Three days across Puglia, 630km of roads, 63 time trials, and six average trials is not my idea of a relaxing Italian break, but it does sound like quite the glamorous way to punish a crotch clutch. The second 1000 Miglia Experience Italy has wrapped up in Taranto, with Piazza Maria Immacolata providing the sort of picture-postcard finish that makes every other rally paddock look a more Easy Jet than BA.
The release is datelined Toronto, which is a peculiar place to begin a story about Bari, Lecce, Otranto, and Taranto, but we shall press on. What matters is that the crews spent three days threading themselves through some of the prettiest parts of Puglia, and they did it with enough competitive seriousness to stop this becoming just another vintage car holiday for wealthy chaps in expensive loafers. Most of them were, in fact, rich old farts in posh shoes, so there’s that.
In the classic category, Matteo Loiudice and Beatrice Mora took top honours in a 1954 Porsche 356 Pre A. The modern class went to Gianluigi and Federico Smussi in a 2004 MG TF (which managed to stay glued together), which it must have given that glossy Ferrari brochure a nasty pash rash.
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ABOVE: Scenes from the 2026 1000 Miglia Experience Italy, from coastal roads to classic machinery and modern exotica.
The modern class upset
That modern result is the spot with the sparkle. A Ferrari victory at an event like this is practically expected. It arrives with fanfare, and Patsy-like click-click camera flashes. An MG TF slipping in and taking the modern category has far more mischief to it. It is the motoring equivalent of nerdy twunk arriving at a black-tie dinner in last season’s suit and leaving with the best gossip, the best wine, and someone else’s husband.
Behind the Smussis, Fabio Vergamini and Maurizia Bertolucci finished second in a tasty Ferrari SF90 Spider, while Macario and Di Costanzo rounded out the podium in a Ferrari 488 Pista. Maranello still supplied plenty of passion, then, but the little MG mooched the silverware anyway. In the classic field, Girardi and Mastellini came home second in another Porsche 356 Pre A, while Gessler and Gessler (sounds like a firm of Silks) took third in a Lancia Fulvia Sport 1600. The Lancia, ah, the Lancia. Sorry I stepped out for a moment. I’m back now.
Puglia does the heavy lifting
The route had enough postcard prettiness to post social media virals. Thursday began in Bari under bright sunshine before the convoy rolled through Alberobello and its trulli, then ended in Polignano with aperitifs above Lama Monachile. It has that vaguely 50’s Bond flick about it. Friday pushed into Salento, from Ostuni to Brindisi and then on to Lecce, where the Salento Trophy J.P. Morgan one-on-one challenge was won by Vergamini and Bertolucci in the SF90 Spider.
By Saturday the tiring crews were facing the longest leg, more than 280km from Lecce through Martano, Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca, Ugento, and Gallipoli before the finish in Taranto. That all sounds like parasols and punts until you remember there were floppy hats with clocks involved. This was not merely a scenic saunter for classic metal and wealthy wrists. There were enough technical challenges to keep the thing from turning into a luxury parade for vintage luggage shoots.
Why this one works
The organisers are calling it a journey through history and beauty, which this sort of event would produce without any help from spitballing gen Z’s in vintage T-Shirts. In fairness, this one seems to have earned it. Puglia gave them cliffs, castles, Baroque facades, menhirs, sea views, and enough Italian atmosphere to deserve nonna’s special sauce. The winning MG TF gave it something better still, a result with a little cheek.
And that is far more fun than the usual script.
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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