It was a wet start this morning from Cortina D’Ampezzo for the crews of the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti 2020. The cars left the Miramonti Majestic Grand Hotel to parade through Corso Italia, in the heart of the Queen of the Dolomites, this year without the usual crowds, due to COVID-19 regulations.
The 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS Zagato driven by Alberto Aliverti flanked by Stefano Valente opened the competition (pictured above), followed by the other crews of top drivers, welcomed not only by the enthusiasm of the fans, but also by a rainy day that will add even more difficulties for the crews competing against the chronometers of the official timekeeper Allemano. The enthusiasm shown by the bystanders, as well as the joy of the participants to be able to drive the cars in a competition of such international importance after the COVID shutdown, fully repays the efforts made during the last months by AC Belluno, ACI Sport and ACI Storico.
The crews are headed for Belluno, then the stop in Pedavena for the lunchbreak, before starting the return journey to enter Cortina and parade again along Corso Italia at 6pm, thus concluding this first stage in the Belluno area.
All eyes were on the 1939 Fiat 508C of Giovanni Moceri and Valeria Dicembre, in defense of the title in the Campionato Italiano Grandi Eventi ACI Sport, already winners of the last edition of the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti. This year, numerous contenders are competing for the overall victory, among them the 1934 Fiat Balilla Coppa d’Oro driven by Osvaldo and Andrea Peli, the 1937 and 1939 Lancia Aprilia, respectively driven by Sergio Sisti with Anna Gualandi and Gianmario Fontanella flanked with Annamaria Covelli.
Eyes are also on the 1969 Mini Cooper Innocenti driven by Michele Lafortezza and Ilaria Carturan, the 1947 Volvo PV444 of Antonino Margiotta and Vincenzo Bertieri and the 1960 Porsche 356B, by Giuseppe Nobis and Paola Mambrina, and the 1966 Porsche 911, driven by the the only woman among the top drivers, Himara Bottini, with Carlo Di Giusto for the Ruote Classiche crew.
Convertibles such as the 1957 Lancia Aurelia B24S driven by the President of the Automobile Club d’Italia Angelo Sticchi Damiani with Paola Valmassoi, also present on the Dolomite tracks, are indomitable in the rain.
The adventure in the world of competitive historical regularity for the Fondazione Gino Macaluso per l’Auto Storica has also officially started, with the 1963 Aston Martin DB5, with the number 007 on the license plate, paying homage to the secret agent who drove this model on the big screen. Not James Bond behind the wheel this time, but a female crew, composed of the President of the Foundation, Monica Mailander Macaluso, and RAI journalist Maria Leitner, who chose the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti 2020 for this important competitive debut.
The participants continue to proceed along the path of the first stage, the rain that is still incessant although not torrential adds difficulties, but safety remains guaranteed by the providential presence of the ACI Global Servizi vehicles.
