The 2010 version of the “World’s Greatest Road Race” is almost ready to go.
Just as in the years past, those wishing to enter for the first time will need to register on the web site, www.1000miglia.eu. The log-in ID and the password that they will receive there will then allow them to fill in the entry form, which is divided into 9 parts. It will also be necessary to attach as many historically documented articles related to the car as possible, along with its F.I.A. Heritage Certificate and/or CSAI Card and/or F.I.V.A. passport.  
Only cars made between 1927 and 1957 can participate in the Mille Miglia, which is further limited to only those models which took part in at least one of the historic races. All cars must be original.

The Mille Miglia 2009 managed to surpass the previous versions, becoming even bigger. Here are the figures of the successful 2009 race: over 4 million people lining the roads, more than 1,500 registered journalists from all over the world, 121 TV channels from over 130 countries, 50 Italian television showings with 3 TV specials on Sky, La7 and Nuvolari. During the days of the race the official website had viewers from 114 countries, peaking at 19,000 individual visitors in one day, who checked out a total of over 200,000 web pages. The videos of the race came in 14th place in the Youtube classification for Italy and were clicked on approximately 50,000 times.
After 12 years, two Brescian native sons were victorious in 2009. Bruno and Carlo Ferrari drove to triumph in a 1927 Bugatti Type 37. In a race full of suspense and surprises, the second place winners, Carlos Sielecki and Juan Hervas in another Bugatti—a 1926 Type 35—lost by only two points. Coming in third, were Antonio and Luciano Viaro—the Mille Miglia winners in 2008—in a 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super Sport.

The Ferraris, a father and son team, were symbolically given the Mille Miglia Cup. This Guinness Book of Records winner, at 170 cm, is the biggest trophy cup in the world and was yet another new feature in this year’s race. It was made entirely out of silver by the Brescian silversmiths, Petruzzi & Branca, who are the owners of the molds of the original Mille Miglia trophies of the past.

“Ferrari–Ferrari, is a team from Brescia!”  the official voice of the Mille Miglia 2009 rang out during the night of Saturday, May 16. The entire city reacted with joy at the triumph of two of its native sons in the event that has made Brescia famous throughout the world. “The Ferraris”, Bruno and Carlo, are a father and son team.  Their car, a splendid Bugatti Type 37, dated from 1927, the year the race was born.  They streaked across the finish line just ahead of the Argentine duo, Sielecki-Hervas in a Bugatti Type 35 A, and the winners of last year’s race, Viaro-Viaro, in an Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super Sport. The latter was yet another father-son team, witness to a tradition which is passed on among Mille Miglia appassionati, along with their obviously winning DNA. As the night filled with photographers’ flash, spumante corks, and laughter, intense fatigue was brushed away by the adrenaline of triumph. Let us hear Bruno recount his story as it enters Mille Miglia history:

“What were your experiences in the Mille Miglia, prior to this year?”

“On my own, I won in 1995.  But teamed with my son, our car has ranked among the best in these last four years.”

“During the race, the outcome was not clear until almost the end.  What were your feelings, and when did you realize that victory was in your grasp?”

“What a wide swing of emotions! In the first part, we weren’t doing all that well. In Rome we gained on Viaro. On the last leg we were doing well at Vico Lake, but poorly in Monghidoro and even worse in Modena. At that point we thought it was all over. Carlo had tears in his eyes… Just a few kilometers later, it was actually the Viaro team who informed us that we had won!  We thought they were making fun of us, but it was true, we won by just two points!”

“After your triumph what was your return to normal life like?”

“The routine starts up again quickly…a week of compliments, yes, but our work does not allow for distractions.  Of course I will never forget the banner, ‘Bruno, you are great!’ at the entrance to the Mille Miglia Museum.  I work with them, and have been a counselor there for many years.”

“Are you getting ready for next year’s race?”

“It  will be very difficult to repeat our success, but the fact that victories are spread out among the appassionati of the race is good for the race.  It makes it more interesting.  Our greatest satisfaction has been to win together, father with son, in our own car. This is why, when it is necessary, we get down and get our own hands dirty with oil.”

An all-Italian success story. This is the story of the Mille Miglia International Roadshow. After its success in 2008, this year’s Roadshow 2009 was received with open arms on each of its stops. The Mille Miglia today is even more than one of the most prestigious car events in the world. It is the ambassador for Brescia and its region, for Lombardy, and for the concept of Made in Italy, promoting and making them known abroad, while bringing recognition for all the excellence they hold, be it style, elegance, and Italian taste. A symbol of Italian excellence recognized and appreciated across the world.  

Today the—as Enzo Ferrari called it—world’s greatest road race is also a magnet, drawing the attention of the most interesting markets for Italy. The Mille Miglia is no longer a three day event. It takes place now all year long. The Mille Miglia’s Freccia rossa, the red arrow, never stops. After having been applauded in Munich in March, it was off in April to the imposing skyline of New York, Moscow in June, and Africa in August. Here, for the first time ever on the continent, the Mille Miglia International Roadshow held an evening showing true Italian style in Johannesburg. 
The Mille Miglia International Roadshow is getting ready for a hot autumn. On October 30 it lands in the United Arab Emirates, coming to Abu Dhabi at the same time as the Formula One Gran Prix. Then on November 10, it crosses the globe to stop in San Paolo in Brazil, on the occasion of the Italian Government mission with the Italian Foreign Trade Institute (I.C.E.) and the Confindustria (the association of the largest Italian companies).  
   In 2010, the legend grows ever greater. To coincide with the Football (Soccer) World Cup in South Africa, a Mille Miglia Tribute is to be held. The Mille Miglia will be the Made in Italy diamond presented to the diamond republic. 

Lots of new features in the Mille Miglia virtual store, without ever losing sight of its original founding concepts of prestige, excellence, elegance and Italian tradition, typical of the Mille Miglia trademark. From the portal, which you can access through the official website www.1000miglia.eu, you can purchase the many customized Mille Miglia accessories available. The book of photographs of the Mille Miglia 2009 can be ordered, along with the Official Catalogue which is still available. 220 pages filled with photographs and information about “the world’s greatest road race”. The book introduces the race which was held last May, showing the cars that were admitted, selection criteria, the participating car makers, and the extraordinary Mille Miglia Trophy Cup. The catalogue also contains a historic essay describing the heroic drivers of the Mille Miglia races of the past—those not reckless but sly “knights of intelligent courage”, the Mille Miglia Honor Roll, the Mille Miglia and Futurism, and much more.