Chequered flag for Ferrari Tribute to 1000 Miglia: triumph for 512 TR with Verghini/Fuso
Brescia, 15 May 2011
After 1,600 kilometres from North to South and back with some sort of pre-summer weather at least yesterday, the Ferrari Tribute arrived for the parade on Brescia’s Viale Venezia last night during a heavy thunderstorm.
The participating teams celebrated after the chequered flag the long, thrilling and challenging race as well as the success of the Ferrari 512 TR (1992) with Verghini/Fuso, ahead of the 458 Italia (2010) with Danesi/Sesena and the 575M Maranello (2002) with Giuppi/Giuppi.
Today, Sunday, the teams will relax at Lake Garda in Sirmione where the cars, which participated in the 2011 Ferrari Triubute to 1000 Miglia are exposed and the prize giving ceremony will be held.
Where Ferrari is born
Maranello, 14 May 2011
The 150 Ferraris, the protagonists over the last two days on the roads of the 1000 Miglia, entered from Via Grizzaga driving down the streets at the Ferrari Works, where the cars were born.
Once they had left the premises through the legendary gates on Via Abetone 4 and passed the Galleria Ferrari, the cars crossed the finishing line of the 2011 Tribute on the Fiorano track.
The last kilometres quoted in the road book were a proper return to the origins for the red cars from Maranello. A short visit, but extremely significant for the participating teams.
Now only the parade in Brescia is missing to conclude this 2011 Ferrari Tribute to 1000 Miglia.
Destination Fiorano
Rome, 14 May 2011
The last day of the Ferrari Tribute to Mille Miglia started very early. At 5:30 am the first car from Maranello left a sleeping Rome after last nights party involving the entire city.
Though none of the drivers or co-drivers is tired although the numerous kilometres they’ve driven so far. They are all aware of the fact that the emotions they experienced so far will be repeated on today’s long stage, which will take them right to the finishing line.
After Viterbo the 150 Ferraris will cross the beautiful city centres of Siena and Florence before they arrive at the stage where the outcome of the real Mille Miglia has been decided many times years ago: on the roads and serpentines leading up to the Passo della Futa and the Raticosa. It was on these roads where the name of the winner of the Freccia Rossa, the red arrow, could be found out. Today like back then numerous spectators will cheer for the passing cars, greeting the Ferrari Tribute.
The cars participating in the Tribute will then arrive in Modena, passing the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari, followed by the grand finale on the Fiorano track, close to the works where the cars participating in this event were born. An then, as if time had stood still for the Mille Miglia, the cars will arrive in Brescia on Viale Venezia where on Thursday they started into the Ferrari Tribute to Mille Miglia.
The Italian capital in Ferrari red
Rome, 13 May 2011
The 150 teams participating in the Ferrari Tribute agreed on one point arriving at the Italian capital in the evening: this stage was something they will remember for a very long time. For the wonderful roads, which underlined the dynamic of the cars from the Prancing Horse; for the unique sceneries along the road of the race; for the warm welcome the red cars from Maranello received in Rome.
After the car came together at the Olympic stadium the 150 Ferraris participating in the Tribute paraded on the streets of the capital along the Lungotevere della Vittoria arriving at the ‘catwalk’ set up for the cars at Castel Sant'Angelo, where Romans, fans and tourists welcomed the cars and teams. The Ferrari brand’s magic, Rome’s beauty and the spectators’ welcome: a mix of emotions for everybody present, from the fans to the teams, while the latter were almost embarrassed by the affection they received.
Amongst the Ferraris on the most beautiful roads in Italy these days are also the 26 enrolled in the historic revival of the Mille Miglia: there are the 735 LM (number 330), driven by Christian Knobloch and completely restored by Ferrari Classiche. The car, which was started into the original Mille Miglia in the year 1955 with Eugenio Castellotti behind the wheel and the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Phil Hill.
Another very special participant is the 250 GT (number 286) driven by the American Kenneth Roath – a car, also completely restored at Ferrari Classiche and winner of the 2009 Concours ‘Elegance at Villa d'Este and the 2010 Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach for best restoration.
The challenging Terminillo and the joys of Rome
Imola, 13 May 2011
At the bank of the Santerno river the Ferrari Tribute to 1000 Miglia caravan started the engines for the second stage of the red tour under the warming sun of spring.
On today’s route the 44 different Ferrari models taking part in the Tribute will leave the region of Emilia Romagna taking Monte Titano and passing the Republic of San Marino, San Sepolcro and the forests of Umbria, passing Mount Terminillo and concluding today’s challenge with a parade on the streets in Rome - where the first car will arrive at 7:25 pm at Rome’s Olympic Stadium - and a show at the Castel Sant’Angelo, where Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo will welcome the 150 participating teams.
Teams from all over the world, reliving the emotions on the same roads as the cars and participants from the manufacturer from Maranello, who contributed to creating the legend of the Prancing Horse. An occasion today’s participants couldn’t miss: from Europe, but also from the United States, from Hong Kong, Singapore and even from Saudi Arabia. A confirmation, that there is no limit for the passion for Ferrari.
Talking to the participants before the start of today’s stage, many drivers and co-drivers are eagerly awaiting two specific moments today: the passing of the over 2,000-metre-high Terminillo, where last year the participants saw snow, and the traditionally warm welcome for the Ferraris in Rome.
Ferrari Tribute towards Imola
Cento, 12 May 2011
There is a very special feeling between the 1000 Miglia and the spectators on these first kilometres of the race. It’s a passion passed on from generation to generation, with entire families and groups of friends celebrating by the side of the road the passing of the 1000 Miglia and their love for motorsport.
This is what the 150 teams participating in the Ferrari Tribute to 1000 Miglia experienced today, when they started one hour ahead of the historical race: the joyous fans warmly greeted the passing cars from the Prancing Horse along their way. Something they experienced in Brescia and in every single village along the route to Cento.
What a pity that probably not everybody, due to falling night, could admire the passing cars made in Maranello. Although the spectators were compensated by the engine sounds of 150 Ferraris: a symphony, audible from far away, preparing the enthusiasts along the way for the passing of the most spectacular cars.
After Cento the Ferrari Tribute will stop in Imola for the night with the teams ready to experience the emotions on the road to Rome tomorrow.
2011 Tribute starting its engines
Brescia, 12 May 2011
The 150 cars participating in the 2011 Ferrari Tribute to 1000 Miglia have been tagged in the morning by the responsible staff during the traditional procedures and later on admired by spectators and fans of all ages in Brescia, which has been smartened up for this event. It will be a proper celebration of the world of motoring, where also the red cars from Maranello will be worshipped.
Numerous enthusiasts gathered between Piazza della Loggia, Corso Garibaldi and Via Pace - where the cars, participating in the Ferrari Tribute are exposed - are experiencing the last exciting hours before the start. So many of the most significant cars from the history of Ferrari can be seen, analysed in every single detail, photographed for special albums and often one can hear the sound of an engine started for the joy of the spectators: joyous spectators admiring the cars, witnessing the passion fired by the brand Ferrari.
And this is only the beginning. Along the route of the Mille Miglia thousands will welcome the participants of the Ferrari Tribute and the Mille Miglia.
The first Ferrari to start will be the 1957 Ferrari 250 SWB (number 501) leaving the ramp on Viale Venezia at 5:55 pm, followed by all the other participants in the Ferrari Tribute, with the last Ferrari being the 612 Sessanta (number 652), starting just one hour before the first car of the Mille Miglia.
After the start, when the sun sets, with enthusiastic fans along the route, the cars will drive along Lake Garda, pass Verona and enter the Po Valley, arriving in the village of Cento and ending today’s stage in Imola.