On Tuesday 12 May, the timeless charm of the Red Arrow met with the international diplomatic community at a high-profile event aimed at combining the celebration of historic motoring with social responsibility. At the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations in Geneva, the 1000 Miglia took centre stage at an evening event that highlighted road safety, confirming that the world’s most beautiful race is now a prime platform for promoting a culture of prevention and the protection of human life.
The event provided an important opportunity to reflect on the central role of technological development and the effectiveness of awareness campaigns, themes highlighted by the speeches of Jean Todt, Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, and Federica Deledda, Commander of the Brescia Traffic Police Section and member of the Executive Committee of the European Traffic Police Network (ROADPOL). Together with Francesca Parolin, Chief Operating Officer of 1000 Miglia, the guests emphasised the importance of a concrete commitment to making roads safer, transforming the technical legacy and visibility of the races into an educational tool serving the community. Jean Todt himself wished to pay public tribute to Ambassador Vignali and the Permanent Mission of Italy, thanking 1000 Miglia for its commitment to combining a passion for motoring with the mission to save lives.
The evening was framed by an evocative display of three original cars: the 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GT Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tipo Mille Miglia owned by Axel Marx, the 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider Zagato owned by Roberts Keith and the 1954 Fiat 8V Berlinetta owned by Giustino de Sanctis.
There were also photographs that highlighted the continuity between the legend of the historic race and the vitality of its re-enactment. Ambassador Luigi Maria Vignali, acting as host, recalled how the 1000 Miglia today represents a global cultural event capable of showcasing the beauty of the Italian landscape and, at the same time, acting as a powerful platform for road safety education.