History

Life and Times of the Mille Miglia, Part 3

Robert Newman
[Click here to read the second installment]

Sure enough, the more liberal formula of the 1949 Mille Miglia attracted a record number of 375 entries for the 1950 event. Many of the drivers simply regarded the race in their tiny, uncompetitive cars as a fun day out. But the seriously talented racers, like pre-and post-war Grand Prix star Luigi Fagioli – now a driver on the 1950 Alfa Romeo F1 squad with Juan Manuel Fangio and Giuseppe Farina – and key Ferrari pioneer Franco Cortese, all did their best to wade through the 164 Fiat 500 Topolinos and get on with some serious racing.

Clemente Biondetti with Ettore Salani in their works Ferrari 166MM Barchetta Touring after winning the 1949 Mille Miglia. It was Biondetti’s fourth Brescia-Rome-Brescia victory, which made him the event’s most successful driver of all time. Photo: Giorgio Nada Editore

Alfa Romeo made their official Mille Miglia comeback in 1950, the year the Gioacchino Colombo-designed Alfa 158 won every single race in the Formula 1 World Championship and, of course, the world title itself. But not even Fangio was able to hoist the Alfa Romeo flag of victory over the Mille Miglia, which was becoming a home away from home for Ferrari.

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