Mille Miglia gets strict

The selection process for entries in the Mille Miglia Retro will be even more rigorous for 2009 following an announcement from the organisers that mechanical and bodywork changes will come under close scrutiny.

For cars in the touring and grand touring categories, no mechanical or bodywork changes will be permitted unless there is documented proof they were done in period for the specific car and chassis number in the original Mille Miglia. The ruling does not include most of the Italian and French one-off specials, however, which competed in the Mille Miglia when it ran 24 times between 1927-57.

Running from May 13-17, the Mille Miglia is one of the biggest regularity rallies in Europe, with a heavily oversubscribed entry for 375 places despite an entry fee of 5775 Euros. Entry registration for the 2009 Mille Miglia Retro, the re-creation of what has been described as the greatest race in the world, closes on December 20.