Winter Marathon 2009 goes to Canè-Galliani

21st Winter Marathon goes to Giuliano Canè together with his wife Lucia Galliani on Lancia Aprilia of 1938. They collected 200 penalties against the 225 of Lenzi-Cadoppi on Volvo 122 S Amazon dated 1961 and 237 penalties of the young brothers Margiotta on Fiat 1100/103 dated 1954. Enzo Ciravolo and Angelo Pontiroli have been unlucky as they were well placed for a long time but they had to withdraw from the race very close to the arrival because of problems with their car.

The first brixian crew in the general ranking came in fourth place and was made up by Fabio Salari and Roberto Bonetti on MG B dated 1962 that unexpectedly have prevailed over Valseriati-Guerini (that came in fifth position) and also over Michele Cibaldi that came in thirteenth (last year he was the first brixian crew in the ranking). The race has been particularly tough for Salari and Bonetti facing a head gasket trouble, that forced them to a constant filling up the radiator to prevent the engine breakdown.

At time control in Mezzolombardo, after the first 10 regularity stages, Enzo Ciravolo (60 penalties) led the race followed closely by Flaminio Valseriati (67), Canè (80) and Gamberini (91) while before the first stop for the dinner in Canazei Ciravolo still was leader (85), followed by Canè and Valseriati both with 102 penalties and Gianni Lenzi with 104.

Canè-Galliani have been moving-up the ranking before the stages of the Safety Park as they were already the first with 126 penalties, followed by brothers Margiotta (131), Lenzi-Cadoppi (137) while Ciravolo ran up against a mistake being late of some seconds in the stage ending in Corvara. The final stages held either on Vadena circuit and near Caldaro outlined the final results: there were only slight changes as the overtake made by Lenzi on Margiotta and of Salari on Valseriati. At the end the situation was thrilling for Canè-Galliani as they were 6 minutes late in one of the stages but as prescribed by the Race rules the worst trial should not be considered therefore they were confirmed winner of the 21st Winter Marathon.

“I am really happy to win this important race – said Canè - as the two Sicilian were the favourite. The new Winter Marathon is a very tough race as the trials are more competitive: if you are not accostumed to drive on frosty roads even for 12 hours it’s really very difficult". Next to him, his wife Lucia Galliani added: “To win the fourth Winter Marathon I had to come back as last year I was not here. Winter Marathon is always a very tough competition and after we changed the battery I told my husband: now or never!”.

Also the organizer Roberto Vesco was really very satisfied as 180 crews participated to the event over the 183 entries: “We were a little bit afraid about the weather as last year there were heavy snowfalls and this year we chose an alternative route due to closure of the Mendola Pass for a landslide. Also the very low temperature tightened the race (only 144 crews finished the race) like the timing work forcing the Clerk of the Course to cancel some stages. What should we say about the winner...it’s not a surprise as he already won the 1st Franciacorta Historic Challenge last April and came in 2nd position last year after Gamberini-Nobili".

The use of the satellite system has been positive: a little device (OBU - On Board Unit) was placed on every single car. The system registered approximately 20 calls from the crews for problems with their car and permitted the Clerks of the Course Mr. Gigi Bigatti and Mr. Vittorio Galvani to track every crew.

Once the final results were ready, on Saturday afternoon starting from 13.20 hrs, the brixian channel Teletutto live broadcasted “Trofeo MotorStorica”: a new event where eight pre-war cars challenge each other in an individual time trial on the frozen lake in Madonna di Campiglio. The winner was the crew Piantelli-Piantelli on Bentley 4.5 Speed Model dated 1926 with a final penalty of 9 hundredth of a second more than the allowed time of 48 seconds.

After that there was the traditional TAG Heuer Barozzi Trophy, that gathered hundreds of people to see the first 32 crews ranked in the Winter Marathon, admitted by right in the knockout challenge. The winner was Mr Massimo “Mimmo” Raimondi with Giovanni Moceri on Porsche 356 A dated 1959 (they took turn driving, as Moceri drove the night before and coming in 8th place overall). L.P. Classic Racing Team crew that eliminated team mate Canè at the quarterfinals, thanks to its time of 42”98 in the final, overtook Fabbri–Cassani (43”03) on Volvo PV 444 while Lenzi-Cadoppi (43”04) came in third also driving a car of the Swedish car manufacturer. Fourth place for brixian Michelel Cibaldi (43”11) that eliminated the young crew Marinelli–Colpani in the quarter and Emilio Gnutti in the last sixteen.

The prize-giving ceremony took place on the frozen lake at 15.00 hrs while the farewell dinner was served at Rifugio Montagnoli where all participants arrived on board of snowcats; during the dinner several important prizes were drawn by lot as the 1st entry to the Winter Marathon 2010 won by the crew Lorini-Bossoni.

Winter Marathon
Press Office

Success of crews for the Winter Marathon

More than 180 crews will take part to the 21st Winter Marathon which will be held in Madonna di Campiglio from 15th to 18th January making this event the first one in 2009 in the scene of regularity race for vintage cars. The organization committee is particularly happy as also this year the participation is high and very close to the number of crews of last year (190 crews in 2008).

Among the participants there are some famous people such as Antonio Cabrini (former Juventus F.C. soccer player and World Champion in 1982 in Spain, driving a Triumph TR 3 dated 1956) and Mr. Norberto Ferretti (president of his nautical company as well as of the Riva company) driving a Porsche 356 Speedster of 1958, Emilio Gnutti on Porsche 911 S of 1968 that last year come close to winning the TAG Heuer Barozzi Trophy, Massimo Amenduni (Acciaierie Valbruna export manager) on Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider of 1962 and several figures of brixian industry driving cars built before 1968.

As in the past, at the start of the race there will be the Italian most skilled regularity drivers such as the 2008 Italian Champion Enzo Ciravolo and co-driver Angelo Pontiroli of Barclays Bank on Fiat 1100/103 of 1953, Italian vice-champion Di Pietra (father and son) on Fiat 600 of 1958, Giuliano Cané (who finished 2° in 2008) together with his wife Lucia Galliani on Lancia Aprilia of 1938, Volvo racing teams Fontana-Adorni and Fabbri-Cassani both crews on vintage cars of the Swedish car manufacturer, Massimo "Mimmo" Raimondi (President of the LP Classic Racing Team) with Gino Perbellini on Porsche 356 Cabrio of 1959, Giuseppe "Pippo" Rapisarda on his Lancia Fulvia 2C that finished 5° last year with and won the TAG Heuer Barozzi Trophy on the frozen lake, Margiotta brothers on Fiat 1100/103 TV of 1954, Gianmario Fontanella (3° rank in 2008) also on Porsche 356 dated 1955, and then crews D'Antinone-Perego and Perno-Cerrato respectively on Porsche 911 S of 1967 and Morris Mini Cooper S of 1965 and Alessandro Gamberini together with Pier Luigi "Jack" Nobili, winners of the 20th Winter Marathon on Fiat 1100/103 Turismo Veloce of 1956.

An eye should be taken on brixian crews leaded by Michele Cibaldi (that came 4th last year and first brixian crew) on Porsche 356 SC of 1963, Flaminio Valseriati and Andrea Guerini (6° in 2008) on the red Porsche 356 Cabrio of 1962, Bruno and Carlo Ferrari on Abarth 750 Zagato of 1957 that will try to improve the 9th place in the rank of the last edition and Stefano Marinelli on Porsche 911 S of 1967 together with Mattia Colpani, one of the youngest crew of this year.

Many prestigious cars will be used during this event: three Bugatti Brescia (built at the beginning of the twenties) driven by Majno brothers and Piergiulio Pivas, the majestic Bentley Speed Model of 1926 belonging to Piantelli-Piantelli, the Riley TT Sprite of 1936 belonging to Indaco-Indaco, the Citroen 11 AL of 1937 of Sandrolini Cortesi-Marti and the Hrg Le Mans of 1938 driven by Feliciano Ripamonti with Alberto Piantelli.

Many important companies decided to support the Winter Marathon also this year: Barclays Bank, Porsche Saottini, APT Madonna di Campiglio Pinzolo Val Rendena, Pineider, Gioielleria Barozzi, TAG Heuer, Metra, Fred Mello, Distillerie Sari, Grossi Carta Mantova Pool Pack, INA Assitalia/Agenzia Generale di Brescia, Barbiero Trasporti Internazionali and Peli Porte Sezionali.

Let’s meet in Madonna di Campiglio where it snowed generously the past few days in order to spend together the classic week-end among vintage cars in January 2009.

You can find more updated information on our official website www.wintermarathon.it.

Winter Marathon
Press Office

Presentation of Winter Marathon 2009

The press conference for the presentation of Winter Marathon 2009 to Sponsors, Authorities and enthusiast people will be held on 13th November at Brescia Porsche Center located in Desenzano del Garda, being the “event start point” also this year. As in the past, Winter Marathon will take place in Madonna di Campiglio from 15 to 18 January 2009 and will be the first regularity rally in 2009.

Innovations introduced by the Organizing Committee to make the event even more exciting, glamorous and competitive will be described during the press conference.
Andrea Cittadini, journalist working for the local channel ”Teletutto”, will be the anchorman of the evening while Mrs. Beatrice Saottini will welcome everybody on behalf of Brescia Porsche Center. A representative of the Tourist office of Madonna di Campiglio will also be present as this important ski resort is the beautiful location of Winter Marathon also this year.

Some advance information were given to visitors during the 25th International Exhibition of Auto e Moto d’Epoca held from 24 to 26 October in Padua. Winter Marathon’s stand attracted many people thanks to the Porsche 356 Coupé set with race numbers and by the giant photograph of the route behind the car.

The importance of this race is confirmed by the numerous and prestigious sponsors that will support Winter Marathon such as Brescia Porsche Center Saottini, Barclays Bank, APT Madonna di Campiglio Pinzolo Val Rendena, Pineider, Barozzi Jewelry, TAG Heuer, Metra, Fred Mello, Distillerie Sari, Grossi Carta Mantova Pool Pack, INA Assitalia office of Brescia, Barbiero International Transport and Peli Sectional Doors, a new enthusiast sponsor for this event.

A positive reply has been collected by the Organizing Committee about the on-line entry system that has successfully been tested during “Franciacorta Historic” in April this year. Many entries have already been registered at Vecars office in Sarezzo (Brescia). Entries close Sunday 30 November 2008.

To keep you updated please visit www.wintermarathon.it.

Winter Marathon
Press Office

Opening entry for the Winter Marathon 2009

From January 15th to 18th, 2009, the Winter Marathon - the motor event that opens the sporting calendar of historical cars - will be back. It will be the 21st Winter Marathon, after the great success in 2008 with the record number of 190 cars.

For this event, many innovations are provided for by the Organizing Committee, which - after the successful experience of the 20th Winter Marathon - has worked in the last few weeks in order to make perfect all the details and assure the drivers about their participation in a more and more exclusive and world-wide appreciated event.

Only the cars manufactured until 1968, both front and rear wheel drive, will be admitted: the application forms must be filled in on-line on the website www.wintermarathon.it and sent to the Organizing Committee, with the entry fee.

Once again, Madonna di Campiglio will be the ideal location for the starting point and the finishing line: the sports and technical checks will take place in the centre, in the elegant reception rooms of the "Savoia Palace Hotel", and will be divided into two sessions in order to speed up the bureaucratic practices. The event will start on Thursday, January 15th, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., for the local drivers (and for they who would like to arrive early in Madonna di Campiglio), and Friday, January 16th, from 7.30 a.m. to 12 a.m., for the other drivers.

The official start will take place in Piazza Righi, at 2 p.m., and the route, compared to the one in 2008, will present other new extraordinary alpine passes. There will be 35 timed trials (5 more than last year) that will arouse the enthusiasm about the challenge among the best drivers; the evaluation of the coefficients of the correction of penalties will not change, to privilege the oldest cars, which often are the most difficult to drive in such a sort of event.

The dinner will take place again in Canazei, where, in the large reception room of the "Park Hotel Caminetto", the drivers will enjoy local specialties and take a rest for about an hour from the first efforts and in view of the next hours of trials. The arrival of the first car in Madonna di Campiglio will be expected on Saturday, January 17th, at 0.45, times that last year assured a multitude of spectators, and that will allow the public to admire the cars at close range in the centre of the renowned winter sports resort.

After the innovations of the last Winter Marathon, with the live broadcast and the world vision by "Teletutto" television network, the final parade on the frozen lake will take place again. The start is expected on Saturday, January 17th, at 2 p.m., and the competition will be held according with the knockout format. At the "TAG Heuer Barozzi Trophy", not valid for the Winter Marathon final results, only the first 32 cars in the general results will be admitted by right.

On Saturday, January 17th, at 7.30 p.m., in the modern "PalaWrooom" Congress Centre, local authorities, sponsors and drivers will take part in the prize giving and have a gala dinner, drinking a toast to Winter Marathon 2010.

The support of the Official Sponsors is very important; in consideration of the success had thanks to the Winter Marathon 2008, the sponsors have decided to confirm their bonds with the sports values of such an important event.

Moreover, Winter Marathon will exhibit in the most important "International Exhibition of Auto e Moto d’Epoca" (International Classic Car and Motorcycle Show) in Italy, October 24th - 25th -26th, 2008, at "PadovaFiere", 59, via Tommaseo, Padua. At the "25° Auto e Moto d’Epoca", Roberto and Andrea Vesco will be happy to meet at their stand (pavilion n. 4) people who would like to have further information about the participation in the Winter Marathon. The official leaflets of the event will be available for entry registrations.

For further information, please connect to the official website www.wintermarathon.it.

Winter Marathon
Press Office