100 years of "Targa Florio"
The 100th edition of the Targa Florio was displayed Thuesday April 19, 2016 in Rome at the Automobile Club Italia. Aci President Angelo Sticchi Damiani, Gian Carlo Minardi (who is actively engaged in its organization), mayor of Palermo Leoluca Orlando, mayor of Cefalù Rosario La Punzina, president of the Autoclub of Palermo, Angelo Pizzuto, and the CEO of ACI Sport Marco Rogano attended the event.
From 5 to 8 May 2016, Targa Florio Rally, Targa Florio Historic Rally, Targa Florio Classic and Historic Speed, in the prestigious setting of the Ferrari Tribute, will attract the attention of thousands of Sicilian fans along the streets that saw the greatest masters of the wheel compete in the historic speed race.
“We can’t talk about the Targa without thinking to the land where it takes place and to the culture of an island that gave so much to Italy and to the World. The success of an event that has been able to continue and reach 100 editions is in this symbiosis, between the sport event and the culture of the land where it was born“, Aci president, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, done the honors. “The Automobile Club Italia has always supported this event, following it along its growth, and carrying on a well-structured work that in the last years was also developed through a close cooperation with the Automobile Club of Palermo.
A great race that has in it four exclusive events , the International Targa Florio rally of Sicily, Targa Florio Historic rally, Targa Florio Classic, and Targa Florio historic speed. From 5 to 8 May, we will all be able to become protagonists of a unique event that will retrace all the splendid steps of the race born in 1906.
“A huge task that sees the Automobile Club d’Italia, its women and its men, engaged at their best to make everything work in the best way, paying tribute to that crazy idea, to that forward-looking, but extremely modern and revolutionary project of Vincenzo Florio “, president Sticchi Damiani concluded.
“The 100th anniversary of Targa Florio is a worldwide event. It isn’t just the oldest race of the world, it marks the evolution of a century of motoring and celebrates the “Targa Florio” phenomenon that beyond sport has characterized an era from a cultural, historic, and social point of view”, president of the Automobile Club of Palermo, Angelo Pizzuto, said. “From a brainwave of Vincenzo Florio, the tycoon who in 1906 decided to follow his passion with the organization of the first edition. A cultural movement was born which attracted kings and nobility from all the Europe to the finish line of the Targa Florio, mixing the competitive side of a hard and difficult race with socialite life that used to promote exhibitions and great dancing parties. An unmistakable style that has influenced the ‘work of architects and artists around the world “,Pizzuto concluded.
Present at the press conference, mayor of Palermo Leoluca Orlando and mayor of Cefalu Rosario La Punzina brought the greetings from two places that have always represented the Targa Florio and Sicily in the world. The both of the two places are UNESCO sites. Palermo and its history, Cefalù and its wonderful views, are ready to welcome and properly celebrate the 100th edition of the Targa Florio.
Targa Florio Rally, the 100th edition of theTarga Florio, is the third event of the Italian Rally Championship, valid for the Regional Championship. It also is the third seasonal round of the Italian Car Rally Autostoriche Championship, which will bring on the Sicilian roads those cars that have made the Targa Florio great in the 70’s and 80’s, the years of epic rally.
Targa Florio Historic Rally, the special stage “100 Targa” to both Rallies, from Florianopolis to Cerda, will bring the racing cars in front of the automobile temple, the Floriopoli Tribune, the hub of the four events of the 100th Targa Florio. Palermo, Campofelice di Roccella, Cefalu, Cerda Collesano, Gratteri, are centers where the Targa was born and raised, and where it continues looking to the future.
Targa Florio Classic, the unique competition reserved to cars of particular historical and sporting prestige, is the reference event for lovers of vintage cars. The “Classic” will be an opportunity to admire the most beautiful ones among the most prestigious brands of Vintage Cars, built from 1906 to 1970, which will perform on the streets of Madonie and Sicily.
Historic speed is an event wisely directed by Giancarlo Minardi. It will give the opportunity to admire the champions who shaped the history of the race on the historic route from Floriopoli to Cerda: from Jacky Ickx to Nino Vaccarella, from Arturio Merzario to Gijs Van Lennep, to Sandro Munari, Carlo Facetti, Nanni Galli, the Austrian driver Helmut Marko, and many other top names. The cars will be at the same level. From the Alfa Romeo T33 to the Porsche Carrera SLR cars of the Historical Museum to the Ferrari ones”. To enrich the ranks of distinguished guests, also Jean Todt, FIA president, and Muthar Kent, Coca Cola CEO, will be present.
To celebrate the 100 editions of the Targa Florio, an extraordinary meeting in Palermo will take place with drivers and characters who wrote indelible pages in the history of the oldest race in the world.
From 16:00 of Saturday May 7 2016, at the Teatro Massimo of Palermo, it will take place the Passion Day with the audience of enthusiasts.
Mauro Coppini, director of FormulaPassion.it along with Ezio Zermiani will interview great motoring names who have participated over the years in the Targa Florio editions.
Ninni Vaccarella, the legendary “flying dean” linked to the race in the Madonie, Mauro Forghieri, Jacky Ickx, Helmut Marko, Hans Hermann, Vic Elford, Andrea de Adamich, Arturo Merzario, Sandro Munari, Nanni Galli, and Carlo Facetti are just a few of the guests that will intervene in Palermo. This event is part of the official program for the celebrations of the 100 editions of the Targa Florio organized by ACI Sport. The admission is free.
Prestigious brands will enhance the 100th edition of the Targa Florio, associating their name to “a cursa”. Alfa Romeo and Abarth, linked with this race due to some important sporting victories, will be the Main Sponsors of the event. Eberhard & Co. will sponsor it for the first time as Official Time Keeper and will present a special model dedicated to the 100th Targa Florio and to the competitors who will have the opportunity to live this extraordinary experience.
Another Official Sponsor of the Targa Florio will be MA.FRA, a leader in the cosmetics industry for cars that in the frame of the Sicilian streets of the Madonie, between one stage and the next, will offer some special treatments to the precious bodywork and delicate interiors of the historic cars.
Poste Italiane will also be an Official Sponsor of the event, enriching the presence of prestigious brands alongside the Targa Florio. On this occasion, Targa Florio will offer its support to ANT that has offered home care for tumor ill since many years.
For any information about the race consult www.targa-florio.it site.
