Mille Miglia's Final Race: A Historic Turning Point.
The Mille Miglia was both a road race and a folk festival, with millions of spectators lining the 1,600-kilometer course to admire the race cars. In the 1950s, racing cars became increasingly faster, leading inevitably to disaster on May 12, 1957.
Practically simultaneous with the invention of the automobile came motorsport and the public's fascination with competitive racing. Gordon Bennett capitalized on this fascination in the early 20th century. To sell newspapers, the publisher first organized balloon races and then car races. These competitions generated results that filled his papers, a strategy that worked brilliantly. Even today, vast sums are invested in motorsport events to attract attention. Why else would Formula 1 race in places like Dubai, Bahrain, or Baku?
The now-legendary Mille Miglia also originated as a promotional tool for Brescia, the race's start and finish location. Seeking attention, the race’s founders chose a challenging distance of 1,000 English miles and opted against a traditional circuit. Instead, they created a course from Brescia to Rome and back, exclusively on public roads—a design that still fascinates today.
Tragedy Strikes in 1938
At its debut in March 1927, the course was largely unpaved, making the race dusty and challenging for all participants. A sports car from Officine Meccaniche won that first edition with an average speed of 77 km/h. In just nine years, the winner's average speed had already increased to over 120 km/h.
As speeds increased, so did the risks. In 1938, a severe accident occurred in Bologna. Attempting to overtake a tram, a driver lost control of his Lancia Aprilia, crashing into a group of spectators. Ten people, including seven children, were killed. Italy's dictator Benito Mussolini immediately banned the race, leading to its cancellation in 1939.
BMW 328 Touring Coupé „Superleggera“ – Winner Mille Miglia 1940 (Picture: Karla Schwede)
However, just a year later, the wheels turned again. In 1940, the cars raced not between Brescia and Rome but on a circuit around Brescia. This special edition was won by Huschke von Hanstein and Walter Bäumler in the beautiful BMW 328 Touring Coupé. The expanding World War then interrupted the Mille Miglia for seven years, resuming only in 1947 when the guns fell silent.
The Cars Get Faster...
The Mille Miglia returned to its original route, with cars racing from Brescia to Rome and back. As before the war, the race captivated spectators along the entire course, with race cars speeding through massive crowds. By 1950, 378 touring cars took on the challenge, and five years later, over 500 vehicles participated. Since 1954, sports cars were also permitted to increase public interest. With sports cars came even higher speeds, as factory entries from Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari sometimes exceeded 300 km/h on public roads. This sparked debates about the safety of both participants and spectators.
Due to the rising dangers, factory teams from Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and Aston Martin withdrew from the 1956 edition. During that race, three fatal accidents occurred, intensifying criticism outside Italy. Still, the Mille Miglia remained part of the World Sportscar Championship. Thus, Ferrari and Maserati continued competing in 1957, as missing the prestigious home race was unthinkable for the Italian teams.
May 12, 1957: The Catastrophe
In 1957, Scuderia Ferrari entered five factory cars, led by the brand-new Ferrari 335 Sport. Peter Collins piloted one of these V12 monsters, leading the race for much of the event. Alfonso de Portago, a Spanish aristocrat and all-around sportsman, drove another 335 Sport. De Portago, a jockey, polo player, and Olympic bobsledder, had been racing since 1953.
During the final refueling stop in Bologna, de Portago and his co-driver Edmund Nelson were in fifth place. Mechanics noticed the left front wheel was rubbing against the body due to a bent suspension arm but offered no tire change. De Portago declined, aiming to overtake Olivier Gendebien's less powerful Ferrari 250 GT SWB before the finish.
Tragedy struck near Guidizzolo when de Portago's left front wheel hit a milestone marker. The Spaniard lost control of the Ferrari, which spun out, struck a telegraph pole, and crashed into the crowd. Alongside de Portago and Nelson, ten spectators died, including five children.
The End of the Mille Miglia
The aftermath was devastating. The Vatican and media condemned the race, denouncing the reckless pursuit of speed. Prosecutors investigated the incident, suspecting Ferrari's decision to skip a tire change as the cause of the tragedy.
Enzo Ferrari (2. right) in his workshop (Picture: Ferrari)
Ferrari and tire manufacturer Englebert were both charged. Enzo Ferrari had his passport confiscated and, according to legend, never applied for a new one out of protest against what he considered an unjust accusation. The trial dragged on for three years, ultimately ending with the acquittal of all parties involved.
Today: The Mille Miglia as a Classic Car Event
After May 12, 1957, the Mille Miglia as a high-speed race was no longer viable. It continued as a rally until 1961, with timing limited to closed sections. However, the trauma of 1957 lingered, and both public and participant interest waned. By 1962, the engines fell silent.
In 1977, the Mille Miglia returned as the “Mille Miglia Storica,” a historic motorsport event. Though the modern edition retains its charm, it pales in comparison to the wild spirit of the original Mille Miglia.
Picture credits: Ferrari