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Mercedes-Benz said on Monday that it will be sponsoring the 2016 edition of the Mille Miglia, the prestigious and famous road race across Italy scheduled to hold from 19 to 22 May 2016 , as the Automotive Sponsor.
Mercedes- Benz also said that it will be fielding numerous vehicles from its own collection in the 1,000-mile race, including the Mercedes-Benz SS, SSK and 300 SL models with the 190 SL participating for the first time in the revived Mille Miglia, though original documents confirm that such a model also took part in the original event in 1956.
A statement issued in Stuttgart and obtained by AUTO REPORT AFRICA said Mercedes-Benz and the Mille Miglia are inseparably linked.
According to the statement, the list of historic triumphs includes the win by Rudolf Caracciola and Wilhelm Sebastian in an SSKL in 1931 – the first victory by a non-Italian driver – and the record run by Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson on board a 300 SLR in 1955.
The statement added that at the Mille Miglia 2016, Mercedes-Benz will be on hand at the start and finish as well as along the route in its capacity as Automotive Sponsor.
And it will be in the running itself, too as the SS and SSK models will represent the era of the supercharged sports cars of the 1920s and 1930s. Several 300 SLs will be contending from the 1950s – plus the 180 D, 220 a and 190 SL models.
The roadster is taking part in the revived Mille Miglia for the first time – it came to light in 2015 that a 190 SL also took part in the original “1,000 miles” race in 1956.
The French team Michel Bianco / Jean Loup Pellecuer with starting number 347 came in 121st back then, after a driving time of 16 hours, 6 minutes and 15 seconds.
In addition to the actual Mille Miglia 2016, the Mercedes-Benz Mille Miglia Challenge is also being staged.
A maximum of 60 vehicles will be competing. All Mercedes-Benz SLs, vehicles from Mercedes-AMG and AMG, special and concept vehicles of outstanding technical or historic significance and all Mercedes-Benz cars built before 1986 are eligible – with the exception of those vehicles which have been approved for the Mille Miglia.
Today’s Mille Miglia is a reliability trial. The route is based on the historical course of the race, leading as then from Brescia to Rome and back. Demanding special stages await the participants and their classic vehicles along the 1,000 miles (around 1,600 kilometres).
