The 32nd commemorative event of the Mille Miglia, "the most beautiful race in the world" according to Enzo Ferrari, will take place from May 15 to 18, 2014. With many innovations, an extra day, new routes, new landscapes and historic towns to discover.
The Palazzo della Loggia was the venue for the presentation of the "Mille Miglia 2014" on October 16, 2013.
For the second time with 1000 Miglia S.r.l.
1000 Miglia S.r.l. will organize the event for the second time, a major logistical and financial task that will once again make the city of Brescia the meeting point for thousands of enthusiastic Mille Miglia fans from all over the world on Thursday, 15 May 2014, in a background noise of engines to accompany the journey from Viale Venezia to Rome and back again.
As in 2013, everything will be done in 2014 to maintain the spirit of the Red Arrow and respect its history and traditions. An important aspect is the safety of participants and audience alike and innovation should not be neglected either.
New route and changed program
Compared to 2013, the route and subsequent program of the race are different. The most significant change is the extension of the event by one day and the return journey with arrival in Brescia on Sunday morning.
On Thursday, the participants will make their way to Vicenza as usual. From there, they will head north, first to Marostica and then to Bassano del Grappa on the way to Padova and Thermae Abano Montegrotto, where they will spend the night. "The Veneto - said Managing Director Marco Makaus, who presented the new route - has always been a Mille Miglia enthusiast. In 2014, we will be responding to the request of many local councils, paying tribute to their enthusiasm and their beautiful places and returning to roads that were already of great importance for the Mille Miglia before 1933."
Passage through L'Aquila
On Friday, May 16, the Mille Miglia will head south and reach San Marino. Instead of heading inland as usual, the participants will drive along the coast to Riccione and then further south to Loreto. They will then head inland to L'Aquila, a town that suffered greatly from the earthquake in 2009, to demonstrate solidarity with the local population. In 1997, the Mille Miglia drove through Umbria, which was also hit by an earthquake, while in 2013 the route drove through Emilia Romagna, which was also damaged by earth tremors the year before.
"More than 400 vintage cars - said Makaus - will visit the historic center and draw media attention to the plight of the population to maintain the willingness to continue helping."
New return journey in two days
The second day will then end in the heart of Rome, as always on the ramp in the city center. On Saturday, May 17, the participants will start their return journey and take the traditional route via Ronciglione, Viterbo and Radicofani to Siena - picturesque towns that have always been closely associated with the Mille Miglia and are popular with participants and spectators alike.
And then the journey takes a new direction, towards the sea via Volterra and Lucca to Pisa and over the Futa and Raticosa passes downhill to Bologna, where the final overnight stop will be in the city center.
On Sunday, May 18, the participants will embark on the final leg of the journey - for the very first time on a fourth day. They will travel through Modena, Reggio Emilia and then Mantova, home of Tazio Nuvolari, to Brescia, arriving shortly before midday. The prize-giving ceremony will take place in the afternoon.
Again with regularity tests
As far as the technical aspects are concerned, the number of time trials will increase to a total of 74, with regularity trials being reintroduced after more than 10 years. There will be six such sections in 2014 - the aim of the participants is to ride a given route at a constant speed.
This exercise is widespread outside Italy, says Makaus, and "is intended to offer participants from other European countries the opportunity to collect additional points here in the spirit of healthy sporting competition and to promote the international friendship that has always been an essential part of the Mille Miglia".
Good financial results from the last event
Obviously, the last Mille Migla in 2013 brought in good figures; Managing Director Andrea Dalledonne spoke of a turnover of six million euros, a gross profit (EBIT) of over one and a half million and a net profit of more than sixty thousand euros after tax. A good starting point for new ideas: "The most beautiful race in the world has always demanded courage, and rewarded innovation" said Dalledonne.
The next step will be to open online registration for the 2014 Mille Miglia on the event's website.
