Statement by Stellantis Chairman John Elkann and his wife Lavinia Borromeo
“The pleasure of driving the Alfa Romeo 1900 Super Sprint and the beauty of this country stop this very long stage from tiring us out too much. We’ll remember passing by Bolgheri and the magic of the twinkling lights of the Italian capital. We were moved most of all by the warmth of Rome’s welcome, the same welcome we were given throughout the day in every village, in every town and on every road, at all times of the day: a sign of the passion beautiful cars stir up in us Italians.”
It was a short stint on the Versilia Riviera and the convoy took back to the road at first light, saying goodbye to Viareggio with an image representing its local flavor: passing by the “Carnival Citadel” constituted a truly picturesque start to the day. The race then veered toward Pisa along the River Arno before it returned to the seaside, although every kilometer in the 1000 Miglia is full of surprises. What other race, what other country in the world can produce the spectacle of a museum on four wheels, running along the cypress-lined Viale dei Cipressi? Along the Aurelia highway, from the Oratory of San Guido to the picturesque historic center of Bolgheri, with the sunlight meandering through the ancient cypresses and caressing the sculptural forms of the Giulia GTA.
Lightness, aerodynamics and handling on every road
The salutation made to Tuscany was worthy of such a journey: perched on a tufa sandstone cliff, Pitigliano bode farewell to the convoy that then made its way into Lazio, onto the roads of the Etruscan heartlands. The route included the usual hourly checks on the western shores of Lake Bolsena and arrival in Viterbo, with the punching taking place in its Piazza del Comune. From Lake Bolsena to Lake Vico, the highest of the great lakes of Italy at more than 500 m above sea level. The horsepower of the Giulia GTA is likewise more than 500, 540 indeed: power and total control on the roads as they pass ancient towns and rolling green hills. The constantly striking panoramic views seen on the 1000 Miglia change from one moment to the next. But an arrival in Rome can very rarely be equaled, rewarding the crews for all their toils.
Alfa Romeo: beauty and timeless appeal
As always, busy roads and more excitement, but the traffic and city police were patient and kind as they escorted and directed the convoy through the city streets. The 1000 Miglia is a celebration open to all, and all the extra work is done with a smile, in the knowledge those doing so are bearing witness to a rare event. After all, it isn’t every day you can see parading before the Villa Borghese the 6C 1500 Super Sport (1928), the 1900 Sport Spider (1954), the 2000 Sportiva (1954) and the 1900 Sport Spider (1956), driven by exceptional crews, with the very best of Alfa Romeo’s current models alongside. Another magic moment in the 1000 Miglia, immortalized in an instant on the smartphones of the fans waiting for the convoy to pass by. Almost like another go at the flashbulbs of Fellini’s paparazzi, it is no coincidence that Alfa Romeo models of every era are at their ease, like the timeless stars they are.
