From June 21–24, over 100 drivers took part in the 2018 edition of La Leggenda di Bassano – Trofeo Giannino Marzotto, a 4-day, 670-km road rally through the Dolomites, reserved exclusively for sport-barchetta racecars manufactured before 1960. Repeating their vicrory from last year, the winners of the coveted “Trofeo Giannino Marzotto” Trophy and a pair of Eberhard & Co. watches were Andrea Giacoppo and Daniela Grillone Tecioiu, from Vicenza, driving a 1933 Fiat 508 S Coppa d’Oro.
The 2018 edition of “La Leggenda di Bassano” started on June 21 with the sports and technical trials. As in previous years, the first leg was on June 22, from villa Cà Cornaro in Romano d’Ezzelino, close to Bassano del Grappa. The first stretch, 180-km long, went up the Asiago Plateau, with the autumnal climate helping to make the timed trial of Bocchetta Galgi even tougher. The drivers proved their strength by descending through the curtain of clouds that had settled on Passo Vezzena, and continued on towards Trento. The sun helped the competitors along the uphill road of the magical Strada del Vino in Alto Adige to Bolzano, where the vehicles were welcomed by the usual warm embrace of Piazza Walther.
After acknowledging the praise of watchers and enthusiasts, the competitors reached the Four Points by Sheraton, where the gala dinner was held; here they could relax and regain the strength needed for the following day’s difficult stretch.
The next day’s stretch was, in fact, the most demanding for both the vehicles and the drivers. Although 350-km long, it was also the most spectacular stretch with seven Dolomite passes faced. On a day when the sky remained blue and sunny, the cars left Bolzano and went up the Valle dell’Isaro. From here they crossed Passo delle Erbe, then descended Val Badia until San Vigilio and transited Passo Furcia and Plan de Corones, finally arriving at Toblach. The convoy then continued along a lovely route in the shade of Croda Rossa, stopping for a pause at the Kreuzberg Pass, dominated by the three peaks of Lavaredo. After crossing into Friuli Venezia-Giulia, an area that specializes in making cured ham, the vehicles then brushed the Friuli Dolomites, crossed the Mauria Pass and went down Val Cadore, reaching and going up Val di Zoldo through the Cibiana Pass. This very demanding but easy to handle stretch ended at Alleghe after a spectacular ride around the area of Monte Civetta; it was a true “Leggenda” stretch that put the drivers to the test, but they were satisfactorily awarded by the gala dinner hosted by the Hotel alla Posta in Caprile.
The third and final stretch of 140-km was covered on June 24, and was also fortunately blessed by the sun. The cars faced a route that took them from Alleghe to Agordo. Here, the convoy crossed into the magnificent National Park in the Belluno Dolomites, coasting the splendid basin of Lago del Mis. With its tunnels dug into the sides of the mountains, the basin offered a perfect frame for the final farewell to the Dolomites. The drivers then headed towards Feltre, passing through Sospirolo, Fonzaso and, above all, Primolano, where the cars paraded in front of the fortified complex, and in particular the route that crosses Forte Tagliata della Scala. After a stop at Cornale, the convoy reached Bassano del Grappa for the grand finale in Piazza Libertà and the last trial in the program, the “Trofeo Città di Bassano” before transferring to Distillerie Poli in Schiavon. Here, with the owners Jacopo and Cristina Poli, and in the presence of the various authorities, the final awards of this truly legendary 2018 edition were presented.
Click here to view full Photo Gallery coverage.
The overall winners and the various trophies:
General final ranking “Trofeo Giannino Marzotto”
1st Andrea Giacoppo/Daniela Grillone Tecioiu in a Fiat 508 S Coppa d’Oro from 1933 CVAE.
2nd Roberto and Francesca Miatto in an Aston Martin Le Mans from 1933 (Club Patavino Autostoriche).
3rd Maurizio Piantelli/Paola Montaldi in a Bentley Speed Model from 1926 (Club Piloti sul Serio).
Club ranking
1st Brescia Corse
2nd CVAE
3rd Benjafield’s Racing Club
Città di Bassano Trophy
1st Ralf Pickel/Daniela Templin in a Bentley 4 ¼ Litre from 1937.
Maria Teresa de Filippis Trophy – Best women’s team
1st Maria Fernandez/Maria Villasenor in an Allard J2X from 1952.
Drivers Choice Trophy – The most “legendary” driver chosen by the competitors
1st Shane Houlihan/Zuzana Houlihan in an Aston Martin DB 3 S from 1955.
Pakelo Heroes Trophy
1st Frans van Haren/Helena Leonie Hendriks in an Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Le Mans from 1932.
VIP Trophy
1st Maria Gaburri/Cristiana Cherubini in a Porsche 356 A Super Cabriolet from 1958.
Ferrari Trophy
1st José Maria Fernandez/Montse Andrade in a Ferrari 750 Monza del 1955, awarded with a painting by the master painter Pietro Matese.
Alfa Romeo Trophy
1st Nicholas Fonte/Gabriel Fonte in an Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio from 1924.
Bentley Trophy
1st Peter Brennan/Stephen Wiggins in a Bentley Speed Six from 1929.
Registro Fiat Italiano Trophy
1st Michele di Paolo/Igino Angelini in a Fiat 1100 Sport Lion from 1959.
Young Drivers’ Trophy
Claudia Dolcetta in an O.S.C.A. MT4-2AD from 1955.
Daniel Claramunt in an Aston Martin Le Mans from 1933.
Jude Lucchese in an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Touring from 1933.
Gabriel Fonte in an Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio from 1924.
Giorgia and Giulia Chiminelli in a BMW 319/1 Roadster from 1937.
