Winter Marathon goes to Gamberini-Nobili

The twentieth edition of the Winter Marathon ends with the wonderful win of Gamberini - Nobili on Fiat 1100 Turismo Veloce dated 1956. Second place for Giuliano Canè on his inseparable Lancia Aprilia dated 1938. Third rank goes to Porsche 356 dated 1955 belonging to Fontanella - Malta while the first team from Brescia - Cibaldi and Alberti - finished fourth.

Heavy snowfalls in the past few days obliged local Authorities to close Gardena and Campolongo Passes because of avalanches danger making the organization find an alternative route crossing through the wonderful but very cold (-10°C) Sella Pass. Frozen asphalt obliged cars to slow down and arrive late to Canazei’s Time Control. The Clerk of the Course has therefore decided not to consider this test as it could have negatively affected the final standing. All the 27 scheduled Precision Time Trials have been regularly conducted creating the final ranking.

Mr. Vesco statement: “Before talking about the race from a technical point of view, I would like to reassure everybody about the health status of the participant that yesterday has been suddenly taken ill crossing the Pass - the Race Doctor has immediately visited him and asked the crew to quit the race as a precautionary measure. Concerning the race, the only stumbling block was the Canazei’s Time Control but I think that except this problem everything was done in the best way. The final placing represents the value and experience of the crews on the track and I am pleased that there is a new entry in the ranking.”

Today’s event was scheduled on the iced lake where starting from 14:00 the first 32 crews in the final standing compete for the Tag Heuer Barozzi Trophy. Winning crew Rapisarda-Colombo on Lancia Fulvia 2C n° 157 prevailed on Gnutti-Bianchi (Porsche 911 S, n° 180); the performance of both finalists was particularly exciting as they challenged respectively Giuliano Canè and Bruno Ferrari, both skilled chronometer specialists and three times winners of this prestigious Trophy.

This show attracted a lot of people on shore of the lake-more than in the past; the event has also been live-broadcasted by the local television Teletutto and was also available on line in streaming video on www.teletutto.it.

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The sun shine on Winter Marathon

The sun shines again on the twentieth Winter Marathon after the past few days characterized by heavy snowfalls.

After the scrutineering Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, 190 crews of 194 are admitted to the race.

Singer Francesco Renga is not taking part to the event due to a particularly busy period abroad; this morning he got in touch with the organization and was pleased to know about the success of the event.

Local Authorities of Madonna di Campiglio gave the start on time at 14:30 and 30 seconds one after the other all the crews started.

Important snowfalls in the last few days obliged the organization to find an alternative route and to cancel 4 Precision Trial Tests as Gardena and Campolongo Passes were closed due to avalanches.

The clerks of the course Mr. Bigatti and Mr. Galvani scheduled the crossing through Sella Pass in order to arrive on time at Canazei’s Time Control at 19:45 and enabling the crews to continue on the original route and to finish the race only 10 minutes later than what was originally scheduled - at 00.40 instead of 00.30.

Further updates will be available Saturday morning as well as the final standings. Everybody is waiting for the traditional and exciting show on the iced lake in Madonna di Campiglio where only the first 32 crews will be admitted and the event will be broadcasted on the local television Teletutto.

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Winter Marathon: 194 crews ready to go

The twentieth edition has recorded the highest number of crews participating to the most exciting and famous international regularity rally for vintage cars which will start at Piazza Righi in Madonna di Campiglio from the 17th till 20th January 2008.

Foreign crews coming from Belgium, France, Germany, Russia and Monaco will also take part to this edition as well as famous people as the singer Francesco Renga, former Miss Italia Nadia Bengala, Geronimo La Russa (deputy Ignazio La Russa’s son) and the councillor responsible for local public transport for Brescia Mr.Valerio Prignachi. They will compete on cars, nearly 200, built before 1968 and among them some pre-war ones.

Many Italian chrono specialist will challenge each other on the renewed and evocative route that will wind along the Dolomites crossing over the most important Alpine Passes. The following will be present: last two editions’s winner Mr. Giuliano Canè together with his wife Mrs. Lucia Galliani, Bruno Ferrari (three-times winner of the Winter Marathon) with his son Carlo, Gianmario Fontanella (winner in 2005), Flaminio Valseriati (two times winner and third overall last year together with Guerini), Luciano Viaro(winner in 2003), Armando Fontana (that will drive a Volvo car belonging to Volvo Race Team, that will be present with many different models), Alessandro Gamberini, Massimo Raimondi (Loro Piana Team President), Valerio Bocelli, Luigi Fortin, Fabio Salvinelli and many other that don’t want to miss this twentieth event.

Mr. Roberto Vesco and Mr. Claudio Capponi of the Winter Marathon Staff are satisfied with the high number of entries that rewards the efforts of the sponsors: APT Madonna di Campiglio, Porsche Saottini, TAG Heuer, Gioielleria Barozzi, Metra, Ruinart Champagne, Fred Mello, Ina Assitalia, Pineider, Atena Immobiliare, Foresti e Gruppo Bregoli. Recently also Barclays Bank decided to become one of the Winter Marathon sponsor with the slogan “the big bank with an Italian body and English soul”.

We wait for everybody in Madonna di Campiglio where Vecars organization thanks to the local support has provided a major number of rooms to host crews and service car people as well as for the sympathizers.

You can find more updated information on our official web-site www.wintermarathon.it.

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The 20th Winter Marathon get the engines started!

The traditional historic cars event returns from 17th to 20th January 2008 being totally renewed. Many innovations have been introduced by the new Organizing Committee without upsetting the winning formula of the past editions; the staff is perfecting all details to make this event even more technical and competitive.

Cars built by 1968 are admitted, either with rear or with front-wheel drive. Entries will open officially on Monday 1st October till Friday 30th November 2007 and the entry fee will remain unchanged.

One of the changes concerns the scrutineering that will be splitted into two sessions in order to speed up the administrative procedures: on Thursday 17th January from 16.00 to 19.00 for local crews (and all those who want to anticipate their arrival in Madonna di Campiglio) while the remaining number of registered crews during Friday morning from 7.30 to 12.30.

The official start will take place in the centre of Madonna di Campiglio at 14.30 on Friday 18th January. All the cars, one after the other, will face a partially redesigned route with new and evocative scenery and with more Precision Trial Tests than in the past (30); this will make the contest more challenging and thrilling till the last time trial even for the most expert crews. Last, the introduction of new coefficients that will give small advantage to old cars (but hard to drive on snow and ice weather).

Another important change is represented by the new location of the dinner on Friday; beginning from this season, dinner will take place in Canazei in order to allow the crews to benefit of a longer pause in consideration of the remaining part of the course. The first car in Madonna di Campiglio is expected to arrive at 0.30 on Saturday 19th January; this schedule will give not only the competitors more time to sleep but also the possibility for a greater public to be present at the arrival in the centre of this well-known tourist resort.

According to tradition the final motorcade on the iced lake will take place starting at 14.00 on Saturday 19th January; this event has also been renewed and the knockout format will be used; the winner will be awarded with the prestigious “TAG Heuer Barozzi Trophy”. This test won’t be considered for the General Classification. The first 32 crews in the General Classification will be admitted by right.

Finally on Saturday at 19.30 contenders will take part in the Gala Dinner at the Conferences Centre in Madonna di Campiglio. The Prize-giving is scheduled at 21.00 and the City Authorities and Sponsors will also be present; the traditional farewell toast will round off the current edition inviting the participants to the next season.

The support of the Official Sponsors is becoming more and more important. Their presence is not only related to their passion for sport but it represents a valuable project that aroused interest even abroad. We therefore thank: APT Madonna di Campiglio, Porsche Saottini, TAG Heuer, Gioielleria Barozzi, Metra, Ruinart Champagne, Fred Mello, Ina Assitalia, Pineider, Atena Immobiliare, Foresti and Gruppo Bregoli.

Winter Marathon will exhibit at the most important fair for historical vehicles in Italy, the "Exhibition of Padova - 24^ Historical Cars and Motorbikes" that will take place on 26, 27 and 28 October 2007 at the expo "PadovaFiere", via Nicolò Tommaseo 59 in the centre of Padova. During the exhibition, we will be glad to meet all the people interested in the contest and we will give them more detailed information also on the organization. You can find our stand in Hall no. 4 (stand no. 49). The official brochure of the event along with the entry form will be also available at our stand for everybody who would like to participate.

To bring yourself up-to-date we suggest you to visit the official web-site: www.wintermarathon.it.

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Winter Marathon, a tradition that continues

After 20 years from the first edition held in 1989, the traditional winter contest for vintage cars is at the starting line. This well-known international competition will show a new look thanks to its new organization.

The 2008 season will take place at the traditional week-end mid January and introduce several innovations in order to confirm the usual high level of the past editions when the organization was directed by Mr. Costantino Franchi of Marva.

As always in the past, Madonna di Campiglio will be the perfect location for the start and the finish of this event thanks to its hospitality and beauty.

From the technical point of view, there will be several changes for the entrants. The route has been completely redesigned: it will be shorter but more technical. To improve these aspects the Organizing Committee has entrusted the logistic and technical features to the experience of Roberto Vesco – two times winner of the Regularity Italian Championship for historic cars.

Other important changes will concern the programme of the contest, above all the timetables: they will be fixed to guarantee more time for the crew to rest and to enjoy the hospitality of this well-known skiing resort.

The number of Precision Time Trials will also be increased (they will become about 30) in order to satisfy the numerous specialists of the chronometer, who will challenge each other till the last time trial; the competition will then end on the characteristic iced lake.

Prestigious Sponsors have already supported the plan of the new organization giving evidence of their interest for the classic event that opens the historic cars races season.

For more detailed and up-to date information please visit our web site at www.wintermarathon.it which is currently under construction but will be ready soon.

Winter Marathon
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