The Targa Florio Classica 2020 begins this week and runs from Thursday October 15 to Sunday October 18. The brainchild of industrialist Vincenzo Florio, who wanted to create a race on the Madonie circuit, in Sicily, in 1906. This legacy is now carried on by the Automobile Club Palermo and ACI, with the support of ACI Sport and ACI Storico, which, alongside the rally, have been bringing the competition back to life in the form of a classic regularity race valid for the Campionato Italiano Grandi Eventi ACI Sport.
On Thursday October 15, the numerous crews of participants will begin to converge in Palermo, the key location of the event that will host all the arrival and departure ceremonies on competition days. Here the technical and sporting checks will be held before the actual race starts the following day.
At the official start of the “Cursa” on Friday October 16, the historic cars will leave for Marsala on the Saline road, and then return to Palermo retracing not only the history of motoring, but the history of Italy following part of the itinerary that was Garibaldi’s route. The places touched on the first day will be, among others, Monreale, Altofonte, Partinico, Castellamare del Golfo, Valderice, Trapani, Marsala, Mazara del Vallo, Castelvetrano, Partanna and Calatafimi.
On Saturday October 17, the course features a revival of the Madonie Circuit, on the Sicilian Apennines that dominate the magnificent Sicilian Sea. Here lays the opportunity to fully relive the original spirit of the Targa Florio by crossing the stands of Floriopoli, along the roads between Caltavulturo, Polizzi Gerosa, Collesano and Campofelice di Roccella; a vivid memory of when the competition, at its dawn, took place presented as a pure speed race.
Sunday October 18 will be the final day, with the final award ceremony. This day will feature one last competitive event on the Circuito della Favorita.
The general classification of the Targa Florio Classica is reserved for cars produced up to 1977, however participation is expanded thanks to the various separate classifications, such as Targa Florio Legend, for cars produced from 1978 to 1990 and Targa Florio Gran Turismo, for GT cars produced since 1991 to 2019. Finally, there will also be the Ferrari Tribute to Targa Florio, an homage from the Ferrari brand to the history of the Targa Florio Classica, which will welcome all owners of Ferrari cars produced since 1991.
There are 100 crews currently enrolled to compete in the various rankings, with the oldest car dating back to 1929, the Lancia Lambda VIII Series by Olindo Deserti and Maurizio Demarco. Returning this year will be Mario Passanante, winner of the last edition of the Targa Florio Classica, with his 1937 Fiat 508C (pictured above). The same model, but produced in 1939, is also registered for Giovanni Moceri and Valeria Dicembre. The duo, galvanized by the great results obtained in the Ampezzo Dolomites with the trophy victory in the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti, certainly promises a fierce battle at the top. Other top drivers in the Targa Florio Classica include Antonino Margiotta and Vincenzo Bertieri with the 1947 Volvo PV444; Angelo Accardo and Filippo Becchina, with the 1938 Fiat 508 C and Himara Bottini and Carlo Di Giusto with the 1966 Porsche 911T. Another car of particular value is the 1966 Alfa Romeo TZ2, driven by the British Simon Kidston and Guido Scassellati.
For updated results and information visit http://www.targa-florio.it
