As Global Automotive Partner, Alfa Romeo will be taking part in the 2021 edition of the historical re-enactment of the 1000 Miglia – the “most beautiful race in the world” in the famous words of Enzo Ferrari, due to get underway in Brescia on June 16th, returning there three days later after visiting some of the most evocative locations in Italy.
A highly prestigious event, one that every year garners the admiration and warm welcome of its audience. As usual this year, taking part will be some of the most priceless vintage Alfa Romeo models, belonging to the collection of the Heritage department, dedicated to the protection and promotion of Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia and Abarth's historical heritage.
As ever part race and part adventure, the 39th edition of the “Freccia Rossa” (“Red Arrow”) will witness the participation of utterly priceless vintage cars. According to the regulations, the only models that can take part in the event must have done so in the competitive 1000 Miglia, raced from 1927 to 1957 and won 11 times by Alfa Romeo cars. This record number of wins can never be beaten, cementing an unbreakable bond between the Italian brand and the greatest regularity race for vintage cars in the world. Faithful to its traditional route from Brescia to Rome and back again, with stage arrivals in Viareggio and Bologna, the 2021 edition offers a major new feature not included in other recent runs: the competition will travel counterclockwise, as was often the case in the original race. For the first time this year, the crews will also face both the Cisa Pass in stage 1, and the Futa and Raticosa Passes on day 3 of the race.
Beyond its historical value, this type of event represents an authentic bridge between past and future: it is no coincidence that the payoff of this edition of the 1000 Miglia is “Crossing the Future”, words designed to celebrate the importance of technological innovation in the automotive field, one of the founding values of historical competition and of drivers aiming at the future of mobility.
Alfa Romeo shares with the 1000 Miglia its drive toward innovation and constant improvement of performance: in its more than 110 years, the Biscione brand has written some of the most glorious chapters in the history of motorsport, with its iconic models and their triumphs in competitions, thus becoming part of the collective unconscious. Indeed, the brand’s past continues to inspire Alfa Romeo engineers and designers to create new models. The proof lies in the new Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA, bringing back one of the legends of motoring and a milestone in the manufacturer’s history: the 1965 Giulia GTA. The new Alfa Romeo supercar is technically and conceptually inspired by the 1965 Giulia GTA: the “Gran Turismo Alleggerita” developed by Autodelta on the basis of the Giulia Sprint GT, which racked up sporting successes worldwide. And it is no coincidence that its recent presentation to the international press took place at the former Officine Autodelta at the Balocco Proving Ground (Vercelli province), where the Giulia Sprint GTA was developed in the 1960s. A brand-new Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA will be in attendance at the 2021 “1000 Miglia”, making the event a sine qua non for the brand's fans.
But that’s not all: Alfa Romeo will be providing the organization with a fleet of 30 of its current cars – Stelvio and Giulia models. As the official cars of the 2021 “1000 Miglia”, they will surely win over all the fans expected to line the course, those who share the brand's values, steeped in history and competition.
A final mention should go to the commitment of the Stellantis Heritage department, which provides invaluable technical support through technicians based at the Officine Classiche, bringing the gems of the Group's historical collection back into competition at the most famous vintage car get-togethers. Just one example is the extraordinary Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 SS (1928), belonging to the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese, which won the 2019 historical re-enactment of the 1000 Miglia and will be taking part in the “most beautiful race in the world” once again in 2021.