Welcome to Italian Legends

Forza Italia: even if the Formula 1 roll of honour may not reflect huge Mediterranean success of late, there can be no doubting the vast scale of the contribution Italy has, and is still, making to motorsport.

Few countries can rival the list of great Italian brands: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ducati, MV Agusta… Or how about the driving talent: Nuvolari, Farina, Ascari, Agostini, Musso, Andretti, Alboreto, Rossi… And then there are those behind the scenes, pulling the strings: Enzo Ferrari, Mauro Forghieri, Gioacchino Colombo, Carlo Abarth, Ferruccio Lamborghini, the Maserati brothers… Without names such as these, the sport we know would be poorer.

Even when it comes to breaking competition free from the confines of a circuit, the Italians arguably did that best too, thanks to road-racing classics such as the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio where fans lined roads three-deep for a ticketless glimpse at the finest cars and drivers of the age… talk about bringing the sport to the people.

Italy’s love affair with racing goes back to the earliest days, with ‘The Flying Mantuan’ Nuvolari’s efforts on both two wheels and four. Italy dominated the earliest days of world championship grand prix racing – the 1950 British GP at Silverstone featured Italian drivers one-two (Farina from Fagioli) and Italian machinery filling the top five (four Alfa Romeos and a Maserati). Italy would win three from four of those early world titles, and even though time has shifted success elsewhere, the nation continues to be one fuelled by passion and never to be discounted – Ferrari’s recent triumphs at Le Mans following its 50-year hiatus being a prime example.

This special issue celebrates some of the icons of Italian motorsport; from circuits to stages, underdogs to unbeatables, giants to garagistes.

Grazie regazzi, and enjoy.

Read more about Italy’s incredible contribution to motor racing over the last century in Motor Sport’s vast archive.  Visit: motorsportmagazine.com