The enthusiasm of the crowd and the many beautiful and amazing cars defined this hundredth edition of the Targa Florio, which ended today in Palermo, Sicily. From Achille Varzi and Tazio Nuvolari, to Luigi Villoresi and Stirling Moss, from Graham Hill to Wolfgang von Trips and of course the local hero Nino Vaccarella, so many great names from the world of motorsport have graced the winners’ list of the “a cursa,” as the race is known to its Sicilian fans. 

The event has been held from 1906 to the present day, with interruptions only for the two major world conflicts of the twentieth century. Once again this weekend it featured the level of excitement that only comes from seeing sports cars driving on the public highway and through the piazzas of Palermo and the other towns that have contributed to the history of the Targa Florio. All that was down to the efforts of the ACI (Automobile Club d’Italia) under the guidance of its President Angelo Sticchi Damiani and the partners of what is actually four events in one – Rally, History Rally, Classic and Historic Speed.

Also present in Sicily was the FIA President, Jean Todt, who not only attended the most important ceremonial moments of the event, but also took part himself in the Historic Speed category, on board of an Alfa Romeo 6C, alongside with a very special team-mate in the shape of Sticchi Damiani, “Italy is the home of the sports car and events like this always generate an unbelievable level of enthusiasm and passion,” Todt told fia.com. “Reliving the Targa Florio in this fashion was thrilling and I enjoyed being here to see cars and drivers from the past, but above all to witness the enthusiasm of the Sicilian people. It was a particular pleasure to see Nino Vaccarella at the wheel of his Ferrari 330 P4: an amazing man in an amazing car.

“I would like to thank the President, Angelo Sticchi Damiani: his commitment and dynamism are vital to the promotion of motor sport in Italy,” concluded Todt.

News and photos from the 100th Targa Florio are available at www.targa-florio.it.