Tazio Nuvolari, Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Sterling Moss. These are the names of the people that made of an Italian endurance racing contest ''the world's greatest road race'' between 1928 and 1957, according to Enzo Ferrari’s words.


The contest is called Mille Miglia, Italian for “one thousand miles”, and used to be a typical road race with a number of stops around Italy. It starts in Brescia, goes all the way to Rome and ends in Brescia again. Nowadays it became a prestigious parade opened only to cars from the race’s times (1928-1957). Spectators can admire the greatest Italian cars of all times, from Alfa Romeos to Bugattis, Lancias, Maserattis and, of course, the unmistakeable red Ferraris. It is open of course to some foreign great vehicles, such as vintage Aston Martins, Mercedes and Porches, but it is mostly an Italians-do-it-better show!


On its four-day trek, the “race” aims to promote all 36 Italian cities and towns it goes through. The event is an international attraction that will soon hit places like Geneva, London, New York, Munich and Moscow thanks to an international road show. The success around the world is more than incredible. Organizers received indeed around 1,700 applications from all five continents.


Internationally acclaimed VIP participants this year include former Formula 1 drivers Jochen Mass and Mika Hakkinen, Moscow Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov, the head of the Brembo brakes company Alberto Bombassi and Fuji film and electronics boss Takao Ebi. On the Italian side Tod's shoes owner Diego della Valle and Prada CEO and former Luna Rossa America's Cup boss Patrizio Bertelli will be attending.


375 vintage will depart Thursday evening from Viale Venezia on their way to Ferrara. They are expected to arrive in Rome on early Friday, where they will stay for the day. The parade will leave the Eternal City on Saturday, getting in Brescia during the night, right in time for a major public exposition on Sunday.