The second act of the Italian Great Events Championship had as its natural setting the spectacle of the Dolomites and as a stage its pearl: Cortina d' Ampezzo.
The 2021 edition of the Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti did not fail to attract the top drivers of Italian regularity, on a complex route of over five hundred kilometres and "at least fifteen thousand bends", according to the estimate of the President of AC Belluno Lucio De Mori.
The classic cars, in the two stages of the race, tackled the roads that cross a territory of universal value, recognised as a Unesco heritage site.
In addition to the headquarters, represented as always by Cortina d'Ampezzo, there were also the passes of Giau, Falzarego, Valparola, Erbe, Furcia, Duran and Forcella Staulanza.
There was an evocative stop in the middle of the first stage at the Abbey of Novacella and the obligatory passage through the crowded Piazza dei Martiri in Belluno, which warmed the hearts of the crews during the second stage of the race.
After no less than 92 timed trials and seven average times, and with sniper-like precision, Mario Passanante took the 2021 Coppa d'Oro on board a 1937 Fiat 508 C. The Sicilian driver, co-driven by Dario Moretti, took the lead right from the first stages, keeping a pace too high for his pursuers, making his own, after the victory at Milano Sanremo also the second race of the championship.
Almost 100 penalties separated the winners from the runners-up, Alessandro Gamberini and Guido Ceccardi, competing in a 1930 Fiat 514 Mille Miglia, Scuderia Classic Team. Also for them the confirmation of the second place conquered at the finish line of Sanremo in the opening race of the Tricolour series.
Third step of the podium for Sergio Sisti, navigated as usual by Anna Gualandi, on a 1929 Lancia Lambda.
In the Coppa delle Dame success, as in 2020, for the crew composed of the sisters Martina and Anna Pastore, competing in a 1957 Porsche 356.
Among the teams to excel is the Mantuan Classic Team, thanks to the performance of Gamberini, Sisti and the unlucky Luca Patron, who ran into two serious errors in the first stages that have compromised the race.
Three categories valid for the conquest of the Italian CIGE title.
In RC1 victory for Gamberini-Ceccardi and their Fiat 514 Mille Miglia that precede their teammates Sisti-Gualandi on Lancia Lambda of 1929.
Third step of the podium for Matteo Belotti and Ingrid Plebani, racing with the spectacular 1929 Bugatti 37A by Scuderia Brescia Corse.
In RC2, behind the overall winners Passante-Moretti were Alberto Aliverti and Stefano Valente, at their debut in a 1937 BMW 328.
Osvaldo Peli, driven by his son Andrea in a 1934 Brescia Corse Fiat Balilla Coppa d'Oro, finished third in his category.
Podium completely Porsche in the category Classic Regularity 3.
First position for the 1963 356 S90 driven by Massimo Bisi and Claudio Cattivelli who preceded their team mates Sergio Mazzoleni and Silvia Gotti, on board a 1956 356 Speedster.
The podium was rounded off by another crew from the Registro Italiano Porsche 356, Alberto Diana and Annalisa Bellante in a 1958 Porsche 356 S Cabrio.
In the special classification, dedicated to the average tests, first place for the Belgian Michel Decremer, navigated by Marie Claire Martens on Austin Healey 1956.
Decremer's participation was highly prestigious, as he is the winner of the Regularity Rally Fia Trophy in 2020.
In the classifications dedicated to the groups, to be reported the fifth place for the reigning Italian Champion Olindo Deserti, navigated by Marco Torlasco on a 1929 Lancia Lambda that precedes Alessandro Marzotto and Giulia Siliprandi on a 1929 Lancia Lambda Casaro and Tommaso Bianchini navigated by Federica Borghini, also on board of a 1929 Lancia Lambda.
In the second grouping, on a 1937 Lancia Aprilia, Ezio Sala and Mara Massa had to be content with fourth position, paying dearly for a bad start to the second stage.
In the hard-fought third group, behind Mazzoleni and Diana, good third place for Alessandro Virdis and Silvia Giordo on a 1956 Porsche 356 Speedster.
In group four, won by Bisi-Cattivelli, Maurizio Magnoni and Marisa Vanoni, bring their Porsche 356 to second place.
Third step on the podium for Enzo Ronchetti and Pietrina Sola, also with their 1963 Porsche 356C.
Giovanni Prandelli and Loredana Pasotti won the fifth grouping in their 1969 Jaguar E Type Roadster.
Behind the bearers of the Scuderia Emmebi 70 from Brescia we find Alberto Tattini navigated by Rossella Sciolti on a 1968 Porsche 912.
Third place for the bearers of Scuderia Tazio Nuvolari Italy, Orazio and Giovanni Rigo, on a 1966 Jaguar Mk2.
The next appointment with the Italian Great Events Championship is set for 19-19 September in Mantua for the 31st edition of the Gran Premio Nuvolari.
