Team 96 Italian Job 2017

ITINERARY

Weds Oct 25th - Up with the birds ! – leaving Sandhurst at 4.30 AM to catch the 7.35 am Dover – Calais Ferry. From Calais drive to Metz – Hotel Ibis Styles Metz Centre Gare (Tel 0033 383 6681110). Total 410 miles

Thurs Oct 26th – Drive from Metz to Milan – Hotel Raya, Mediglia, south of Milan (Tel 0039 0290 663884). 

Total 400 miles

Frid Oct 27th – Drive from Milan to Imola – Molino Rosso Hotel (Tel 0039 054 263111) for 4 nights. Registration and scrutineering for car. Afternoon drive to San Marino Grand Prix Circuit for laps and “Gymkana" Driving Tests. Total 190 miles

Sat Oct 28th – Navigational Rally takes us off the beaten track heading for Brisighella one of the most beautiful medieval hamlets in the region of Emilia Romagna, and a visit to a local Olive Oil Orchard and Production Plant. The return journey to Imola will take us through Faenza and a visit to a Ceramics Museum. Total 60 miles.

Sun Oct 29th – Drive to Modena to visit the Maranello Ferrari Museum, with laps around the Fiorano Race Circuit and a tour of the Ferrari Production Line. The afternoon leg of the Rally will take us to Valle del Samoggia vineyard for lunch followed by a visit to Caseificio Ca’Bortolani to see the production of Parmiggiano Reggiano cheeses. Total 190 miles.

Mon Oct 30th – Navigational Rally to Acetaia Malpighi where we shall visit a Balsamic Vinegar producer, and the return journey will incorporate a very special visit to the Pagani Supercar Factory at San Cesario sul Panaro, where they build the mighty Pagani Zonda. Total 120 miles.

Tues Oct 31st – Leave Imola and head to Venice, with a stop en-route at the Wine Estate of Tenuta Santome. Hopefully, one of us will be then sober enough to drive to Venice with time for a whistlestop tour of the City. Hotel Crown Plaza, Quarto d’Altino (Tel 0039 0422 703811). Total 120 miles.

Weds Nov 1st – 4 hour drive to Turin, where we will be staying at the NH Lingotto Hotel (Tel 0039 011 6642807). This Hotel has been created within one of the floors of the original Fiat Factory in Lingotto near the centre of Turin, and the famous rooftop test circuit has been preserved on the roof of the building. This oval circuit featured in the original Italian Job Film, and we will be facing some “Gymkana” driving tests around this track. In the afternoon, a Team of Italian Police Motorcyclists (last time we were there it was commanded by a rather voluptuous lady capitano on a powerful Moto Guzzi motorcycle!!) will escort our convoy of cars on a Tour of the City to emulate the route of the Minis escaping after the Turin Gold Bullion Robbery (hopefully leaving out the route along the sewers). The Police Motorcyclists block all the junctions along the route allowing us to cross any red traffic lights – much to the irritation of the Turin motorists, who provide us with a loud sound accompaniment on their horns !! Total 250 miles.

Thur Nov 2nd – From Turin, all the cars make their own way back to meet at Calais for the return Ferry on Saturday, to arrive at the Awards Dinner in the Ashford International Hotel, Ashford on Saturday Evening. On Thursday we will be travelling from Turin to Colmar, in France, stopping at Mulhouse to visit the famous Schlumpf Motor Museum, which houses the largest collection of Bugattis in the World. Staying at Grand Bristol Hotel, Colmar (Tel 0033 389 235959). Total 325 Miles.

Friday Nov 3rd – Travel Colmar to Rheims. Hotel Mercure Cathedrale (Tel 0033 326  844949) Total 250 miles.

Saturday Nov 4th – Travel Rheims – Calais – Ashford.  Ashford International Hotel (Tel 01233 219988).

Total 195 miles.

Sunday Nov 5th – Return to Sandhurst. Total 80 miles.

Total Mileage 2,590 miles

If all this sounds appealing, why not visit www.italianjob.com and consider entering the Rally yourselves in 2018