Mercedes-Benz at 2013 Mille Miglia

By: Scott Newman

Date: 01.07.2013

Mercedes-Benz has been a long-time supporter of the Mille Miglia and a number of its museum cars will be competing in 2013

Mercedes-Benz at Mille Miglia

Mercs at Mille Miglia

Former McLaren-Mercedes Formula One driver, David Coulthard, will drive the legendary Mercedes-Benz W196 300 SLR at this year’s Mille Miglia road rally. A long-time supporter of the rally, Mercedes-Benz is the main sponsor of the 2013 event.

The 300 SLR has a special association with the Mille Miglia due to its famous victory in 1955. Stirling Moss, partnered by British motorsport journalist Denis Jenkinson, completed the 1587km course (Mille Miglia is ‘A Thousand Miles’ in Italian) in 10 hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds at an average speed of 157.65km/h.

In addition to Coulthard’s participation in the SLR, Formula One safety car driver Bernd Maylander and former Mercedes works drivers Jochen Mass and Karl Wendlinger will compete in 300 SLs, while endurance racing legend Marcel Tiemann will be driving a pre-war supercharged Mercedes SSK.

The Mille Miglia was a 1000-mile road race held from 1927-57 in which competitors travelled from Brescia to Rome and back again on public roads. It was cancelled as speeds spiralled out of control (the faster cars were cresting 190mph) and the casualty rate became unacceptable.

Since 1977, the rally has been held as a test of endurance for cars that competed in at least one of the original races. The entry list is strictly controlled; even replicas of the original cars
are not permitted. Almost 400 cars took part in the 2012 event, the winning car a 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500.

Unique Cars will be attending this year’s rally, which was due to start on May 16, just as we went to print. Look for a feature in an upcoming issue.

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