The Mille Miglia has been the supreme expression of the passion for cars for more than ninety years. It was created in 1927 as a mass start race beginning and ending in Brescia, over a route leading down to Rome and then back up the Italian peninsula that totalled 1600 kilometres, or one thousand imperial miles ("mille miglia"). In 1928, during the second edition, Alfa Romeo won both the individual and the team titles, with all eight of its cars successfully completing the course. To celebrate the ninetieth anniversary of the first in a long series of victories, the "Alfa Romeo: Mille Miglia in 90 places" project has been created, to retrace the most significant stages in a unique story through ninety photos of the most emblematic locations.
Places and episodes that helped to write the long history of Alfa Romeo at the world's most famous motorsports race, as a means of extending the passion from legendary models to current production.
But before the start itself, no Mille Miglia would be complete without the technical checks yesterday at the showground and the sealing and inspection, which took place this morning in the lovely setting of Piazza della Vittoria, one of main squares of the city known as the "Lioness of Italy". The process involves two stages, one for the crews - permits, certificates and driving licences - and one which checks the car's technical features. Sealing involves the application of a lead seal to confirm that the inspection has been passed and that the car is as specified in the race documents and, above all, it constitutes final approval to take part in the event.
But above all, technical aspects aside, sealing and inspection is one of the times when fans have the opportunity of a close look at the historic cars taking part in the race, and in Brescia all eyes are on the stunning 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super Sport, with coachwork by Farina, which is celebrating the ninetieth anniversary of its memorable victory in the 1928 Mille Miglia. The car will be carrying the race number 30, also borne by the winning car driven by Giuseppe Campari and Giulio Ramponi.