and the splendid sea of Versilia, crossing the Cinque Terre, the Apuan Alps, the wonderful city of Lucca and the enchanting Pisa. It is held in April, with few cars participating. With its array of boutique hotels and gourmet restaurants, it's undoubtedly a race that lives up to its slogan: “Roads, Landscapes, Lifestyle.”
Thanking Emanuel Piona for the invaluable insights, we would like to point out a unique opportunity, an OW exclusive.