Everything ready for the 36th edition of the Gran Premio Nuvolari: Around 300 crews from all over the world today at Palazzo Te for technical and sporting checks

09/17/2026

Mantua, Thursday 17 September 2026 - For 36 years, the Gran Premio Nuvolari has given its participants a truly unique experience. This year too, the prestigious international regularity race for historic cars will set off tomorrow, 18 September, from Mantua, the city forever linked to the legendary Tazio Nuvolari. The spirit of the event remains unchanged: combining the pleasure of driving with healthy sporting competition.

Crews arriving from every corner of the world aboard their historic cars will tackle a renewed route of over 1,100 km, crossing the landscapes of Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Marche, Umbria and the Republic of San Marino.

As tradition dictates, car number 1 will be symbolically reserved for Tazio Nuvolari, the greatest driver of all time. A group of modern Gran Turismo cars will open the procession, followed by the 260 cars competing, representing 35 car manufacturers: from the Italian Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lancia, Ferrari and Fiat, to the British Jaguar, Aston Martin, Bentley and Triumph, through the German Mercedes, BMW and Porsche, and finally the French marque founded by Ettore Bugatti. New this year: as many as 80 pre-war cars, built between 1923 and 1939, will take part in the race.

Also at the starting line will be some of the top drivers on the competitive scene: from Andrea Vesco, winner of the previous edition, to names such as Fontanella, Beccalossi, Gamberini, Aliverti, Passanante, Di Pietra, Barcella, Zanotti, Sangiovanni, Belometti and Turelli, to name but a few.

The 2026 route
Today, Thursday 17 September, the crews gathered in Mantua for technical and sporting scrutineering in the evocative setting of Palazzo Te. The day will close with the traditional welcome dinner in Piazza Erbe, in the heart of the historic city centre.

On Friday 18 September, the Gran Premio will set off from Piazza Sordello. The first stage will cross the Po Valley and the Apennines, passing through Carpi and the Mugello and Imola racetracks, before reaching Cesenatico and concluding in Rimini, where the overnight stop is scheduled.

On Saturday 19 September, from Rimini the crews will head towards Marche, Umbria and Tuscany, passing through Sant'Angelo in Vado, Città di Castello, the Magione racetrack, Cortona and Arezzo. The return leg will pass through Sansepolcro, the Viamaggio Pass and the Republic of San Marino, arriving back in Rimini, where the traditional Gala Dinner dedicated to Tazio Nuvolari will be held.

On Sunday 20 September, the final stage will take competitors north, with the decisive timed trials at Meldola, the city circuits of Forlì and Lugo di Romagna, and the Power Stage in Piazza Ariostea in Ferrara. After lunch at the thousand-year-old Abbey of San Benedetto Po, the crews will return to Mantua for the triumphant final arrival in Piazza Sordello.

Organisers and partners
The 36th modern-day re-enactment, conceived and organised since 1991 by Mantova Corse, will be held in compliance with F.I.A., F.I.V.A. and A.C.I. Sport regulations. The event once again confirms the presence of long-standing partners Red Bull, Gruppo Finservice, Morbio Costruzioni, Mosso Time Keeper, Porsche Penske, Cognizant, UFI Filters and Tenute Salvaterra. Thanks to their support, the Gran Premio Nuvolari will offer participants a thrilling and memorable experience, blending the pleasure of driving through places of great beauty with top-level sporting competition.

The 36th Gran Premio Nuvolari is held, among others, under the patronage of the Lombardy Region, the Cities of Mantua, Rimini, Arezzo, Forlì and Ferrara, the Province of Mantua, the Ministries of Tourism and Sport of the Republic of San Marino, and the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Carpi.

Gran Premio Nuvolari Green
The organisation of the Gran Premio Nuvolari has always shown a keen sensitivity to environmental sustainability, pursuing for years a path aimed at safeguarding both people and the local area. The first "Gran Premio Nuvolari Green" initiative was launched in 2020 and involved planting trees to offset the CO2 emissions generated by the circulation of historic cars. A further initiative is also planned to reduce the use of plastic bottles: eco-friendly Tritan water bottles will be distributed to every crew, as well as to all organisational staff and media. During the stage starts in Mantua and Rimini, drinking water dispensers will be made available for use by all participants.

Entry requirements and terms
The Gran Premio Nuvolari welcomes historic cars built between 1919 and 1946 in the "PreWar" division, between 1947 and 1976 in the "Classic" division, and between 1977 and 2000 in the "Youngtimer" division, as well as 35 modern super GT cars in the "Gran Turismo" division, built between 2001 and 2026.