In the history of the Mille Miglia, only three drivers have managed to win the race three times in a row — Clemente Biondetti, Giuliano Cane and Andrea Vesco. But in 2023, Vesco became the first in a history to break that milestone, winning for the fourth time despite crashing on the first leg. How to keep a cool head, Mille Miglia format and attitude to victories are in an interview with AutoClassicNews.
-This year the race could have ended for you on the first day after the accident. What was the first thought, when it became clear that it was impossible to continue the race without repairs?
-The first though was about an immediate retirement, Fabio was a bit more negative while I was thinking about trying to have our support team close to the car to check the real condition of the car because in a first view it seemed not to be so much damage in the structural part of the car, and I was right. But anyway we were both really disappointed for what happened.
-By the end of the first day, lagging behind Fontanella/Covelli had less than 400 points. What was the most difficult thing in this situation: to reduce the gap, to keep a cool head?
-I am always calm so I knew that after the first leg the difference was not too much to be overtaken; we usually run all year long against the same competitors/crews and we know how to menage a 5-days-race and when they become more or less competitive.
-This year’s race was the longest in history — 5 days, more than 2 thousand kilometers, which of the stages was the most difficult?
-The second and third legs are always the more challenging both for their length and because, overall in the third one, the tiredness become to show itself. In fact in all the previous M.M. the race have been always decided between Rome and Siena, where mistakes in the PCs become very difficult to be fixed considering that the missing PCs at the end are less and less.
— If we talk about the duration of the race, would you prefer the 4-day format to the 5-day one, but, for example, postponed the race to May, as it was before?
-I was «born» in early 2000s with the M.M. held in 3 days, starting on Thursday evening and arriving on Saturday evening, with prize giving on Sunday morning. Whitout doubts it was very traditional at the time and also fascinating. Now it is naturally different but I think it will became early a full-week-long race (in the future). For me is not easy to stay out of home (and family) for such a long time as well as for people who lead big companies. Who want to take part in it must consider all those aspects. Finally I definitely prefer May to June.
-Last year you said «After this fifth success, compared to the past, there is a lot more awareness even just for having managed to win the race; when I won in 2016 I had already achieved many successes but the most important one was missing, now when I run the 1000 Miglia I certainly have a decidedly less «weight» and I can face it in a more relaxed way».. This year you have become the only racing pilot in history who won four times in a row. Did you change your mind about the victories?
-No, victories are always important for me and my team, expecially when they arrive after a great performance. Only 2 tmes the M.M. have been won below the average of 3 hundreth of seconds; in 2020 (Vesco-Vesco) and in 2023 so this meant a lot to us and we have received a lot of congratulations not only for the win but also for the high level performance.
-There are 3 wins left before the absolute record. How would you evaluate the level of competition in the next few years, and will you continue to compete if you become a record holder?
-4 victories left (not 3) to reach Giuliano Can? in the roll of honour of that race; but, honestly, I am really happy of what achieved so far, although I will continue for sure to increase them. Let’s keep pushing 😉