Under starters orders - the Mille Miglia annual epic race begins

(15 May 2019) LEADIN:
The annual epic Mille Miglia car race is under starters orders.
It spans more than a thousand miles through stunning Italian landscapes, and is dubbed the most beautiful race in the world.
STORYLINE:
A red carpet welcomes 430 participants to the 37th edition of 1000 Miglia.
After being checked and officially entered into the race, these elegant racers are off.
Over the course of the next four days, hundreds of antique and vintage cars will race to the finish line passing through 7 Italian regions and the Republic of San Marino.
Only the most eligible car models can gain entry to participate. They are the vintage car models that took part in or completed registration for one of the previous editions between 1927 to 57.
Driving a 1954 Austin Healy 100/4 Luca Parenti is participating in the Mille Miglia race for the 6th time, although this year he's back after a ten-year break.
"There is a lot of emotion but we are above all worried about the weather, we are hoping it won't rain, but the adrenaline and the emotion is very high," he says.
The winding roads will take motorists across 1000 miles passing through some of Italy's finest cities - paying homage to the design and history of the car industry.
At the start of the race, the Italian Aerobatic Team drew an Italian flag with coloured smoke above the departure podium accompanied by a marching band.
Driving a 1929 O.M. Fabrizio Rossi says, "we are not going to win because we are not particularly good pilots in terms of regularity, our goal is to make it back to Brescia safe and sound."
75 different brands of cars are represented at the race including Mercedes-Benz, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin.
Lodovico Camozzi is driving a 1953 Fiat and has no concerns about the result on Saturday.
"More than ready, the car is doing well, the tires are doing well, I will be number one," he says.
Vintage car aficionados travel from across the world to take part in the race.
Gerd Stegmaier, who co-pilots a 1955 Mercedes-Benz, is confident the sleek car is ready for the race:
"Yeah yeah it's in a really good shape, the car will make it, it depends on us," he says.
The first ever race began at 8 am on 26th March 1927.
In just 21 hours, 4 minutes and 48 seconds later, winners Giuseppe Morandi and Ferdinando Minoja crossed the line in a 1927 O.M. 665 Sport Superba.
While the scenery is bound to be exceptional, all drivers are also in it for the race itself.
Teams of technicians check their cars right up until the last minute of the departure.
The Mille Miglia began Wednesday (May 15) and will finish on Saturday 18 May.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...