COPPA MILANO-SANREMO CHARM INFINITO. IMPATTO ZERO ...

COPPA MILANO-SANREMO
CHARM INFINITO. IMPATTO ZERO
Today the seventh revival of the COPPA MILANO-SANREMO (March 13-15, 2009), was
presented to the press. The historic revival of the classic race, born in 1906, now has a new
twist: it is one of the first international car events that has been certified (by LIFEGATE) to
have a zero impact on the environment.
Milan, March 12, 2009
Today, Thursday March 12, at 11:30, a press conference for the seventh revival of the Coppa
Milano-Sanremo took place at the Automobile Club of Milan. This is the historic revival of that
classic car race of 1906, which returned to the scene in 2003 after a long period of dormancy.
Sandro Binelli, the president of MAC Events, which organizes the Coppa and is co-organizer of the
Mille Miglia, presented the programme. He highlighted the new features of this greatly awaited
classic car event for cars built between 1906 and 1973, with 130 prestigious crews from all over
the world, in the presence of Pier Lorenzo Zanchi, the president of AC Milano (the Automobile Club
of Milan) which promotes and supports the event.
The first new feature is strictly sports: the “tourist regularity” denomination has been transformed
into “classic regularity”, which means a bit more competition and a bit less tourism on four wheels.
The atmosphere remains as always that of a pleasurable tourist promenade on the historic route
through some of the most beautiful parts of Italy, but the 20 trials will be more dynamic than last
year’s, though of course designed to keep to reasonable speeds. The new rules let Top Drivers
finally participate, as they were not allowed in under tourist regularity rules. This should provide
more excitement under the competitive aspect, and lots of theatric showmanship, adding to the
suspense when the final results come out. Not by chance do we find Viaro, Canè and Moceri on
this year’s list of participants.

But the real news for this year’s revival is that the Coppa Milano-Sanremo will be certified Impatto
Zero (“Zero Impact”) by Lifegate (www.lifegate.it), a company that specializes in spreading ecovalues
by its support of eco-compatible projects, which respect man and the environment. MAC
Events has taken up the “green” mission with fervor. It has decided to apply eco-sustainable and
energy-saving procedures wherever possible in its activities. Starting now, from the seventh
revival of the Coppa Milano-Sanremo, with certified Zero Impact on the environment, they will
make a special effort to avoid adding to the carbon dioxide in the environment, curb superfluous
consummation, and eliminate potential waste. The Kyoto Protocol requires a calculation of
greenhouse gases emitted which are then to be compensated for by planting trees in green zones.
This will contribute to the care of woods and forests and the return to an natural environmental
balance. Specifically, Lifegate has calculated that the 263.816 Kg of carbon dioxide produced by
the Coppa Milano-Sanremo 2009 can be compensated by 51,700 square meters of growing forest
in Costa Rica. From the start of the organization and during the course of the seventh revival of
the Coppa Milano-Sanremo, MAC Events intends to behave with ecological impeccability. It will
reduce the amount of new paper used by printing on ecological materials, employ green suppliers,
use low-environmental-impact vehicles for the staff, promote recycling during the event, underline
the color green (replacing the red) in its communication graphics, and invite all—from staff to
guests, participants to journalists—to behave with ecological virtue.
THE CARS
There are about 130 cars registered for the 2009 revival. They come from 3 continents and 15
countries. Italy boasts 65 crews, but also represented are France (2 crews), Russia (26), Great
Britain (4), Germany (4), Switzerland (11), Japan (1), United States (2), Sweden, Poland, Holland,
Portugal, Luxemburg, Austria (1 each). Among the unprecedented models, one in particular
stands out, the impressive Hispano Suiza H6B. This prestigious French-Spanish car was
designed by Marc Birkgit, who also designed a series of motors for fighter planes used in the First
World War. In spite of the fact that the H6B, whose engine shows refined aeronautical technology,
was created to rival the great luxury cars, such as Rolls Royce and Isotta Fraschini, it showed
unexpected agility when it achieved fifth place in the Rally at Monte Carlo. It was driven by William
Grover-Williams, the famous Williams, who was already working in Paris as a taxi driver, and thus
as a secret agent, in France (and would eventually be killed by the Nazis in 1945). He won the
Gran Prix of France with a Bugatti in 1928 and 1928, and that of Monaco in 1929, painting his car
for the first time in British Racing Green, which was then adopted by all the British cars.

AMONG THE DREAM CARS AND THEIR INCREDIBLE CREWS:
Car N° Driver Co-Driver Brand Model Year
2 Cané Giuliano Galliani Lucia ASTON MARTIN International Le Mans 1930
10 Massara Giulio Schira Simona MASERATI 3500 GT Spider Vignale 1962
12 Viaro Luciano Colpani Maurizio ALFA ROMEO 6C 1500 Super Sport 1928
15 Grimaldi Francesca Labate Rossella ALFA ROMEO 6C 2300 Mille Miglia 1938
18 Farina Mirko Rau Pierluigi ALFA ROMEO 6C 1750 Super Sport 1929
19 Piardi Ezio Piardi Manuela MG K3 1934
20 Matteace Giacomo Abbenante Domenico FIAT 508 Balilla Spider 3M 1932
21 Kidston Simon Collo Emanuele HISPANO SUIZA H6B 1924
22 Lall Satbachan Singh Lall Paramjit BENTLEY 4½ Litre Le Mans Tourer 1928
23 Carlini Luigi Fadlon Alex RILEY 9 Brookland 1929
24 Moceri Giovanni Marx Axel ALFA ROMEO 6C 1750 Gran Sport 1930
25 Seeholzer Peter Fabian Lippuner ASTON MARTIN Le Mans 1933
27 Mandel-Mantello Andrea Benjamin Victor MG NA 1934
28 Kawlath Arnold Kawlath Ursula ALVIS Speed 20 SC 1935
29 Büchl Reinhard Büchl Marianne AUTO UNION Wanderer W25K 1936
30 Collins Steven Silver Simon BENTLEY 4.25 1936
31 Pankovskiy Andrey Pankovskaya Anna LAGONDA LG45 1936
32 Emmerling Ralf Emmerling Ulrike RILEY Sprite 1937
33 Rosina Alcide Ezio Becchi Rosina BMW 327 Roadster 1938
36 Bazhenina Nadia Bazhenin Boris MG SA 1939
38 Martini Novella Montanari Benedetta CISITALIA 202 B 1950
41 Righele Mario Capozio Massimo ALFA ROMEO 1900 M AR51 Matta 1951
42 Piepoli Giovanni Sperotto Giovanni FIAT AR 51 1951
51 Balli Luigi Balli Leopoldo MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL Coupé Ali di Gabbiano 1955
56 Levchenko Alexandr Levchenko Ekaterina MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL 1955
59 Carlini Paolo Franzi Allessandro AC Ace 1956
67 Storm Jan van Valen Cornelis FERRARI 250 GT Boano Coupé 1957
70 Danilov Victor Danilova Tatiana AC Aceca 1957
78 Crespi Dario Crespi Erika ASTON MARTIN DB 4 SS 1960
82 Cavalleri Tiberio Meini Cristina FERRARI 250 GTE 2+2 1961
85 Masselli Pier Angelo Confaloni Savina FERRARI 250 SWB 1961
98 Beghetto Loris Beghetto Francesco FERRARI 275 GTB 1965
104 Ricci Stefano Ricci Niccolò AC Cobra 65 1965
108 Volke Christa Kunz Susanne ISO Rivolta Grifo 1966
118 Fabiani Alessandro Costa Camillo FERRARI Daytona Plexi 1969

THE PARTICIPANTS
Well-assorted and well-balanced in the various groupings, is the list of models present, worthy of
the tradition of the Coppa Milano-Sanremo. The race originally opened the season of the
Automobile Club Milano and called club members to the starting line, all in their touring and
elegant gran turismo cars, leaving their sportscars in the garage. Appassionati, collectors, top
drivers, all sharing the love of classic cars. Testing their mettle this year are, Luciano Viaro in an
Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super (1928) from the Museo Alfa Romeo (Alfa Romeo Museum), and
Giuliano Canè, Viaro’s historic rival in so many competitions, winner in the ‘70, ’71 and ‘72 Coppa
Milano-Sanremo, accompanied by his wife Lucia Galliani in an Aston Martin International Le Mans
from 1930. Of special interest is the participation of Giovanni Moceri, who had such a splendid
showing in last year’s Mille Miglia, this year at the wheel of a 6C 1750 GS from the Alfa Romeo
Museum, which will allow him to dream of capturing the highest ranking thanks to the coefficients
of his car which dates to 1930.
Moceri (with co-driver Axel Marx) will be another adversary for Luciano Viario, who driving the Alfa
Romeo 6C 1500 Super, won the 2008 revival of the Mille Miglia. Then there is Mario Passanante,
who comes from the super strong Sicilian regularity school, who will compete at the wheel of a Fiat
508 C “Nuova Balilla”. This car, named after the “old” Ballila, first appeared in 1937. In 1939 it
was renamed the Fiat 1100, whose production continued until 1953. Among the names to watch
are also Luciano Lui who won the Coppa Milano-Sanremo last year. Lui, a journalist for the
Gazzetta di Mantova, will race a Fiat 1200 Cabriolet from 1961, his co-driver is Enrica Vicchi.
Francesca Grimaldi, of the RAI, the Italian national television channel, (she’s a broadcaster on Tg1
news) will compete with her friend and collegue, Rossella Labate in an Alfa Romeo Museum, 6C
2300 tipo Mille Miglia (1938). Even Simon Kidston, the collector, expert consultant, and historic
speaker at races and rallies for classic cars, will race this year in the prestigious Hispano Suiza
H6B from 1924.
The Russians are out in force this year with 26 entries. Worth mentioning, is Alexander Brum, codriver
with Alexey Kuliaev, in a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Ponton (1960). Also participating is his
wife, Nina, (driving with Sergei Koshkin in a Mercedes-Benz 280 SL from 1969) and the daughter
Elena, with Mihail Rodicev in an MG B (1971). Brum, a telecommunications magnate, is very well
known in his country as the owner of Televic Corporation.
Another group of 19 cars has been organized by Pavel Pankovsky, in a 1947 Riley Brooklands 9.
The couple, Valerj Mamontov and Marina Mamontova, President of the Moskapstroi, and famous
art collector, also form part of this group, in a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud of 1965.
Boris Bazhenin, is at the head of yet another Russian group of cars. Bazhenin, driving an MG SA
(1939), is president of the Classic Cars Club Russia, which organizes since 2006, the Golden Ring
Rally for cars in Russia. In his group is Timour Aliev in an ALFA ROMEO Duetto (1968).

Loris Beghetto, president of the Scilm, has entered with a Ferrari 275 GTB from 1965. The
Swede, Joel Berg, also has also entered a Ferrari, the 275 GTB Alluminio of 1966. Berg has been
the editor of fashion magazines from across the globe. He directed H&M’s publicity campaign and
that of United Colours of Benetton. He is the creative drector of D-LA Repubblica delle Donne and
Velvet. The Pole, Brukszo Pawel (on a BMW 2002 Ti from1970), is the general director of Unitra,
investments and real estate. The Italian Army has also sent its representative, Lieutenant Colonel
Giacomo Matteace, director of the Museo Storico della Motorizzazione Militare, (the Historical
Museum of Military Motorization) which is sending four cars with crews to the Coppa Milano-
Sanremo 2009: a Fiat 508 Balilla Spider of 1932, an Alfa Romeo 1900 M AR51 Matta (1951), an
Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport (1929), and a Fiat AR 51 (1951) driven by General Mario
Righele, Head of the Transportation and Material Department. On the glamour side, there is
Stefano Ricci, the owner of the prestigious Florentine fashion house, at the wheel of an AC Cobra
65 (1965), his son, Niccolò Ricci, AD of the company, is his co-driver. One of the sponsors of the
event, Marzio Villa, is also participating, in a Jaguar XK 140 DHC (1957) with codriver Maria
Cristina Abello. Villa is the owner of the prestigious watchmaker, Cuervo y Sobrinos, with long
traditions matured in Havana.
Managers and Captains of Industry will set their work aside for a few days to seek the challenges
of the road in the Coppa Milano – Sanremo. Among these are the Genovese ship owner, Alcide
Ezio Rosina (in a BMW 327 Roadster, co-driver Mariangela Becchi Rosina), Alessandro Fabiani,
the financier (in a Ferrari Daytona Plexy 1969, co-driver Camillo Costa), Marcus Makaus of Rolls
Royce Italia with his wife Dorotea, in a Jaguar E-Type of 1965. The marketing director of the
magazine, “Monsieur”, Paolo Olivieri will also be there (in a Mercedes Benz 280 SL Pagoda, 1969,
with co-driver Dario Capolongo).
THE PROGRAMME
Rendez-vous then this afternoon, Thursday, March 12, for the first car at the Autodromo in Monza.
Tomorrow morning, Friday, March 13, after the technical checks, the participants can do some laps
around the circuit, until the start of the inaugural parade at 1:30 P.M. which officially opens the
event. In the afternoon, the cars will move on to Milan, to the Piazza del Duomo, for the traditional
catwalk of cars, presenting them to the anxiously waiting public of appassionati. Gala evening at
the Hotel Le Meridien Gallia.
Saturday the 14th, off again at 8:00 at the official start of the classic regularity race, destination:
Genoa. The first leg across the Pavese plain and the rice fields of the Lomellina, to the Appennine
Mountain peaks on the border of the Italian region of Liguria. A stop for lunch at the Monterotondo
Resort, in the lands of Gavi, and then off to the sea, reaching their goal only after a breath-taking
decent from Monte Fasce towards the center of Genoa. In the heart of the city, the cars will be
presented to the public at the traditional parade-gathering in Piazza De Ferrari. The gala dinner at
the Aquarium on Saturday night will bring the Genoa leg to its proper conclusion.

Then on Sunday, March 15, the final leg to Sanremo begins. Through the Faiallo Pass, stopping
for lunch at the sumptuous seventeenth century Villa Faraggiana, at Albissola Marina. Arrival at
the City of the Flowers (Sanremo) at 4:30 P.M. on Sunday, March 15. The Finish Line is located in
Piazza Colombo, where the festivities traditionally come to an end. The grand finale will be the
gala dinner at the Hotel Royal, which will also be the site of the awards ceremony.
MORE INFORMATION
OBU (ON BOARD UNIT)
The latest technological innovation in the Coppa Milano-Sanremo 2009, is the OBU (ON BOARD
UNIT), a gadget which allows for the immediate location of a car in real time. The position of the
car is picked up by satellite and transmitted to the Clerk of the Course. The OBU lets spectators
check out the positions of each car in real time. All they need to do is to connect to the website,
www.milano-sanremo.it
The instrument has two buttons. One is for requesting medical intervention, the other to tell the
Clerk of the Course of eventual mechanical problems. The OBU was successfully used during last
year’s Mille Miglia, showing it to be indispensible for road safety.
REAL TIME
Through the real time section of the website, www.milano-sanremo.it, it is possible to access the
video of the race in real time.
LADIES CUP
The Ladies Cup will go the all female crew that best places in the final ranking.
SPONSORS AND PATRONS
Promoted and with the patronage of the Automobile Club di Milano, in collaboration with the
Autodromo di Monza, the seventh Coppa Milano-Sanremo revival includes a richly qualified pool of
sponsors and partners.
Co-sponsor: ALFA ROMEO has once again renewed its ties with the Coppa Milano-Sanremo,and
will be present with three cars, an Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super Sport from 1928 (Luciano Viaro-
Maurizio Colpani), the Alfa Romeo 2300 Mille Miglia of 1938 (Francesca Grimaldi-Rossella Labate)
and the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport of 1930 (Giovanni Moceri-Axel Marx).
Other co-sponsors, are Comune di Sanremo, Cuervos Y Sobrinos, the historic watch-maker from
Havana and Sixt, the German car and limousine rental service. Business Sponsor: Casino’

Sanremo, Fred Mello, Autostrade per l’Italia (Italian Highways), Carige. Technical Partners: Next
and Riviera Trasporti; Internet Partners: Siglacom; Media Partners: La Stampa, Monsieur. Official
Radio: Radio Babboleo. TV Media Partner: Primocanale. In collaboration with: Regione Liguria,
Regione Lombardia, the Provinces of Imperia, Milano and Alessandria, Cities of Corsico, Davagna,
Gambolò, Genoa, Imperia, Albisola Superiore, Albissola Marina, Milan, Spotorno, Serravalle
Scrivia, Tromello, Bargagli and Urbe.
HISTORICAL TID-BITS
Organized in 1906 by La Gazzetta dello Sport in collaboration with the Automobile Club di Milano,
a year before the Milano-Sanremo cycle race, the first Milano-Sanremo was a real resistance race
for turn of the century cars. The participants were for the most, Milanese, who headed south for
the sunny coast, after a long winter on the Po Valley plains. Taken up once again in 1929 by the
Automobile Club of Milan, with the name, Coppa Milano-Sanremo, this fascinating regularity race
was the epitome of competition on four wheels for the long period between the Thirties and the
beginning of the Sixties, interrupted only by the Second World War. In 1948, while Milan was still
licking its wounds after the war, the Coppa Milano-Sanremo reemerged into the light, and was
received with great enthusiasm. As the years passed, the event began to attracted many foreign
crews and women. Women enjoyed the Coppa Milano-Sanremo so much, that for a few years a
race only for them was organized, called “The Pearl of Sanremo—the Ladies Cup”. In the years
after 1973, the Coppa Milano-Sanremo kept its format, with maybe an added shiver on the circuit
of the Autodromo di Monza and the insertion of Ospedaletti, the precision trials and the uphill
races. Increasing traffic took its toll on the popularity of the race, along with a changing
relationship with the public and with car users following upon the gas crisis and austerity. But all
the same the images remained impressed in the memories of the fans. They can now live again,
after thirty years of silence. The Coppa Milano-Sanremo restarted its engines in 2003, and today,
after its hundredth anniversary and entrance into a new century, the Coppa Milano-Sanremo
celebrates its seventh revival.
For more information:
Renzo Parodi
Press Office Head
MAC Events s.r.l.
Corso Torino, 1/7
16129 Genoa
Tel. +39 010 5531767
Cell. +39 3475435031 (only during the event)
Fax +39 010 8630021
renzo.parodi@mac-on-line.com
eleonora.sirtori@mac-on-line.com
press@mac-on-line.com
www.milano-sanremo.it