START OF THE GRAN PREMIO NUVOLARI, 28th EDITION The competition that evokes the myth of the Great Tazio left Mantua 300 dream cars will compete for the coveted title

14.09.2018

14th September 2018 - At the stroke of 11.00 am, 300 extraordinary vintage cars, coming from 20 Nations, left Mantua for the Adriatic Sea, by giving officially way to the 28th edition of the Gran Premio Nuvolari. 1070 kilometers that in 3 days the crews will cover, alternating between time trials and time checks. 

The first car, a 1923 Bentley 3Litre Speed Model, left Piazza Sordello together with the others legendary cars, coming from all over the World to follow in the footsteps of the myth of Tazio Nuvolari. 

Among the 300 cars competing, two third of them are coming from Europe, Asia, America and Australia. 20 countries will be represented, a record in this edition: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, Great Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Holland, Poland, Principality of Monaco, Czech Republic, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and USA. A confirmation of the success of this event at international level. 43 car manufacturers will compete: from the Italian Maserati, Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, OM and Ferrari, to the British Triumph, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Bentley; from the US Ford, Chrysler and Chevrolet, to the German Mercedes, BMW and Porsche until the French pureblood cars signed by Ettore Bugatti. 

A parade of legendary vintage cars that, with their perfectly preserved exteriors, retrace the history of the car manufactory from the post-war, passing through the Dolce Vita’s unique style, to the mythical 70s. The vehicles, real excellences of the automobile’s world production, will get together in the historical Piazza Sordello, the heart of Mantua, in one of the most charming competitions of the world. Tazio Nuvolari’s myth is always alive and present, and with the Gran Premio it is revived every year thanks to the numerous enthusiasts who share the feelings in an extraordinary journey aboard these masterpieces of history, mechanic and design. 

During this first day the 300 cars will cross the Po Valley and Appennines to the Adriatic Coast. The arrival in Cesenatico is scheduled late tonight, where riders will have the opportunity to relax from the race at the inaugural dinner at the Grand Hotel Leonardo da Vinci, in view of the second day of the competition. 

The event, organised by Mantova Corse with Automobile club Mantova and Museo Tazio Nuvolari, is reserved to classic cars built from 1919 to 1972, according to the F.I.A, F.I.V.A., ACI Storico and ACI Sport regulations. 

Prestigious sponsors have always accompanied the Gran Premio Nuvolari: from this year Maserati is the “Main Partner” of the race; the timeless charm of the car manufacturer from Modena will join Red Bull -“Special Partner”, Eberhard & Co. -“Official Partner & Timekeeper” and Banca Generali -“Official Partner and Private Bank”. 

Gran Premio Nuvolari is supported by Automobile Club Italia and ACI Storico

The details of the 28th edition of the race: 

Attendance: 300 crews, of which 5 female and 5 under 30, to confirm the success of the Gran Premio Nuvolari (a tribute to the professionality and the experience of Mantova Corse, that has been organising the event in honour of Tazio Nuvolari for 28 year). 

Admitted vehicles: from 1919 to 1972. 

Route: the 2018 edition proposes a new route of 1070 km. 

- First stage: from Mantua, through the Po valley and the Appennines until the Adriatic Coast. At 11:00 the race will start from Piazza Sordello, heading to the Nuvolari Circuit to dispute the trials before driving uphill towards Emilia Romagna. The first stage will finish in the Adriatic Coast, with a dinner at the Grand Hotel Da Vinci in Cesenatico. 

- Second stage: the most intense day of the Gran Premio. After the departure from Rimini, the competitors will cross the beauties of Tuscany, Umbria and Marche, passing through the historical centres of Siena, Arezzo, Città di Castello and Urbino, finally coming back to Rimini. The day will conclude in the charming rooms of the Grand Hotel of Rimini for the official evening in honour of Tazio Nuvolari. 

- Third stage: for the ultimate sprint, the crews will start from Rimini for the last chronometrical trials, touching Cesena, Meldola, Forlì and Faenza, as guests of the Racing Team Toro Rosso. After the trials of the Circuito Ariosteo of Ferrara, they will head back to Mantua, Tazio Nuvolari‘s hometown, where the winners will parade on a stage in Piazza Sordello. 

Coppa Nuvolari - Maserati Tribute: an appendix of the Gran Premio, a race in the race, where 10 Maserati cars built from 1973 to 2018 will show up. The caravan of the marvellous vehicles of the Modenese car manufacturer will parade with the classic cars among the Italian roads, warmed by the enthusiasm of the public. 

Special Crews: 

The mythical car of Tazio: the Maserati 6C-34, designed by Ernesto Maserati, following the new international formula based on the limit weight of 750 kg. In 1934, at the wheel of this same car, Tazio Nuvolari won the Modena Circuit and he was awarded the Coppa Principessa of the Piemonte in the Naples circuit. The n.1 car of the Gran Premio Nuvolari, that belonged to the Umberto Panini Collection of Modena, will be exposed for three days of competition in Piazza Sordello.
 
For Eberhard, Miki Biasion will be back. The mythical rally pilot two-times world champion, will drive a 1956 Alfa Romeo 1900 C Super Sprint, with the number 190 beside Mario Peserico, General Director of Eberhard & Co. 

With Red Bull at the Racing Team Toro Rosso in Faenza: same as last year, the “old-time bolides” of the Gran Premio Nuvolari will parade next to the super modern F1 vehicles. Indeed, on Sunday, 16 September the path will reach Piazza del Popolo, in the centre of Faenza, for the stamp checks among the F1 cars that have dressed the colours of the Racing Team Toro Rosso over the last 10 years.

The event in honour of Nuvolari is the second for importance within the “EpocaChampionship”, the Italian “Grandi Eventi” Campionship of ACI Sport, that includes the Coppa d’Oro of the Dolomiti (19th -22nd July 2018), the Targa Florio (04th-07th October 2018) and the Coppa delle Alpi by 1000 Miglia (04th-09th December 2018).