Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

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One of the most stirring classic events in the automotive world
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Indissolubly linked with Mercedes-Benz since 1930
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Today’s participants cover the approx. 1000 miles in three days

Stuttgart/Brescia, May 15, 2008 - The history of Mercedes-Benz and that of the Mille Miglia are closely linked. The original event was held from 1927 to 1957 – and was studded with some major victories and several second places for the Stuttgartbrand.

The following drivers helped to write the history of the Mille Miglia in a Mercedes-Benz:

1930: Rudolf Caracciola achieves sixth place in the overall ranking with a Mercedes-Benz SSK.

1931: Rudolf Caracciola wins with a Mercedes-Benz SSKL.
1952: The teams of Karl Kling with Hans Klenk and Rudolf Caracciola with Ernst Kurrle take second and fourth place respectively in the overall ranking with two prototypes of the 300 SL.
1955: Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson in a 300 SLR are victorious in the record time of 10 hours 7 minutes and 48 seconds, with an average speed of 157.65 km/h. Juan Manuel Fangio – also driving a 300 SLR – achieves second place. In the GT class over 1.6 liters, John Cooper Fitch and Kurt Gesell win first place with a 300 SL. Helmut Retter and Wolfgang Larcher win the diesel class with a Mercedes-Benz 180 D.
Since 1977 the Mille Miglia Storica has been held in memory of the original event. Now in the form of a classic car rally, the Mille Miglia Storica has itself become a worldwide classic among historic events.
Every year Mercedes-Benz also takes part in the new event, fielding works teams and private owners who add flair to the proceedings with a number of original classic cars. In the Mille Miglia Storica, various teams have continued the success story of the Mercedes-Benz brand:
1986: Klaus Schildbach and Jörg Netzer gain victory with an SSK from 1929.
1989: Flaminio Valseriati and Bernardo Favero win with a 300 SL.
1997: Flaminio Valseriati and his wife Fulvia Sabbadini win with a 300 SL prototype from 1952.

Mercedes-Benz models such as a 300 SL prototype, several 300 SL, a 300 SLR, a 220a or the original 180 D which won the best in class in 1955 will once again enthrall the spectators at this year’s Mille Miglia Storica. Furthermore, a Mercedes-Benz Type SS will be part of the lineup for the first time. We are looking forward to Jochen Mass being once again at the wheel of the 300 SLR while Mika Häkkinen and Jean Alesi will each one drive a 300 SL “Gullwing”.

The 2008 Mille Miglia Storica

Following the old tradition, the 2008 Mille Miglia consists of three stages. Both the program and the route itself are derived from the original races of the past. Each year the event can be described as a unique public festival with a motor racing atmosphere, as thousands of classic car enthusiasts make their way to Brescia.
The first car will leave the starting line at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, 2008. This moment is always preceded by a profound hush, as a sign of the respect felt by all the spectators in the square. All the other classic cars then start off into the night in rapid succession. Via Verona and Ostiglia, the first stage takes the field to its first destination of Ferrara, where the first cars will arrive after midnight.
On Friday, May 16, 2008 at 8.00 a.m. the race continues towards Rome. En route the field of historic racing cars will cross Ravenna, the Republic of San Marino, Urbino and Terni before the first entrants are expected in Rome from 7.45 p.m. The route passes through wonderful landscapes, for the Mille Miglia Storica is all about maximum enjoyment: in addition to the pleasure of driving a classic car, the participants see the most beautiful parts of Italy and are able to savor the fine food and wines for which the country’s cuisine is justly famous.

On Saturday, May 17, 2008 the participants will need to rise early, as the first cars will already start off for the third stage at 6.30 a.m. The route will take them through Viterbo, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Modena, Reggio Emilia and Mantua before coming full circle in Brescia from 10.30 p.m. onwards. Once again the teams will be welcomed by a huge crowd of classic car enthusiasts, after covering 1000 miles in three days. Although the conditions are nowadays not as arduous as they once were, it is certainly no easy matter to cover this route in an automotive classic.

Even though today’s teams cover the traditional routes of the Mille Miglia rather more sedately in their legends-on-wheels – routes on which the battle for victory was once a merciless business – these old racing cars nonetheless evoke fascinating memories of the grueling events held in the past. Their undying appeal primarily lies in the fact that they represent the outstanding technical expertise of their era. And with this aura, every single vehicle – whether a muscular thoroughbred or an exquisite lightweight – makes its own contribution to the extraordinary legend of the Mille Miglia.

Program

Thursday, May 15, 2008: Stage 1

08:30 – 12.00 a.m.
- Presentation of vehicles in the Piazza della Loggia in Brescia

7.30 p.m.
- Start of the first vehicle from Viale Venezia in Brescia

12.00 p.m.
- Expected arrival of the first car in Ferrara

Friday, May 16, 2008: Stage 2

08.00 a.m.
- Start of the first vehicle from Piazza Ariostea in Ferrara

7.45 p.m.
- Expected arrival of the first car at Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome

Saturday, May 17, 2008: Stage 3

06.30 a.m.
- Start of the first vehicle from Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome

10.30 p.m.
- Expected arrival of the winner in Brescia

Sunday, May 18, 2008

from 9.30 a.m.
- Opportunity to view the vehicles in the paddock

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