A single blown tire put an end to one of the greatest open-road races of all time. Driving along the dazzling Italian countryside in May of 1957 at more than 150 mph, a punctured tire launched the Ferrari of Alfonso de Portago over a canal, instantly killing de Portago, co-driver Edmund Nelson and a number of spectators, many of whom were children.
Had things been different, the ’57 Mille could have been one of the greatest days in Carlo Abarth’s life. After all, his stunning Abarth Zagatos finished 1-2-3 in the Grand Touring 750 Class. Alfonso Thiele’s Abarth 750 Zagato (#52) ran 63rd overall, winning the class with a time of 13h, 32m, 33s. Marino Guarnieri’s Abarth 750 Zagato (#40) finished 68th overall and 2nd in class at 13:38:40, and the Abarth 750 Zagato (#46) of the brothers Gianni (Vittorio and Luciano) finished 77th overall and 3rd in class with a time of 13:45:57. Despite the tragedy and the banning of the MM, Abarth’s GT 750 podium sweep presaged the constructor’s complete domination of the small-bore GT racing classes globally. It also didn’t hurt sales.
