A regular retro-rally season normally starts in March or April, depending on weather conditions, and ends mainly with the onset of the first touch of cold. But the COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged around the whole world during this period of the year, put organizers of events before a difficult choice: to cancel the planned rallies and concourses or postpone them to a later date. Until recently, many hoped that in a couple of months the situation would change and the restrictions imposed by the authorities would be lifted, but, as often happens, hopes were not justified, and about once a week, news about the cancellation or postponement to the next year appeared on the official websites.
The last major event on the 2020 season calendar was the «Mille Miglia». Despite the newly introduced restrictions throughout Italy, the organizers decided not to cancel the «most beautiful road race in the world», but to make every effort to ensure safety for all participants for six days.
Regardless of the postponement of the event and the introduction of restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, 410 crews will leave for the start on October 22 in Brescia, most of which will defend the colors of the national flag of Italy. Unfortunately, despite the impressive list of participants, at the start of this year we will not see two crews who won the «Mille Miglia» in 2018 and 2019: Juan Tonconogi / Barbara Ruffini (Argentina) and Giovanni Moceri / Daniele Bonetti (Italy). Representatives of Argentina at the beginning of the summer in an interview to our publication, said that they would not take part this year in the «Red Arrow», but it is still a mystery why the current winners refused to participate in the race. Due to the withdrawal of Moceri / Bonetti, the list of main contenders for victory this year is topped by the two-time winner of «MM», Andrea Vesco.
In this regard, we could not help asking Andrea Guerini (in a duet with Vesco, he twice won «Mille Miglia» — editor’s note) about who, in his opinion, will win the race this year. And this is what he told us: “Vesco is in the best shape, so the rest of the rivals will just struggle one another for getting to the podium. This year the race will be held without top pilots, there are no representatives of Argentina and Giovanni Moceri. So my prediction is that Andrea Vesco will lift the trophy back in Brescia. «
Whether Vesco will be able to win the race for the third time, or someone will be able to bypass him on the corner, we will know on Sunday already , but we can say with confidence that this year the «Mille Miglia» will be completely different, and we have to accept this.