ITALIAN DUO SCORES SECOND SUCCESSIVE WIN AT 1000 MIGLIA EXPERIENCE UAE 2023
- Successful Opening Day at Meydan Race Course
- First 1000 Miglia rally to enter the Sultanate of Oman
- First classic cars to be displayed at Dubai International Financial Centre and Galleria, Al Maryah Island
- Vehicles from all event classes successfully run on synthetic fuel from P1 Fuels
- Racing heroes include F1 drivers Jochen Mass, Stefan Johansson, Thierry Boutsen and Dieter Quester
- Celebrity guests including supermodel Jodie Kidd and Lamborghini legend Valentino Balboni
22 Dec 2023, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 1000 Miglia Srl – the Italian company that organises the 1000 Miglia, also known as “The Most Beautiful Race in the World” – and Octanium Experiences LLC announce that after four exciting days of rallying, Salim Al Rifai and Giordano Mozzi have claimed victory overall at the second 1000 Miglia Experience UAE at the wheel of their 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster. The award presentation took place at a gala dinner at the Park Hyatt Hotel Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas Saadiyat Island held under the auspices of the UAE Ministry of the Interior and in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
For Italians Rifai and Mozzi, this was their second successive overall win at the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE. Second place overall was scooped by San Marino natives Umberto Galloni and Alice Galloni, the father- daughter combination proving a successful one behind their wheel of their 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Turismo. In third position overall, Luxembourgians Albert Wetz and Francois Drazdik completed the line-up with their stunning 1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT.
In the 1000 Miglia category for 1000 Miglia-Registered vehicles built between 1927 and 1957, the Gallonis took the top position in their Alfa, followed by the Lancia of Wetz and Drazdik. Dutch husband and wife team Berend and Ellen Groeneveld completed the 1000 Miglia Class podium, driving their 1956 AC Ace with aplomb.
In the largest category of the event – Classic Icons (1927-1976) – once again, Salim Al Rifai and Giordano Mozzi took the top spot, while it was an all-German second row as husband-wife duo Mathias and Maud Beetz claimed the silver position with their 1972 Jaguar E-Type 5.3, with Michael and Holly Monstermann finishing a very respectable third in their 1969 Porsche 911T.
Lastly, the winners in the Contemporary Icons Class (cars built post-1976) were a veritable parade of Stuttgart’s finest as a trio of Porsche 911s won all three positions. First place went to German father-and-son team Rene and Niklas Matthies in their 1998 Porsche 993 Targas RS. Syrian Bushra Nasr and Moroccan Reda Rachid secured silver in their 1993 Porsche 911, followed by Saudis Khalid and Adnan Nouh in their 1995 Porsche 993 Turbo.
This year, the coveted Hero of the Rally Trophy went to none other than famous collector Corrado Lopresto, who overcame unimaginable obstacles behind the wheel of his 1931 Alfa 6C 1750 GS “Aprile” to finish the event – a incredible effort from the world’s foremost Alfa collector. Finally, the team from the UAE Ministry of Interior received special awards from Octanium Experiences for their overall contributions to the event.
Finally, the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE 2023 was also historic from a sustainability perspective. For the first time for a 1000 Miglia event in the Middle East, three vehicles were run entirely on synthetic fuels sourced from P1 fuels, with no mechanical changes or issues: a 1939 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio (Perridon/Cuyt), a 1970 Mercedes 600 Pullman (Gargash/Al Matrooshi) and a 1991 Ferrari Testarossa (Dhar/Spree).
Overall Results
- Salim Al Rifai (ITA) / Giordano Mozzi (ITA) (1955 Porsche 356 Speedster)
- Umberto Galloni (SMR) / Alice Galloni (ITA) (1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Turismo)
- Albert Wetz (LUX) / Francois Drazdik (LUX) (1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT)
1000 Miglia Class
- Umberto Galloni (SMR) / Alice Galloni (ITA) (1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Turismo)
- Albert Wetz (LUX) / Francois Drazdik (LUX) (1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT)
- Berend Groeneveld (NLD) / Ellen Groeneveld (NLD) (1956 AC Ace)
Classic Icons
- Salim Al Rifai (ITA) / Giordano Mozzi (ITA) (1955 Porsche 356 Speedster)
- Matthias Beetz (DEU) / Maud Beetz (DEU) (1972 Jaguar E-Type 5.3)
- Michael Monstermann (DEU) / Holly Monstermann (DEU (1969 Porsche 911T)
Contemporary Icons
- Rene Matthies (DEU) / Niklas Matthies (DEU) (1998 Porsche 993 Targa RS)
- Bushra Nasr (SYR) / Reda Rachidi (MAR) (1993 Porsche 911)
- Khalid Nouh (KSA) / Adnan Nouh (KSA) (1995 Porsche 993T)
Hero of the Rally
Corrado Lopreso / Elena Maggiore (1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS ‘Aprile’)
Rally Recap
December 3 saw the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE 2023 begin with a traditional lavish Opening Day event at the majestic Meydan Hotel, using the expansive Apron Views area that opens onto the famous Race Course. 105 teams from 31 countries assembled to a true red-carpet welcome from fans, media and local car enthusiasts, with more than 6,000 visitors recorded throughout the day.
On Monday, December 4, the teams journeyed from the Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah, followed by an unprecedented crossing into the Sultanate of Oman – the first time a 1000 Miglia event has attempted such an endeavour. With the help of the UAE Ministry of the Interior and the Oman Automobile Association, the participants experienced an exciting afternoon drive along the stunning rocky coastline and received a warm traditional welcome from the Governor of Musandam, followed by a closing dinner in Ras Al Khaimah.
The second day of the rally saw the participants tackle RAK’s quarries and mountain roads before taking the to the sky-high peak of Jebel Jais where the vintage cars of the 1000 Miglia – some over ninety years old – were truly tested. After lunch in the clouds, the participants descended via fast highways and mountain tunnels to the opposite corner of the UAE for dinner at the Intercontinental Fujairah – a favourite hotel of the event, marking its third Octanium appearance.
With traversal of the Northern Emirates complete, the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE returned to Dubai via the twisty roads of the Hajjar mountains. In Dubai’s bustling International Financial Centre, the participants parked in awe below the iconic Gate Building, before concluding with their now-traditional welcome at Flat- 12 Café – drawing thousands of eager spectators as always – followed by dinner on the deck of the magnificent Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel.
For the final stage, an epic finale awaited the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE teams. After a lunch stop amidst the dunes, the drivers roared down the highway to Yas Marina for a lightning lap of Yas Marina Circuit before heading to Al Maryah Island for a street-side celebration as they received their completion medal from CEO and Co-Founder, Martin Halder.
Octanium CEO Martin Halder said: “With the completion of the second 1000 Miglia Experience UAE 2023, this fantastic event has truly proved its premier position in our UAE automotive landscape. In just our second edition, we visited some fantastic destinations – including the unrivalled Sultanate of Oman – with 105 rally team from 31 nations – a significant improvement on our performance in 2022. I congratulate our many winners on a job well done in a very tough competition!
“I sincerely thank the UAE Ministry of Interior for its unyielding support in our second year, followed by our other government partners including the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and especially Emirates Motorsport Organization for its exceptional organizational support. And of course, I thank our commercial partners, which remain the key to making this event a reality.
“Most of all, I wish to thank our wonderful participants, who continue to journey to this great nation from all over the world to be a part of the most beautiful race in the Middle East. Over four days, I have watched them meet as competitors and leave as friends. Next year, stay tuned for even greater challenges – I promise that the Octanium team will take the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE 2024 to even greater heights.”
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