The Lioness of Italy cradle of the Red Arrow
Since 1927, the 1000 Miglia has been identified with the city of its origins: Brescia. The place that is past, present and future, soul and heart of the race, starting point and finishing line since its first edition.
Brescia and the four musketeers
The Lioness of Italy owes a lot to Giovanni Canestrini, Franco Mazzotti, Aymo Maggi and Renzo Castagneto, the ‘Four Musketeers’ who gave life to an event that is still known today as the ‘most beautiful race in the world’.
A story that began in Milan with the lighting of the first spark in the winter of 1926, and grew over time through evolutions and extraordinary moments, to arrive at the present day. Thanks to the founders, since 1927 the places and the name of the city have been inextricably linked to the Red Arrow.
Renzo Castagneto, the Deus ex machina of the 1000 Miglia
Since the end of the 1920s, Renzo Castagneto, from his office as Director of the Automobile Club of Brescia, held the reins of a huge organisation, 1.600 km long, maintaining contact with car manufacturers and drivers from all over the world. In spite of having a character that was anything but easy, the organiser was held in high regard, maintaining good relations with everyone, and displaying a remarkable insight for the tastes of the general public.
Castagneto’s unquestionable organizational skills demonstrated with the 1000 Miglia led him, over time to the helm of the Targa Florio, the Grand Prix of Italy, the Giro d’Italia cycling race and the Tripoli-Tobruk, but is to Brescia and its race that his name remains tied.
The set-up and the public of Brescia
Castagneto had been active so that Brescia could offer collateral events in support of the Race, decorating the city with the colors of the Red Arrow, displayed on flags, banners, torches and lighting.
The setting up of Piazza della Vittoria, with its umbrellas and chatacteristic wooden barriers, was a great success, to the point that the square was the most photographed Italian in those years, adding lustre and fame to the city and to the 1000 Miglia.
The citizens could live the race from far away thanks to the loudspeakers that diffused the live coverage and to the scoreboards that showed the classifications on Corso Zanardelli. Over the years, other events took place in the city, from competitions to children’s parades, exhibitions, minting of medals, the issuing of postage stamps, even to the “1000 Miglia for carrier pigeons”. The atmosphere created by Castagneto, to which the international character of the city’s guests contributed, made Brescia, for a week, what the “director” wanted: the Capital of world motoring.
Sealing Ceremony between 1927 and 1931
One of the most representative places of the Red Arrow is Piazza Vittoria, where the sealing ceremony still takes place today.
Since work on the square only began in 1929, the first editions of the Race were prepared in the “enclosure of the Wührer Brewery”, not far from Viale Venezia, which has always hosted the start of 1000 Miglia.
In 1931, or perhaps already in 1930, probably due to the need for more space because of the higher number of participants, the sealing ceremony was moved to the Foro Boario, south of Viale Venezia.
The origin of Piazza Vittoria
It didn’t take too long for the sealing ceremony to find its final setting. The works on of Piazza Vittoria lasted less than three years and the intervention, which radically changed the face of the heart of the city, represented the final solution to problems of space related to the preparatory stages of the 1000 Miglia.
At the end of the works and without waiting for the official inauguration, held in November 1932 on the occasion of Benito Mussolini’s visit, in April Renzo Castagneto moved here the sealing ceremony, showcase and catwalk for the famous people, not only from the automotive world, who arrived in Brescia.
Bruno Boni: the Mayor of the 1000 Miglia
After World War II, the then Mayor of Brescia, realized the importance and usefulness of an event of worldwide interest for the community, thus becoming one of the most fervent supporters of the 1000 Miglia in Italy and working alongside Renzo Castagneto in the organization of the race.
So, while Castagneto, on the wooden platform of Viale Venezia, waved the checkered flag of the arrival, Boni waved the flag at the start. The Mayor of the 1000 Miglia, instead of the national flag, usually used for the start of the races, opted to wave a white and blue flag with the colours of the city.
Continue reading the history of the 1000 Miglia
Explore the next chapters to discover the main events that have made the 1000 Miglia car race known all over the world: from the origins to the latest editions of the regularity race.
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Happy Valentine’s Day to all those who are in love at 1000 Miglia and with the 1000 Miglia! 😜❤️🚗
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Buon San Valentino a tutti gli innamorati alla 1000 Miglia e della 1000 Miglia! 😜❤️🚗
Feb 14
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How do you win a regularity race? 🚗
It is a matter of precision, not speed! ⏱
Each section of the route has an average time to be respected, and the winner is the crew that manages to complete the race within the set time as much as possible. Any difference in times, cars arriving early or late, incurs penalties.
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Come si vince una gara di regolarità? 🚗
È una questione di precisione, non di velocità! ⏱
Ogni sezione del percorso ha un tempo medio da rispettare e la vittoria viene conquistata dall’equipaggio che riesce a percorrere il tracciato rispettando il più possibile il tempo stabilito. Ogni differenza, in anticipo o ritardo, prevede penalità.
Feb 11
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1000 Miglia style 😎
Feb 4
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Are you ready for the winter challenge of the year? ⏳
There is only one week to go before entries close for the Coppa delle Alpi, the race that will inaugurate the 2025 Italian Major Events Championship! ❄
Experience the adrenaline rush of competing with the best crews along a 885 kilometre route through Italy, Switzerland and Austria!
📆When? From 12 to 16 March.
Entries close on 7 February – click on the link in bio👆 and guarantee your place at the starting line!
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Sei pronto per la sfida invernale dell’anno? ⏳
Manca solo una settimana alla chiusura delle iscrizioni per la Coppa delle Alpi, la gara che inaugura il Campionato Italiano Grandi Eventi 2025! ❄
Vivi l’adrenalina di gareggiare con i migliori equipaggi lungo un percorso di 885 chilometri che attraversa Italia, Svizzera e Austria!
📆Quando? Dal 12 al 16 marzo.
Le iscrizioni chiudono il 7 febbraio – clicca sul link in bio👆 e assicurati il tuo posto sulla linea di partenza!
Jan 31
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What is the Training Day? 🚗
The first day of the Experience and Warm Up events of the 1000 Miglia is dedicated to the Training Day, an opportunity designed to allow all crews, both novices and veterans, to get prepared for the race in the best possible way.
For crews new to regularity racing, this day offers an important learning opportunity, with theoretical sessions illustrating the basic techniques and practical moments in which the teams can put the notions they have learnt into practice directly on the road. The more experienced crews, on the other hand, can use the Training Day as a time to warm up and refine their skills, before tackling the more demanding challenges of the race.
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Cos`è il Training Day?🚗
La prima giornata degli eventi Experience e Warm Up di 1000 Miglia è dedicata al Training Day, un`opportunità pensata per consentire a tutti gli equipaggi, sia neofiti che veterani, di prepararsi al meglio per la competizione.
Per gli equipaggi alle prime esperienze con le gare di regolarità, questa giornata offre un`importante occasione di apprendimento, con sessioni teoriche che illustrano le tecniche di base e momenti pratici in cui i Team possono mettere in pratica direttamente su strada le nozioni apprese. Gli equipaggi più esperti, invece, possono utilizzare il Training Day come momento di riscaldamento e affinamento delle proprie abilità, prima di affrontare le sfide più impegnative della gara.
Jan 23
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Waiting for the first edition of 1000 Miglia Experience Italy, the new Italian event of the Red Arrow that will take you beyond the classic routes of the most beautiful Race in the world, let’s enjoy the passage of a 1952 O.S.C.A. MT 4 1100 through the most characteristic streets of Positano during Sorrento Roads of 2022 🌊
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In attesa della prima edizione di 1000 Miglia Experience Italy, il nuovo evento italiano della Freccia Rossa che ti porterà oltre i classici tracciati della Corsa più bella del mondo, godiamoci il passaggio di una O.S.C.A. MT 4 1100 del 1952 tra le vie più caratteristiche di Positano durante Sorrento Roads del 2022 🌊
Jan 21
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Crew 94, in an elegant 1935 Riley Sprite, letting themselves be carried away by the magic of a breathtaking landscape that only Italy can offer 🏞️
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L`equipaggio 94, a bordo dell`elegante Riley Sprite del 1935, si lascia trasportare dalla magia di un paesaggio mozzafiato che solo l`Italia sa regalare 🏞️
Jan 16
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The type of red that we like 🤩
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Il rosso che ci piace 🤩
#FerrariTribute2025 🔜
Jan 14
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⚠️ Last weekend ⚠️
Have you entered the 1000 Miglia 2025?
If you haven`t already done so, you only have a few days left to enter: click on the link in the bio 👆
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⚠️ Ultimo weekend ⚠️
Ti sei iscritto alla 1000 Miglia 2025?
Se non l’hai ancora fatto, ti restano pochissimi giorni per iscriverti: clicca sul link in bio 👆
#1000Miglia #1000Miglia2025
Jan 10
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Only 1 month to go before entries close for the fifth Coppa delle Alpi by 1000 Miglia ❄
Experience the thrill of the 1000 Miglia winter competition that will officially start the Italian Championship Great Events 2025 🚗
80 Time Trials and 6 Average Trials along a route that winds through 11 Alpine passes and crosses the borders of Switzerland, Austria and Italy in 3 legs.
Secure your place for a unique experience. Click on the link in bio and enter 👆
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Manca solo 1 mese alla chiusura delle iscrizioni per la quinta edizione di Coppa delle Alpi by 1000 Miglia ❄
Vivi il brivido della competizione invernale targata 1000 Miglia che darà il via ufficialmente al Campionato Italiano Grandi Eventi 2025🚗
80 Prove Cronometrate e 6 di Media lungo un percorso che si snoderà fra 11 passi alpini e che attraverserà, in 3 tappe, le frontiere di Svizzera, Austria e Italia.
Assicurati il posto per un’esperienza unica. Clicca sul link in bio e iscriviti 👆
#CoppadelleAlpi #CoppadelleAlpi2025
Jan 9
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-2 weeks ⏳
Start the new year under the banner of the Red Arrow: enter the next edition of the 1000 Miglia and enjoy the experience of 5 days of racing through some of the most characteristic locations in Italy.
When?
🗓️ From 17 to 21 June
Click on the link in bio and enter 👆, you have until Thursday 16 January at 4 pm.
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-2 settimane ⏳
Inizia l’anno nuovo sotto il segno della Freccia Rossa: iscriviti alla prossima edizione della 1000 Miglia e goditi l’esperienza di 5 giorni di gara tra le località più caratteristiche della nostra Italia.
Quando?
🗓️Dal 17 al 21 giugno
Clicca sul link in bio e iscriviti 👆, hai tempo fino a Giovedì 16 Gennaio alle 16:00.
#1000Miglia #1000Miglia2025
Jan 2
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Looking forward to a 2025 full of news, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 💫🎄
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Con l’attesa di un 2025 ricco di novità, ti auguriamo un sereno Natale e un Felice Anno Nuovo! 💫🎄
#1000Miglia #MerryChristmas #HappyNewYear
Dec 20