PRESS RELEASE
Race presentation today at the offices of ACI, Rome.
Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti: relaunching a race of unique appeal
Against the backdrop of the Dolomites, one of the most enthralling of all vintage car
races, starting and finishing in Cortina on the last weekend of August.
The Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti is poised for a new adventure under the guidance of
Meet Comunicazione, which will be organizing it for the next five years. This year’s
event is scheduled for 28 August to 1 September, with the start and finish in Cortina
d’Ampezzo and a course of around 500 km taking in not only Veneto but also a
number of places in Trentino and Alto Adige.
The press conference coincided with the official opening of race registration, which
will be exclusively online, using the website www.coppadorodelledolomiti.it. Applicants
will have till 15 June to hope their cars will be admitted. Up to 180 cars made by the
end of 1961 can be admitted to this great FIA international vintage car event. This
year there will also be a special category for cars made between 1962 and 1965 that
are deemed to be of particular historical interest, rare models or with an outstanding
sporting record. This category will be judged in a ranking of its own.
Also taking part in today’s presentation was CONI president Giovanni Malagò.
“Tradition, passion, culture, competitive spirit and history. The Coppa d’Oro delle
Dolomiti has all these and much more,” said ACI President Angelo Sticchi Damiani,
“because it’s an enthralling race that warms the hearts of the most demanding vintage
fans and of everyone else who has 4-wheel sport in their DNA”.
“We are extremely happy about this new course,” commented Stefano De Gan, vicepresident, ACI Belluno, “because it will enable the Coppa to further raise its profile as
an international event of the highest level and appeal”. This was confirmed by
Alessandro Casali, President of the Coppa’s Organizing Committee. “What we’re
inaugurating today is not just a new course,” he said, “but a real change of mentality
and vision. We will boost the event’s international reach,” he added, “and its sporting
significance, which the new course makes unique. The race is run over zigzagging
mountain roads that will seriously test the drivers’ skills drivers, from the steepest
section, up to the Fedaia Pass (over 2,000 m), to the most difficult point (because very
narrow), at the Duran Pass. Not to mention landscapes of outstanding natural beauty,
such as the Serrai di Sottoguda and the Giau Pass”.
The race will be preceded by a series of events and initiatives centring on Cortina
d’Ampezzo, including the Concorso Internazionale di Eleganza per automobili
di Cortina d’Ampezzo (Cortina d’Ampezzo International Vintage Car
Elegance Concours) that will revive a prestige event that took place in
Cortina from 1952 to 1972. Splendid vintage cars, including a number of one-off
models, will be on display and drive past an expert jury and the general public.
The engines will start to growl on 30 August at the official sealing before the start of
the race from Corso Italia in Cortina d’Ampezzo. From here, it will be a gripping
adventure on a course of alternating climbs and downhill sections, from the low point
of 325 m above sea level, at Feltre, to the high point of 2,239 m at the Pordoi Pass in
the heart of the Dolomites.
The half-way stage this year is Merano, in Alto Adige. The race will return to the
“Queen of the Dolomites” the day after to hear the winner proclaimed. The actual
handing over of the Cup will be on 1 September, at the prize ceremony.
This year’s Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti will be dedicated to Giannino Marzotto,
winner of the race in 1950, who died recently, and all his family of great drivers and
vintage car enthusiasts.
Paolo Marzotto, winner of the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti in 1952 and 1953, was one
of the speakers at today’s press conference.
Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti Press Office
P.le Flaminio, 19
00196 Roma
Tel. 06.32296971-79
366 6718954
Draft Programme
An event that lasts a whole year
March
3/12/2013 Open registration - Press conference
April
10-14 Road show GERMANY - Essen Motor Show
May
Road show AUSTRIA/VIENNA
6/15/2013 Registration closing date
June
6/28/2013 Communication of accepted cars and list of competitors
August
The Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti Week
November
Presentation of Collector’s Annual
December
12/30/2013 Grand Ball of Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti
The Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti Week
Wednesday 28 August Arrival of partecipants, accreditation and racing controls
Concorso Internazionale di Eleganza per automobili di
Cortina d’Ampezzo
Thursday 29 August
Arrival of partecipants, accreditation and racing controls
Heating tests (optional)
Gala Opening Dinner
Friday 30 August
First leg
Cortina d’Ampezzo
08.00 am: Sealing ceremony
08.46 am: Start of first car from Corso Italia
06.01 pm: Expected arrival of first car in Merano
09.00 pm: Gala Dinner
Saturday 31 August
Second leg
Merano
08.31 am: Start of first car in race from Merano
05.46 pm: Estimated arrival of the first car in Corso Italia,
Cortina d’Ampezzo
Sunday 1 September
Cortina d’Ampezzo
11.00 am: Prize ceremony and closing lunch
COPPA D’ORO DELLE DOLOMITI 2013
ROUTE
Friday, August the 30th Cortina d’Ampezzo – Merano
t
Start: Cortina d’Ampezzo (1scompetitor
at 08:46 am) –
Passo Tre Croci – Misurina - Carbonin – Fiames - Cadelverzo di sopra - Passo
Falzarego (Col Gallina) - Passo Valparola - San Cassiano - Corvara in Badia – Arabba
- Salisei di Sotto – Digonera - Serrai di Sottoguda –
t
Malga Ciapela (Lunch 1scompetitor
at 12:01 pm) - Passo Fedaia - Canazei -Passo
Sella - Selva di Val Gardena – Ortisei – Castelrotto - Fiè allo Scillar - Bolzano -Terlano
– Meltina - Avelengo
t
Arrival: Merano (1scompetitor
at 06:01 pm)
Saturday, August the 31st sMerano – Cortina d’Ampezzo
t
Start: Merano (1scompetitor
at 08:31 am) –
Cermes - Passo di Palade – Ronzone - Passo della Mendola – Caldaro – Ora – Aldino
- Noa Ponente - Noa Leante - Lago di Carezza - Passo Costalunga - Vigo di Fassa
– Moena - Passo San Pellegrino –
t
Falcade (lunch 1scompetitor
at 01:11 pm) – Feder - Vallada Agordina - San
Tomaso Agordino – Cencenighe – Agordo - Passo Duran – Dont - Forcella Staulanza
- Selva di Cadore - Passo Giau
st competitor at 05:46 pm)
Arrival : Cortina d’Ampezzo (1U
THE ROUTE COULD BE SUBJECT TO MODIFICATIONS
2013 EDITION
Acceptance of car
The Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti is a fixture in the International FIA calendar of classic
regularity races.
Participation in the Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti is limited to cars built between 1919
and 1961.
Cars admitted to the competition will be divided as follows:



1st group: dating periods FIA C (1919-1930)
2nd group: dating periods FIA D (1931-1946)
3rd group: dating periods FIA E (1947-1961)
Will be eligible to participate, a maximum of 30 cars built between 1962 and 1965 of
particular historical or significant racing history, in possession of one of the above
documentations. Those cars will not be included in the overall placing but in a special
one. Cars must be original. Replicas, including partial ones, cannot be entered, all
changes must be certified and must have been carried during the period of use on the
specific model.
HISTORY
1947 – Alfa Romeo takes the first victory
Inspired by the great road races of the past – thrilling events that took place on
ordinary roads lined by fans – and thanks to financial and organizational backing from
various public and private bodies (including local hotels), AC Belluno managed to
launch a competition that was to play a major role in Italian motor racing. Despite all
the difficulties of the immediate post-war period, 118 drivers turned up for the start but
only 74, little over half, actually made a finish. The favourites were Giovanni Bracco
and Piero Dusio, while the winner was Salvatore Ammendola, in a 1939 Alfa Romeo C
2500, with a time of just under four hours and an average speed of 76.49 km/h.
According to the newspapers, he got out of his car as cool and relaxed as if he’d been
out for a pre-lunch spin, an exaggeration probably. Second was Dusio, driverentrepreneur, in a car of his own production, a Cisitalia 202 MM (aka “Rocket”), and
third was Alberto Gidoni, son of the president of AC Belluno, in a Fiat Gidoni 1100 S.
A major role was played by Automobile Clubs in the Triveneto regions: Belluno,
Bolzano, Padova, Rovigo, Trento, Treviso, Trieste, Udine, Venice, Verona and
Vicenza. Gorizia joined in the following year.
1948 – Maserati double
The second edition, a race full of spectacular action and surprises, was won by
Giovanni Bracco in a Maserati A6 GCS, in 3 hours 40’ 27”, with an average of 82.56
km/h. Finishing ahead of team mate Gigi Villoresi, who crossed the finishing line with a
tyre down, he thus secured his standing as overall Italian champion for ‘48. Ferrari,
whose official driver in the race was Clemente Biondetti, had to content itself with 3 rd
place. It wasn’t Biondetti who made the podium however, but the “private” driver
Soave Besana, in an 166 Inter. 4th overall, for the second year, in a Fiat 1100, were
the husband-wife team of Alberto Comirato and Lia Dumas Comirato, who had
recently come 2nd overall at that year’s Mille Miglia. Three young Marzotto brothers
debuted this year: Giannino finished 12th in a Lancia Aprilia 1500, Paolo was
14th in a Lancia Aprilia 1500 and Umberto was 26th in a Cisitalia 202.
1949 – Ferrari double
Challenged by the previous year’s result, Ferrari took the first two places on the
podium. Roberto Vallone won in a Ferrari 166 Inter in 3 hours 45’ 2”, an average of
r
81.00 km/h. 2nd was Franco Cornacchia in a Ferrari 166 MM, while 3 overall
was
taken by Franco Rol in an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione, having been held back
by a closed level crossing.
The ‘49 race is also remembered for its debuts: Maria Teresa De Filippis (first woman
driver in Formula 1 in the following year) in a Urania BMW 750, and Berardo Taraschi,
who was also the founder of Giaur. The famous bodywork specialist “Nuccio” Bertone
took part in a Fiat 1100, while champion driver Tazio Nuvolari attended as a guest.
The 12th Rallye des Alpes was run over the same course the day before, thus boosting
interest in the race.
1950 – Ferrari-Maserati-Ferrari
The Marzotto brothers begin to shine in the Coppa. The overall winner was Giannino,
partnered by the trusty Marco Crosara, in a splendid Ferrari 195 S, clocking 3 hours
41’ 31”, an average of 84.97 km/h. In his wake, after a long duel ending in a gap of
only 14 seconds, came Giovanni Bracco, winner at Cortina in ’48, in a Maserati A6
GCS. In 3rrd place was Franco Cornacchia (2nd the previous year) in the twin of
Marzotto’s car. Racing in the Coppa for the first time was the talented Luigi Fagioli,
already an official driver for Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Mercedes, and here in an Osca
Mt 4, finishing 5th overall behind Sergio Sighinolfi in a Fiat Stanguellini 1100. The Turin
constructor also saw a massive contingent of its 500 Topolino model (versions B and
C): 32 registered and 25 of them made the finish.
1951 – Lancia double
Another great Italian car maker puts two drivers on the podium. Lancia returned to
racing in ’51, the year the race changed its name to Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti, and
took 1st and 2nd places with the same model, the Aurelia B 20. The winner was Enrico
Anselmi, in 3 hours 45’ 7”, an average of 80.97 km/h, ahead of Umberto Castiglioni,
aka “Ippocampo”. In 3rd place was the winner of the Sport category, a driver who was
to be highly successful in future editions, Giulio Cabianca, from Verona, in an Osca
Mt4. Another big name in the race was that of internationally famous bodywork
specialist Elio Zagato, who won the Gran Turismo category in a Fiat Zagato 750.
Lancia also took 4th place, yet another Aurelia B 20, driven by Salvatore Ammendola,
winner of the first edition.
1952 – Four Ferraris for four Marzottos
The 6th Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti can be summed up by a family photo. Four
Marzotto brothers finished in the top 7 (at Falzarego they took the top four places).
Paolo won the race in a Ferrari 225 S in 3 hours, 22’25” 3/5 (average 89.840 km/h).
Giannino finished 2nd , 3’ 22” behind him, in a Ferrari 340 America. To split the list of
brothers it took two seasoned champions of this race: in 3rd place Giulio Cabianca,
with the Italian champion’s tricolore band on his helmet, in an Osca Mt 4 1100,
followed by Salvatore Ammendola in a Lancia Aurelia B 20 Corsa. The third brother to
cross the line was Vittorio, in the same model as the winner, followed in 6th place by
“Ippocampo” (Umberto Castiglioni), while Umberto, the youngest scion of the famous
textiles family, finished 7th in a Ferrari 212 Export. Ammendola won the over-1500 cc
class of the Gran Turismo category, as well as taking home the first Coppa d’Oro delle
Dolomiti for the fastest time recorded over three consecutive years (1950-1952).
1953 – Paolo Marzotto again
Sporting an elegant tie, Paolo Marzotto managed to repeat his success of the previous
year, and in the process broke the psychological barrier of 90 km/h (average speed),
at 91.913 km/h to be precise. In a Ferrari 250 MM this time, he clocked 3 hours 18’
19”. He was challenged in a long and thrilling duel by the Roman driver Piero Taruffi,
nicknamed “silver fox” on account of his grey hair, experience and cunning , who
finished 2nd in a Lancia D 20. In 3rd place was Umberto Maglioli in a Ferrari 735 S, the
car that Enzo Ferrari decided not to assign to Paolo Marzotto despite predicting his
win and even the exact finishing order. Paolo thus got his own back on Giannino, who
had beaten him a few months before to win the Mille Miglia. Once again, Giulio
Cabianca in an Osca Mt 4 was the only driver able to hold his own amidst the battle
between the Ferraris and Lancias that characterized the top 10 in the overall rankings.
1954 – One Maserati, one win
The 8th edition of the race was staged in conjunction with the Rallye des Alpes, now
called the Criterium des Alpes. More and more of the course was now tarmac but this
didn’t increase speeds very much. The most exciting duel this year was between the
outsider Sergio Mantovani, winner in a Maserati A6 GCS in 3 hours 19’ 36”, average
91.31 km/h, and one of the great stars of the race, Giulio Cabianca, in an Osca Mt 4
1500. In 3rd place, in a Ferrari 250 Monza, was the favourite Gerino Gerini, noble and
reckless, who led for much of the race but then suffered a fault that slowed him down
and even threatened to force his withdrawal. Finishing 4th yet again in the history of
this race was Salvatore Ammendola in a Ferrari 3000. In the overall rankings, more
than halfway down the table, we find the name of Mario Poltronieri, future journalist
and TV commentator who was to be the voice of Italian motor racing for many years.
1955 – First and last foreign victory
The penultimate race was extremely hard fought and eventful, with only half the field
managing to finish. In the early stages of his international career, the German Olivier
Gendebien, future Ferrari driver, won this Coppa d’Oro in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
(nicknamed ‘gull-wing” because of its upward opening doors). He won in 3 hours 22’
1”, at an average speed of 89.77 km/h, 20 seconds ahead of a frustrated Eugenio
Castellotti, who was misled by a mistaken signalling of advantage by his mechanics, in
a Ferrari 500 Mondial. In 3rd place, in an Osca Mt 1500, was Giulio Cabianca, who
thus took the second Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti having clocked the fastest time over
the three-year period ’53 – ’55. In 4th place, Elio Zagato, the bodywork designer who
produced numerous cars for the Coppa d’Oro, in a Fiat Zagato 8V.
1956 – Osca – Ferrari - Osca
The last Coppa d’Oro was won, at last, by Osca, the sports car constructor owned by
the Maserati brothers and which played a major role in the history of the race. The
winner, in an Osca Mt 4 1500, was the top driver of decade, Giulio Cabianca, who also
broke the average speed record set by Paolo Marzotto in ’53 and the 100 km/h barrier.
nd
His time was 3 hours 1’ 31”, with an average of 100,417 km/h. 2v was Olivier
Gendebien, winner the previous year, now in a Ferrari 290 MM, having changed team.
3rd was Umberto Maglioli, driving the twin of the winning car. 4th was tFrancesco
Giardini in a Maserati A6 GCS. Speeds had increased significantly: 5th place Camillo
Luglio, in a Ferrari 250 GT, clocked a time that would have won him all nine of the
previous editions of the Coppa d’Oro.
THE MARZOTTOS: A RACING FAMILY IN SPORT, LIFE AND INDUSTRY
Between the end of the ’40s and the mid ’50s, the rankings of the major road races
often featured the four Marzotto brothers, Umberto, Giannino, Paolo and Vittorio.
And in particular, these “four musketeers” wrote some glorious pages in the history of
the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti.
In 1948, Giannino and Paolo (Lancia Aprilia 1500) fought against one another for four
hours to win the International Category, in that order.
In 1950, Giannino won the Coppa (Ferrari 195 S) and Paolo (Lancia Aprilia) was 2nd
in the International Series-built Tourism Category.
In 1952 came their masterpiece. 1st Paolo (Ferrari 225 S), 2nd Giannino (Ferrari 340
America), 5th Vittorio (Ferrari 225 S) and 7th Umberto (Ferrari 212 Export).
In 1953, Paolo won again (Ferrari 250 MM) and Umberto was 6th overall (Lancia
Aurelia Gran Turismo) but also won in his category.
For years to come, the brothers were to rival one another in their memories too.
For Giannino, who also won the Mille Miglia in 1950 and 1953, “the Coppa delle
Dolomiti was the most exciting and most demanding race!”, a view echoed by Paolo,
who said the race “was great because of the contact you had with the public!”.