Once a year, in the capital of the province of the same name, Brescia, you can see a unique phenomenon — an «open-air museum». Pre-war Alfa Romeo, iconic Mercedes 300SL «Gullwing», noisy Bentley side by side with modern supercars, the price of which resembles an international phone number. So different and so exceptional for everyone, the race that has become a legend — Mille Miglia. According to the established tradition, we talked to the winners of previous editions and found out how they are preparing for the start, why some will not go to the start and find out who they consider the main contender for the victory this year.
Last year we didn’t see the two strongest crews of recent years on the «Red Arrow» — Giovanni Mocheri / Daniele Bonetti and Juan Tonkonogi / Barbara Ruffini, a year later the situation may repeat itself. 2019 Mille Miglia winner Giovanni Moceri (with Daniele Bonetti):
«We (me and Daniele Bonetti) will be participating in the Mille Miglia in a 1928 Alfa 6c 1500 Super Sport kindly provided by the Stellantis Heritage group (Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese)».
When asked who is going to be the main contender for the victory, the winner of 2019 noted that there are many worthy rivals, but the favorite of the race this year will be the Vesco family — Andrea and Roberto».
Mille Miglia 2018 Winners — Juan Tonkonogy/ Barbara Ruffini:
«We miss MM very much, but our Bugatti is not a car to win. So now we are looking for a car with a higher coefficient or a team with such a car to take part. Has anyone come out with us? for communication? — No, we have not conducted negotiations on this topic yet» (By the way, Andrea Vesco spoke about the specific scoring system at the Mille Miglia several years ago in an interview with our publication.)
In the women’s standings, the fight for victory will unfold with renewed vigor after the rearrangements in the Marini / Ruggeri crew.
Silvia Marini: «Yes, it was very sad to learn that Francesca will not be able to register for the Mille Miglia this year. There were some operational problems. The company she works for has planned a very important trade fair during the rally period. It was not very good news, because without her experience it would be very difficult to perform as well. Later I decided to show up with a childhood friend who had long wanted to try herself in this! Fingers crossed …»
Three-time Mille Miglia winner Andrea Vesco (2016, 2017, 2020) also answered our questions:
— For the second year in a row, «Red Arrow» has been postponed to later dates. How do you plan to prepare for the race this time?
— Preparations will be about the same, there is no difference whether to go in June or October (as it was in 2020). Usually, a month before the race, we start preparing the car and do some practice runs and / or take part in other rallies planned for the same period to get to the main event in better shape.
— In 2020, your main opponents — the Mocheri / Bonetti and Tonkonogy / Ruffini tandems — could not take part. History may repeat itself this year. Can you say that you miss the fight that usually goes on between you?
— I always want the strongest pilots to participate in the race. We don’t have many opportunities to fight them, which is sad. The competition is much more interesting and tense if the strongest participate in it.
— If they still do not appear in the starting list, who would you call your main competitors?
— The same ones that took places in the TOP-5 according to the results of last year’s rally. Although, let’s see how things go, because the first stage is very important, as it gives the necessary confidence and mood for the rest of the race.
— Your first personal «1000 miles» happened back in 2001, now it is already 2021. You became the champion three times and witnessed the brilliant victories of your opponents and their crushing defeats. So what is the Mille Miglia for Andrea Vesco?
— This is one of the two main goals of any year, besides the «Gran Premio Nuvolari». Villa Trasqua still believes in us and we are happy to give them a reason to be proud.
Of course, in this situation, we could not help but find out the opinion of Andrea Guerini, two-time winner of the Mille Miglia, just in the carriage with Andrea Vesco:
«I think that with a probability of 75 percent, the fight for victory will go between Vesco, Mocheri and Fontanella. But, most likely, success will go to either the first named, or the second. Mocheri, I think, will be announced in the second wave under a special quota from the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese, even if there are some changes in the date of the Mille Miglia» (We spoke with Andrea Guerini before the publication of the updated list of participants in Mille Miglia 2021, ed.).