1000 Miglia Experience UAE Completes Successful Lap Of The Emirates

1000 MIGLIA EXPERIENCE UAE COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL LAP OF THE EMIRATES

 

• 100 teams travelled seven Emirates in just four days
• Successful Opening Day at Dubai Creek Golf Club
• Racing heroes include Dakar legend Jacky Ickx, F1 winner Jochen Mass and Le Mans champ Oliver Webb
• Celebrity cars including Jaguar XK120 driven by English supermodel David Gandy

10 Dec 2022, 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, the inaugural 1000 Miglia Experience UAE has come to a successful close with Salim Al Rifai and Giordano Mozzi claiming the top position in their Ferrari 488 Pista at a glittering ceremony held at the stunning Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

The Rally was preceded by the magnificent Opening Day event on the lush lawns of the Dubai Creek Golf Club, where Octanium Experiences organized a gathering of participant vehicles and displays from the top echelons of UAE collectors and car clubs. Thousands of members of the public flocked to this extraordinary event on December 4 to enjoy the hospitality of the Dubai Creek Resort and the rare opportunity to witness classic automobiles roar to life in an iconic venue.

Over one hundred cars began this historic journey at the Dubai Creek Golf Club on Monday December 5 – the largest classic motorsport event ever staged in the Middle East. At the starting line, Italian Ambassador His Excellency Lorenza Fanara waved the chequered flag that marked the beginning of an incredible drive through all seven Emirates.

From Dubai, the teams tackled challenging time trials in Hatta, threaded the winding cliffs of Fujairah, and then stormed inland to the daunting peak of Jebel Jais mountain in Ras Al Khaimah, before returning to Dubai via the Northern Emirates of Umm Ul Quwain, Ajman and Sharjah to a rousing traditional welcome at the well-known Emirati-owned café, Flat12.

After a glorious night aboard the famous Queen Elizabeth 2 luxury liner, the rally teams travelled south to the UAE capital Abu Dhabi for a special stage on the famous Yas Marina Formula One Circuit, before concluding at Emirates Palace.

In the Overall category following Rifai and Mozzi’s win, Giovanni Soldo and Sabrina Messina finished a very impressive second place overall at the wheel of his pristine 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL followed by the hard-charging team of Wilfried and Robin Porth taking bronze position in their 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing. Wilfried Porth had previously placed second overall in the February 1000 Miglia Experience UAE Prologue.

In the 1000 Miglia category for cars built from 1927-1957, Giovanni Soldo and Sabrina Messina romped to first place, followed by the 300SL of Wilfried and Robin Porth, with the 1949 Healey Silverstone of Aldo Bonomi and Tarcisio Bonomi taking third place honours.

The coveted helmet for first place in the Jubilee Class was won by the popular Indian team of Amirali and Wendy Jetha in their charming 1956 Fiat 1100 Millicento. February’s Prologue winner Hans Hotfiel and Michael Monstermann came in second place in their 1969 Porsche 911E, with Fawaz and Fahad Algosaibi taking third place in their 1965 Porsche 356.

The last Rally category for the Contemporary Icons class, noting significant vehicles built after 1971 was secured with aplomb by the Overall Event winner, Salim Al Rifai and Giordano Mozzi. Following the all-conquering Pista, Zaher Samman and Raed Al Saadi in their immaculate 1983 Audi Quattro took second place in this highly select category. After a Prologue appearance, Jason Martin and Jonathan Mullan finally made it to the podium in third place with their 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4.

Special awards on the evening included Hero of the Rally, given to Christian Malorny and Oliver Herbolzheimer for their exemplary drive in Malorny’s tiny 1956 Messerschmitt FMR Tg500 roadster, while Hans Hotfiel and Michael Monstermann received the award for Best UAE Team.

Automobile Club of Brescia Chairman Aldo Bonomi and 1000 Miglia CEO Alberto Piantoni both received awards for their services to the rally from the UAE Ministry of the Interior.

Results
Overall

1. Salim Al Rifai / Giordano Mozzi (2019 Ferrari 488 Pista)
2. Giovanni Soldo / Sabrina Messina (1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL)
3. Wilfried Porth / Robin Porth (1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing)

 1000 Miglia Class

1. Giovanni Soldo / Sabrina Messina (1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL)
2. Wilfried Porth / Robin Porth (1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing)
3. Aldo Bonomi / Tarcisio Bonomi (1949 Healey Silverstone)

Jubilee Class

1. Amirali Jetha / Wendy Jetha (1956 Fiat 1100 Millicento)
2. Hans Hotfiel / Michael Monstermann (1969 Porsche 911E)
3. Fawaz Algosaibi / Fahad Algosaibi (1965 Porsche 356)

Contemporary Icons

1. Salim Al Rifai / Giordano Mozzi (2019 Ferrari 488 Pista)
2. Zaher Samman / Raed Al Saadi (1983 Audi Quattro)
3. Jason Martin / Jonathan Mullan (1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4)

 Hero of the Rally

Christian Malorny / Oliver Herbolzheimer (1956 Messerschmitt FMR Tg500 roadster)

Best UAE Team

Hans Hotfiel / Michael Monstermann (1969 Porsche 911E)

Octanium CEO Martin Halder said: “The first 1000 Miglia Experience UAE has been an enormous triumph and a truly landmark event for the UAE automotive scene. We travelled across the UAE with 100 rally teams who have brought their treasured classics from around the world – a unprecedented undertaking even in the land of superlatives that we know as this great country. I congratulate the winners in all our categories on an epic achievement against top-level competition.”

“I would like to thank the UAE Government and specifically the UAE Ministry of Interior for its sterling support in making this first event such a great success. I would also like to thank our many partners for helping us to bring this impossible dream – the 1000 Miglia in the UAE – to life.”

“But the people I would like to thank most of all remain the participants, who put their trust in us and came from all over the world to race across the sands of the UAE. This first event was just the beginning – in 2023, you can be sure that the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE will return as an absolute highlight of the global automotive calendar.”