Giro d'Italia automobilistico
# Giro d'Italia automobilistico

The Giro d'Italia automobilistico was an automobile race around Italy, historically first held in 1901, then reinstituted as annual event between 1973 and 1980, resurrected for 1988 and 1989, and again in 2011. Both in its historical and modern iterations the Giro d'Italia was inspired by its French equivalent, the Tour de France Automobile.

## History

### 1901

The first Giro d'Italia was organised by Club automobilistico di Torino (Automobile club of Turin) with the patronage of Milanese newspaper Il Corriere della Sera. Seventy-two crews enrolled.

The race started on 27 April 1901 in Turin; of the 72 cars which had enrolled, only 32 were present at the starting line. These included nine Fiats, four Panhards, four Peugeots, three Renaults, two Rossellis, two Morses, and one each from Benz, Ceirano, Delahaye, Marchand, Daimler, De Dion, Isotta Fraschini and Darracq.

### 1934

The 1934 edition was held over three days and 5,687 km (3,534 mi), on a circular route from Rome to Calabria and back, including a stage in Messina on the island of Sicily. Carlo Pintacuda and Mario Nardilli won in a Lancia Astura.

### 1954

The 1954 edition was held over ten days, seven stages and 5,763 km (3,581 mi), beginning and ending at the Monza Circuit and stopping at Sanremo, Naples, Bari, Rimini, Merano and Turin along the way. Luigi Taramazzo and Gerino Gerini won in an Alfa Romeo 1900 SS.

### 1973

The first Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 24 and 28 October. The race was part of the Italian Group 4 Championship.

    Route and events Day Leg Circuit or route Event 25 October Turin–Varano de' MelegariCesana–SestriereHillclimb Autodromo di CasaleCircuit race 26 October Varano de' Melegari–Misano AdriaticoAutodromo di VaranoTime trial Autodromo del MugelloCircuit race Autodromo Dino FerrariCircuit race Autodromo di MisanoNight time trial 27 October Misano Adriatico–TurinAutodromo di MisanoCircuit race Autodromo di VaranoCircuit race Autodromo di CasaleNight time trial
    Podium finishers Rank Drivers Team Car Class Time 1 Casoni Minganti Scuderia Nettuno De Tomaso Pantera Gr.4Gr. 455 m 35.0 s 2 Bonomelli Bonomelli Bonomelli Squadra Corse Porsche 911Gr. 557 m 11.2 s 3 Borri Anzalone Brescia Corse Porsche 911Gr. 559 m 57.3 s
    Class winners Class Drivers Car Time Group 5 >1300 cc Bonomelli-BonomelliPorsche 91157 m 11.2 s Group 4 >2000 cc Casoni-MingantiDe Tomaso Pantera Gr.455 m 35.0 s 2000 cc Dal Ben-BesenzoniFiat 124 S1 h 08 m 47.8 s 1600 cc Mussa-MartinoAlfa Romeo Giulia GTA1 h 05 m 53.8 s 1300 cc Artina-LibrizziAlpine Renault 1300 S1 h 22 m 05.3 s

### 1974

The 2º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 14 and 20 October. The race was part of the Italian Group 4 Championship.

The works Fiat Rally team fielded four cars: two Fiat Abarth X1/9 prototypes (one driven by Ferrari F1 pilot Clay Regazzoni), a mysterious Abarth SE 030 prototype based on the yet unveiled Lancia Montecarlo (which scored a remarkable second place on its first outing), and finally a Group 4 124 Abarth Rally. Lancia was only represented by the Andruet/Biche's victorious Lancia Stratos Turbo. Another notable entrant was Arturo Merzario, on an ill-prepared Jolly Club Group 5 Stratos, stopped by an engine seizure already on the first day, at Casale. Of 85 on the starting grid, 52 finished the race.

    Route and events Day Leg Circuit or route Event 15 October Turin–ImolaCesana–SestriereHillclimb Autodromo di CasaleRace 16 October Imola–Misano AdriaticoAutodromo Dino FerrariRace Autodromo del MugelloRace 17 October Misano Adriatico–VallelungaAutodromo di MisanoRace S. Stefano–Passo dello SpinoHillclimb Autodromo di MagioneRace 18 October Vallelunga–ParmaAutodromo di VallelungaRace S. Giorgio–ColonnettaHillclimb Quercegrossa–Croce FiorentinaHillclimb 19 October Parma–TurinAutodromo di VaranoRace Autodromo di MonzaRace
    Podium finishers Rank Drivers Team Car Class Time 1 Andruet «Biche» Lancia Corse Lancia Stratos TurboGr. 51 h 18 m 41.5 s 2 Pianta Beckers Abarth Abarth SE 030Gr. 51 h 22 m 43.4 s 3 Govoni Angelelli Scuderia Nettuno De Tomaso Pantera Gr.4Gr. 41 h 24 m 10.5 s

### 1975

The 3º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 11 and 18 October. For 1975 the coefficient for hillclimb races times was raised to 3:1, thus favouring rally drivers over circuit drivers, less accustomed to racing on closed public roads; no Formula One drivers took parts to the 3rd Giro. Autodelta fielded an Alfa Romeo 33/3 in Group 5. The favourite Munari/Maiga duo ended sixth, but only after having witnessed their Alitalia Stratos Turbo burn to the ground after the last race. Winner were Pianta and Scabini on a 3.5-litre Abarth SE 031, a prototype based on a heavily modified Fiat 131.

    Day Leg Circuit or route Event Notes 12 October Turin–ModenaAutodromo di MonzaRace Cesana–SestriereHillclimbRace cancelled 13 October Modena–Misano AdriaticoAutodromo Dino FerrariRace Autodromo di MisanoRace 14 October Misano Adriatico–MagioneS. Stefano–Passo dello SpinoHillclimb Autodromo di MagioneRace 15 October Magione–OrvietoRieti–TerminilloHillclimb Autodromo di VallelungaRace 16 October Orvieto–ParmaS. Giorgio–ColonnettaHillclimb Quercegrossa–Croce FiorentinaHillclimbRace cancelled Autodromo del MugelloRace 17 October Parma–TurinAutodromo di VaranoRace Autodromo di CasaleRace Sources:
    Podium finishers Rank Drivers Team Car Class Time 1 Pianta Scabini Abarth Abarth SE 031Gr. 51 h 24 m 09.9 s 2 Coggiola Pilone Scuderia Nord Ovest Porsche 911 Carrera RSRGr. 41 h 24 m 20.9 s 3 Bocconi Lovato Scuderia Nettuno Porsche 3000Gr. 31 h 25 m 57.6 s

### 1976

The 4º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 17 and 20 October. The race was part of the Italian Group 4 Championship, Italian Group 5 Championship. A one-make "Trofeo Alfasud" was disputed by 15 Alfa Romeo Alfasud in separate races.

Amongst the notable entrants there were two Lancia-Marlboro Stratos Turbo of Facetti/Sodano and Pinto/Bernacchini, with the "silhouette" body allowed by the newly enacted Special production cars Group 5 rules. Despite looking almost identical, the two cars were very different; Pinto's Stratos used the previous year's carburetted engine, while Facetti's one had an all-new fuel injected and intercooled engine developing about 100 PS more. Fiat sought to replicate its past year's success by entrusting Pinto another prototype 131, this time an unassuming Gr. 4 131 Rally made into a Group 5 car enlarging to 2.1-litre. Other Group 5 "silhouette" cars were Merzario's Ford Escort, Finotto's BMW-Schnitzer 2002 Turbo and Mannini's Fiat X1/9-based Dallara Icsunonove.

Facetti won with

    Day Leg Circuit or route Event 17 October Turin–Monza Cesana–SestriereHillclimb Autodromo di CasaleRace Autodromo di MonzaRace 18 October Monza–MisanoAutodromo di ImolaRace Autodromo di MisanoRace 18 October Misano–ParmaS. Stefano–Passo dello SpinoHillclimb Autodromo del MugelloRace 20 OctoberParma–TurinAutodromo di VaranoRace Sources:
    Podium finishers Rank Drivers Team Car Class Time 1 Facetti SodanoLancia-Marlboro Lancia Stratos Turbo "Silhouette"Gr. 52 h 51 m 10.0 s 2 Bernabei Borgia Porsche 911 RSR2 h 57 m 48.1 s 3 Pittoni Baresi Porsche 911 Turbo3 h 01 m 30.6 s

### 1977

The 5º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 12 and 16 October.

    Podium finishers Rank Drivers Team Car Class Time 1 «Vittorio C.» Monticone «Victor» Porsche 935Gr. 5 2 Bianco «Tambauto» Porsche 934Gr. 4 3 Pietromarchi Naddeo De Tomaso PanteraGr. 5

### 1978

The 6º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 13 and 18 October. It was one of ten non-World Rally Championship races that counted for the FIA Cup for Rally Drivers. The race was also part of the Italian Group 4 Championship, Italian Group 5 Championship and the one-make "Trofeo Autobianchi A112 Abarth".

Winners were Alén/Pianta/Kivimäki on a works Lancia Stratos; Pianta drove on the track, while the Alén/Kivimäki rally duo tackled the road stages. The car was a modified Group 4 rally car, classed in Group 5 as it was fitted with the 24-valve engine and other components which had lost their FIA homologation that year. Markku Alén went on to win the FIA Cup for Rally Drivers, also thanks to points scored in the Giro.

    Day Leg Circuit or route Event 14 October Turin–ImolaAutodromo di MonzaRace Autodromo di VaranoRace 15 October Imola–MagioneAutodromo Dino FerrariRace Autodromo di MisanoRace 16 October Magione–RietiRieti–TerminilloHillclimb Autodromo di VallelungaRace 17 October Rieti–Il CioccoS. Giorgio–ColonnettaHillclimb Autodromo di MagioneRace S. Stefano–Passo dello SpinoHillclimb 18 OctoberIl Ciocco–TurinRonde del CioccoEight special stages
    Podium finishers Rank Drivers Team Car Class Time 1 Alén Pianta Kivimäki Lancia StratosGr. 5 2 Facetti Finotto De Antoni Porsche 935Gr. 5 3 Magnani Pittoni Cresto Lancia StratosGr. 4

### 1979

The two Lancias and other entrants were disqualified, and the first prize went to third-arrived Moretti, Schön and Radaelli privateer trio.

    Podium finishers Rank Drivers Team Car Class Time DQ Villeneuve Röhrl Geistdörfer Lancia Lancia Montecarlo TurboGr. 53 h 49 m 46.5 s DQ Patrese Alén Kivimäki Lancia-Alitalia Lancia Montecarlo TurboGr. 53 h 50 m 22.3 s 1 Moretti Schön Radaelli Porsche 935 TTGr. 53 h 56 m 34.9 s 2 Bettega De Vito Perissinot Fiat-Alitalia Fiat Ritmo 75 AbarthGr. 24 h 7 m 6.3 s 3 Carello De Cesaris Meiohas Lancia StratosGr. 44 h 7 m 44.5 s

### 1980

    Podium finishers Rank Drivers Team Car Class Time 1 Patrese Alén Kivimäki Lancia Montecarlo TurboGr. 54 h 25 m 47.1 s 2 Alboreto Bettega Bernacchini Lancia Montecarlo TurboGr. 54 h 40 m 7.6 s 3 Pantaleoni Meloni Tedeschini Porsche 911 SCGr. 54 h 43 m 25.2 s

### 1988

The 9º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 16 and 20 November 1988.

    Day Leg Circuit or route Event 16–17 November Turin–Reggio EmiliaBollengoSpecial stage AlbaSpecial stage VarziSpecial stage Autodromo di VaranoRace BercetoSpecial stage Ciano d'EnzaSpecial stage 18 November Reggio Emilia–Misano AdriaticoPrignanoSpecial stage ZoccaSpecial stage ZattagliaSpecial stage Autodromo di MisanoRace 19 November Misano Adriatico–ParmaAutodromo di MisanoRace VergatoSpecial stage CastagnetoSpecial stage CarpinetiSpecial stage 20 November Parma–MonzaAutodromo di MonzaRace Milan trade fairSuper s. s. Source:
    Podium finishers Rank Drivers Team Car Class Time 1 Patrese Biasion Siviero Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo IMSAIMSA2 h 43 m 22 s 2 Larini Cerrato Cerri Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo IMSAIMSA2 h 43 m 46 s 3 Nannini Loubet Andrié Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo IMSAIMSA2 h 44 m 13 s

### 1989

The 10º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 14 and 19 November 1989. A poker of Alfa Romeo 75 IMSA took the top positions; the third classified D'Amore/Noberasco/Cianci were privateers.

    Day Leg Circuit or route Event 14–15 November Turin–Castelnuovo GarfagnanaLingottoSuper s. s. AlbaSpecial stage CanelliSpecial stage VarziSpecial stage Autodromo di VaranoRace BercetoSpecial stage CioccoSpecial stage 16 November Castelnuovo Garfagnana–RomeCioccoSpecial stage PoggibonsiSpecial stage Campiglia d'OrciaSpecial stage Autodromo di VallelungaRace 17 November Rome–Misano AdriaticoFiano RomanoSpecial stage DerutaSpecial stage San GiustinoSpecial stage Autodromo di MisanoRace 18 November Misano Adriatico–Reggio EmiliaAutodromo di MisanoRace Palazzuolo sul SenioSpecial stage VergatoSpecial stage CarpinetoSpecial stage 19 November Reggio Emilia–MonzaAutodromo di MonzaRace Source:
    Podium finishers Rank Drivers Team Car Class Time 1 Francia Cerrato Cerri Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo IMSAIMSA2 h 53 m 03 s 2 Larini Biasion Siviero Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo IMSAIMSA2 h 53 m 23 s 3 D'Amore Noberasco Cianci Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo2 h 54 m 53 s

### 2011

    Day Leg Circuit or route Event 26 October Turin–MonzaBielmonteSpecial stage Pray–CurinoSpecial stage MottaroneSpecial stage 27 October Monza–FranciacortaAutodromo di MonzaRace Val TaleggioSpecial stage Colli San FermoSpecial stage 28 October Franciacorta–ImolaAutodromo di FranciacortaRace Castelli di CanossaSpecial stage TrinitàSpecial stage Autodromo di ModenaSPS 29 October Imola–ArezzoAutodromo di ImolaRace Monte FaggiolaSpecial stage Autodromo del MugelloRace TallaSpecial stage 30 October Arezzo–VallelungaMagioneSPS Prodo–ColonnettaSpecial stage Autodromo di VallelungaRace Source:
    Podium finishers Rank Drivers Team Car Class Time 1 Pitorri Gagliardini Bernardini Star Cars Porsche Cayman S CSAI GT4GTT3 h 9 m 8.327 s 2 Forato Bianco Gasparotto Rubicone Corse Lamborghini GallardoGT3 h 10 m 32.053 s 3 Vallini Fraschia Fraschia PCR Sport SEAT León SupercopaT3h 13 m 41.472 s

## Overall winners

| Year | Driver(s) and co-driver | Car |
| - | - | - |
| 1901 | Felice Nazzaro | Fiat 8 HP |
| 1902–1972: not held |||
| 1973 | Mario Casoni Raffaele Minganti | De Tomaso Pantera |
| 1974 | Jean-Claude Andruet Michèle Petit «Biche» | Lancia Stratos Turbo |
| 1975 | Giorgio Pianta Bruno Scabini | Abarth SE 031 |
| 1976 | Carlo Facetti Piero Sodano | Lancia Stratos Turbo |
| 1977 | «Vittorio C.» Piero Monticone | Porsche 935 |
| 1978 | Markku Alén Giorgio Pianta Ilkka Kivimäki | Lancia Stratos |
| 1979 | Gianpiero Moretti Giorgio Schön Emilio Radaelli | Porsche 935 TT |
| 1980 | Riccardo Patrese Markku Alén Ilkka Kivimäki | Lancia Montecarlo Turbo |
| 1981–1987: not held |||
| 1988 | Riccardo Patrese Miki Biasion Tiziano Siviero | Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo IMSA |
| 1989 | Giorgio Francia Dario Cerrato Giuseppe Cerri | Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo IMSA |
| 1990–2010: not held |||
| 2011 | Maurizio Pitorri Andrea Gagliardini Mara Bernardini | Porsche Cayman S GT4 |
| 2012–present: not held |||
