Some people buy cars to make their childhood dream come true, other do it as an investment, but there are those who buy a car in order to enjoy the trip with their loved one. One such person is Gianmario Fontanella, who competes in the rally with his wife Anna Maria Covelli. How to run a business, choose a rally and why an experienced co-driver does not guarantee you winning the most prestigious retro rally in the world — Mille Miglia — in our interview.
-We begin our interview with the traditional question: why did you choose retro rallies and not classic races, for example?
-Because it is a discipline that I could share with Anna as a co-driver. Being in races not of speed but of precisione was an opportunity to compete and stay together.
-With your brother Marco you run a family construction business, but you also participate in several rallies during the season. How do you manage to combine work and hobbies?
— It isn’t easy, but I manage somehow (thanks to the fact that I have valid partners).
-What events do you participate in every year, in addition to the Mille Miglia?
— I prefer major events such as Coppa delle Alpi, Terre di Canossa, Winter Race, Mille Miglia, Gran Premio Nuvolari, Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti.
— In the Italian Regularity Rally Championship you race with Alessandro Malta, but for the most important rallies such as Mille Miglia, Coppa delle Alpi, Terre di Canossa and Gran Premio Nuvolari choose your wife as co-driver. Was she interested in cars before she met you?
— I started by buying a Porsche 356, just for the pleasure of taking trips and rallies with Anna, then the competition took over.
— Retro-rally is a challenge not only for the drivers, but also for the cars. Who helps you prepare your car for the race?
— I have two very competent friends from Mantua who keep an eye on my BM old Garage cars. They are very scrupulous and also know how to prepare cars that compete in the discipline.
-What determines the choice of a car for a particular rally, except perhaps the Mille Miglia?
— Before choosing a suitable car, I look at the type of tests (fast/slow), the route (climbs/descents), the regulations (improvement coefficients) etc. and basing on all these factors above I choose a car which suits best.
— Andrea Vesco and Juan Tonconogy told us that the victories in the Mille Miglia depend, among other things, on the coefficient of the car. Do you think this system is right, especially considering that in 2014 the victory of Giordano Mozzi and Stefania Biacci raised many questions, also because of the highest coefficient of the group?
— The system of coefficients for the 1000 Miglia in my opinion is right. For the MM of ’14 there was a flaw in the regulation, Mozzi took advantage of it (with a car of dubious originality) and found himself competing with an enormous advantage that invalidates the victory.
— Having studied the Mille Miglia protocols since 2013, we noticed that your crews finished in the top ten every year, except for 2016. Do you prepare yourself in any special way for this race in a special way?
— It is the most important race of the year, obviously the preparation must take care of even the smallest detail, even the specific diet (protein but not heavy) and good support that helps you throughout the race.
— It is no secret that mixed crews rarely reach the podium, let alone win the Mille Miglia. Why do you choose your wife as your co-driver and, let’s say, not your brother? Or a navigator who has already taken part in the race?
— That is because she likes to compete and, in my opinion, she is better than any other navigator who race with me (but don’t tell anyone). Choosing another navigator who is already experienced in the Mille Miglia does not mean winning it. So I prefer to have fun with Anna or with a friend. And if he tells me like «That’s enough, I don’t compete anymore», then I’ll do it with Alessandro.