Looking back at the longest 1000 Miglia ever

The first news about the 2023 1000 Miglia arrived in October 2022 and came with a surprise. An extra day was added to the already busy schedule the 1000 Miglia competitors usually have. Traditionally the Race runs between Brescia, Rome, and back, crossing great parts of the Italian coastal regions and the countryside. A route of more than 2000 km would be part of the 405 allowed competitors. 74 of them were cars that took part in the 1000 Miglia race held between 1927 and 1957

The days before the race

The days before the actual race, the competitors gather at the Brescia Forum. The venue looks like a beehive, with cars coming and going. People walk between the rows of cars and do the final preparations to present their cars to the technical scrutineering. Scrutineers check the cars and provide them with the typical 1000 Miglia decals. An atmosphere not to forget, in a true automotive treasure cave.

Another highlight the days before the race takes off is the 1000 Miglia Village, located at the Piazza della Vittoria in the city center of Brescia. As soon as you come close, you realize Brescia breaths automotive history. Bars, restaurants, and shops in the picturesque center are decorated with the typical Red Arrow and banners. Everything breaths 1000 Miglia, and belongs to my favorite automotive experiences ever.

The race

The 1000 Miglia typically starts at the Viale Venezia in Brescia, but not before the Italian Airforce brings tribute to the participants by flying their jets over the city and painting the air with a Red-White-Green banner, the Italian Tricolore. From Brescia the roadbook brought the cars to Lake Garda, passing through Verona, Ferrara, Lugo, and Imola. The first leg  ended in Cervia-Milano Marittima.

The second day featured a passage through San Marino, Senigallia, and Macerata with a lunch stop. After lunch, they continued to  Fermo and Ascoli Piceno and to have their final parade in Via Veneto in Rome. On day 3, the convoy ascended from the Italian capital with a spectacular lunch stop in Siena, in the heart of Tuscany. 

The complete world knows the Piazza del Campo, where the typical horse race is held twice a year. During the 1000 Miglia hower, the Piazza del Campo turned into probably the most valuable historic car parking ever. Thousands of people welcomed the parade as the participants drove through the narrow streets of Siena, to park their car on the majestic Piazza del Campo. Stunning, wonderful, and breathtaking are definitely words describing the emotions a petrolhead experienced.

After lunch, the race continued to Pistoia over the Abetone Pass and further on to  Modena and Reggio Emilia with a finish in Parma. On day 4, after Stradella and Pavia, the Race reached Piedmont. Alessandria hosted the lunch, with again a huge Piazza serving as a parking lot. The race continued to downtown Milan, which will host the last night of the Race The fifth and last day brought the participants to Bergamo to continue to the Viale Venezia in Brescia, where the first participants arrived in the late morning to cross the platform and receive the medal.