Stormy Matilda!

The Terre di Canossa Grand Prix, a guarantee of organizational quality and beguiling programs ever since it was invented ten years ago by Luigi Orlandini, a recognized master when it comes to activities of this sort, is one of the few rallies that resumed activity in this troubled year that unfortunately looks like it’s about to bring in even more sacrifices and difficulties. 650 kilometres over three days during which the possibility of being distracted by the beautiful locations along the course - the lands of the feudal State of Countess Matilde of Canossa, very powerful in Italy in the 11th century - was all too rare given the 68 time trials and the 6 average speed tests the drivers had to tackle.

The 1964 Porsche 356 C that fought until the finish for the top followed by a Lancia Fulvia HF at the start from Salsomaggiore Terme.

To make the event even more challenging were the heavy and relentless downpours along the route that wound its way between Emilia Romagna, Liguria and Tuscany. Kudos, therefore, to Alberto Aliverti and Stefano Valente behind the wheel of a car that without question was certainly not made to defy the weather, a magnificent Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS Zagato from 1929, which prevailed over the Porsche 356 C from 1964 driven by Giorgio Lambruschi and Alessandro Mancini and the 356 1600 Super from 1959 driven by Stefano Ginesi and Susanna Rohr.

A splash of blue, a moment without the rain and the winning Alfa Romeo can finally be discovered and brought back to its original beauty.

What was the best moment of the race for the winners? Not the award ceremony, that would be too easy, rather that moment in which, for just a few kilometres of meteorological mercy they were able to discover their Alfa and restore the magnificence of its origins.

Third classified is the 1959 Porsche 356 1600 Super, seen racing in this photo.