The event on schedule from 6th to 9th May is presented during a great exhibition at the International Car Museum, on the occasion of the Geneva International Motor Show.
Sky-high enthusiasm and record number of entry applications, increased to over 800, almost 100 more than 2003. After a careful selection, the official list of the 375 participants coming from 29 countries of the world is ready at last.
Compared to the 2003 edition, the route of the Mille Miglia presents some changes.
Great eagerness for the thunderous drive into the hearts of the most charming Italian cities and untainted wildlife parks. Among the outstanding personalities are motorsports champions, showgirls, stars from the world of music and the showbiz, as well as great industrialists and managers.


It's no wonder that Geneva, by tradition the meeting place of many cultures and the ideal seat for the dialogue between different ethnic groups and religious creeds, represents the most suitable place both for the presentation of the Mille Miglia to the international press and for the spread of a reassuring message of peace. The Mille Miglia fever, the excitement for the most exclusive travelling museum in the world, has infected the whole world's enthusiasts so much that the entry applications from 29 countries have increased to 810. The regularity race will be on stage from 6th to 9th May 2004, on the 1,600-km route Brescia - Ferrara - Rome and back, across the most charming Italian regions. The entry applications for the 22nd edition of the Red Arrow have been almost 100 more than 2003, an excellent result implying harder work for the Organizing Committee that has had to choose the definitive 375 competitors admitted to the Olympus of motorsports. As a matter of fact, taking part in the Mille Miglia has always been considered a success in itself; managing to finish it arouses sublime sensations, whatever result you get. After a meticulous selection, carried out according to rigorous criteria of quality and attendance to the race, the Organizing Committee has finally revealed the list of participants. The place chosen for the presentation is extremely prestigious: exceptionally, the Mille Miglia 2004 is presented to the press at the Geneva International Car Museum, on the occasion of the famous International Motor Show. A really resounding event, housed within a refined exhibition of cars, jewels, watches and other trendy items and made possible thanks to the willingness of Chopard..
The Swiss event represents the follow-up to the traditional preview of the race in the United States, which took place in California last August, between Monterey, Carmel Valley - the seat of the "Councurs Italiano" - and Pebble Beach, where the well-known elegance contest is held.

PRICELESS TREASURES COMING FROM THE MARQUES' MUSEUMS
One of the reasons why the Mille Miglia is a peerlessly refined, exclusive and prestigious event lies in its being the rarest travelling museum of international motorsports. So, once a year, the priceless treasures representing the most thrilling pages in motorsports history converge on Brescia.
MERCEDES lines up no fewer than 12 symbols of the history of the three-pointed-star emblem; among the most precious jewels of the Stuttgart Museum are the SSKL that won the 1931 Mille Miglia with Rudy Caracciola, and the 300 SLR that set the overall record with Stirling Moss in 1955. But the top-level cars sent to Italy by the Daimler-Chrysler group are really many. As for BMW, the Bavarian marque will be at the start with 8 cars from the Mobile Tradition Museum, such as the 328 Coupe Touring that won the 1940 Mille Miglia with Baron Fritz Huschke von Hanstein, and the 328 Spider that came third with Adolf Brudes at the wheel. Six examples are coming from the ALFA ROMEO Museum, among them is the Colli-bodied 3000 CM that came second with Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1953 Mille Miglia just behind Count Giannino Marzotto in the Ferrari 340 MM Spider, another of the private Ferraris attending this edition. Other noteworthy Alfa Romeos are the 8C 2300 that won the Coppa Ciano with Tazio Nuvolari, and the barrel-shaped 8C 2900 A, the winner of the 1936 Mille Miglia with Carlo Ongaro and Marquis Tonino Brivio. At the start this year with the German crew Christoph and Isolde Bode, this Alfa has been given number 75, the same it had in 1936. From its historical seat in Coventry, JAGUAR will bring to Brescia two extraordinary and rare cars: the D-Type that dominated the Reims Grand Prix with Duncan Hamilton, and the C-Type that took part in the 1953 Red Arrow with Mario Tadini.

CHRYSLER has entered two examples of the "77 Le Mans" model, one of which ran the 1930 Mille Miglia with Count Gioacchino Leonardi behind the wheel. PORSCHE will line up the 550 A Speedster, together with the 356 A of 1956 entrusted to the volcanic crew Toscani-Dalla, while MASERATI with the 150 S and the 200 S, will revive the exploits of the Fifties. With 41 examples at the start, FERRARI can boast the largest attendance at the 2004 Mille Miglia, thanks to private collectors, too. Among the most prestigious ones, we'll see the 250 MM Pininfarina in which Giovanni Bracco and Alfonso Rolfo played a starring role in the 1953 Mille Miglia; the 195 S barchetta Touring that came second with "Dorino" Serafini and Ettore Salani in the 1950 Mille Miglia; the 500 Mondial spider Scaglietti that was second overall in the 1954 Mille Miglia driven by Count Vittorio Marzotto, and the 340 MM barchetta Touring that dominated the 1953 Mille Miglia with Gigi Villoresi at the wheel. The ASTON MARTIN DB 3 spider that took part in the 1953 Mille Miglia won't go unnoticed, nor will the OSCA MT4 1100 that won the 1100 Sport class and was 8th overall with Luigi Fagioli in the 1951 Mille Miglia, or the TALBOT 105 SS in which Brian Lewis gave a memorable performance during the 1932 Mille Miglia.

THE SQUAD OF BIG NAMES OF THE STEERING WHEEL
Yesterday it was the top event of international motor racing. Today, it has become a regularity event that respects and highlights both the style and the rhythm of collectors' cars. The quality brand of the Mille Miglia represents a peerless heritage that grows even more precious as time goes by. For this and a thousand other reasons, many champions and motorcar specialists are keen on taking part in the race. Some of them hold important positions still today; others have given up racing but still love putting on their helmets and overalls, just to follow the irresistible call of the Mille Miglia. That's just so for Mika Hakkinen, testimonial celebrity for Mercedes and winner of two F1 World Championships (1998 and 1999) for the colours of McLaren-Mercedes Team. The 35-year-old Finnish driver took part in 152 Grand Prix, thus getting 26 pole positions, 19 wins and 402 points for the World Championship. Now he has given up F1 racing and is devoting himself to rallies. He will be at the start of the Mille Miglia behind the wheel of the Mercedes 300 SL prototype of 1952 n°255. The participation of Jochen Mass, the German driver that can boast a bright career in F1races, endurance trials and rally raids, is by now certain: he will race the 300 SLR of 1955 n°300 that still holds the overall speed record set by Stirling Moss and Dennis Jenkinson. Max-Gerritt Von Pein, president of the Mercedes Historical Museum in Stuttgart, won't miss roll-call and will set a good example at the wheel of the 720 SSK of 1928 with start number 56. Tempted by the extraordinary event, also Klaus Bischof, president of the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen will be there in the Porsche 550 A of 1955 n°205. Among the organizers of refined collections and events, we'll see Haruo Masuda, organizer of the yearly "Festa Mille Miglia" in Japan, in the 1949 Healey Silverstone n°184, and Lord Charles March, organizer of Goodwood Festival of Speed, as co-driver in the Mercedes 300 SL n°268. Once more, the "ACI presidential car", the Triumph TR 3 of 1957 n°186 will be at the start, with the crew made up of Giacomo Bontempi (president of the Brescia Automobile Club, the organization supporting the Mille Miglia) and Franco Lucchesi (president of the Automobile Club of Italy). Also Roberto Loi, president of the ASI Historical Registry and vice-president of FIVA will be at the start, partnered by the RAI journalist Francesca Grimaldi, in the Alvis 12/70 S of 1938 n°123.
Among the crews that the thousands of Mille Miglia German enthusiasts love best, is the one made up of Prince Leopold Von Bayern who will be partnered this year by a super expert of the arena of speed, the great project engineer of BMW F1 engines Paul Rosche. They couldn't but choose the 328 of 1938 n°126. Two great managers and great car connoisseurs, namely Robert Dover, president of Jaguar, and Stuart Dyble, president of Land Rover and Aston Martin will be at the start, behind the wheel of their bosom Jaguar sports cars, respectively the C-Type of 1953 n°321 and the D-Type of 1956 n°326.
Not only will the greatest marques resume and show their jewels, but also less famous sports car constructors will be admired on the Red Arrow's prestigious stage: one of them is Simone Stanguellini, grandson of great Vittorio who made it possible for the Modena marque to enter the history of the world's motorsports. Simone will race one of the most prestigious family jewels, the 750 Sport of 1954 n°239.

ARTISTS, FASHION DESIGNERS AND SHOWGIRLS
The footlights are on and having a full house is part of the tradition. VIPs from every domain are going to take to the stage of fashionableness and fun.
Artistically electrifying is the crew made up of the famous photographer Oliviero Toscani and the song singer-writer Lucio Dalla. The two, passionately fond of cars and emotions, have chosen their bosom car once again, the Porsche 356 A of 1956 with start number 240. Another famous motorsports enthusiast is Renato Pozzetto. Alfa Romeo has entrusted the actor with an exciting open car, the 1900 Sport Spider of 1954 n°147.
This year, too, the Mille Miglia will be dressed by a well-known fashion designer. Race directors and route stewards will wear clothes by Burani Fashion Group. Andrea and Walter, respectively husband and son of Mariella Burani, wouldn't miss the event for the world and will attend the race in a Ferrari 750 Monza of 1954, n°164.
Those who look for something more than car liveries and are attracted by high-society and bewitching showgirls will be glad to see a long-awaited new entry at the Mille Miglia, Nathalie Caldonazzo, who has been getting on brilliantly in the world of theatre, cinema and television. She will share the cockpit of the Jaguar XK 120 of 1952 n°367 with Massimo Natili, the excellent driver of the Fifties, who is by now used to escorting showbiz stars into the Olympus of motorsports. Apropos of famous showgirls, photographers and cameramen won't certainly fail to take fascinating close-ups of one of the best-known British top models, Lisa "B", who will be sitting next to her fiancŽ in the 1955 Maserati A6G 54 Coupe Zagato n°361. An extraordinary oriental beauty, who is also very fond of the Mille Miglia, is Mei Ling LŸdi. The Malaysian candidate for the "Miss Universe" beauty contest will be the race partner of Claude Claraz in the BMW 315/1 of 1934 n°72.

A WEEKEND OF EXCITING RELAX FOR FINANCIERS AND INDUSTRIALISTS
Now, words like budget, marketing and business are fading into the background. The heart has its reasons that the reason doesn't know; that's why many great personalities of the world of finance and industry meet in Brescia every year to run the Mille Miglia. They can afford to have four relaxing days and a much-needed respite from work, thanks to the long tour through charming cities of art and typically Italian tiny villages. The passion for cars is in top gear and the chance for a regenerating pause cannot be missed.
From 6th to 8th May 2004, we'll see Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, of the well-known Swiss watch manufacture Chopard, drive his Bentley 4.5 Litre of 1927 n°5, while his father Karl will put himself to the test with stopwatches and road-books at the wheel of the Mercedes 300 SL "gullwing" of 1955 n°200. Galeazzo Pecori Giraldi, president of the well-known Morgan Stanley business bank, will race the Bugatti T 23 n°26, while Wolfgang Schrempp, president of Daimler-Chrysler Italia Holding, will be for the first time behind the wheel of a very rare Chrysler 77 Le Mans of 1930, with n°42. A group of three Brescia industrialists will be at the start bearing numbers 89, 90 and 91. They are, respectively, Fulvio Maifrini, vice-president of Brescia industrialists and managing director at Due Emme Mille Miglia, in a 1932 Aston Martin International; Sandro Bertoli, councillor of the Brescia Industrialists' Association in a BMW 328 of 1938, and Aldo Bonomi, president in office of the Brescia Industrialists' Association, at the wheel of an Aston Martin MK II of 1934. This year Marco Saltalamacchia, president of BMW Italy, will take it seriously. Last year he learnt the tricks of co-driving in the 328 MM Touring Coupe raced by Holger Lapp, president of the Mobile Tradition BMW Museum. At the 2004 Mille Miglia, the Italian manager will sit behind the wheel of the BMW 328 of 1937 n°94. Friedrich-Walter Dauphin is certainly not a first-timer at the Mille Miglia. He will be there, at the wheel of the Jaguar 100 SS n°112, not merely to pass the time but with the firm intention of reaching the top positions. The same intention is shared by Baron Erich Hilmar Von Baumbach, president of the pharmaceutical giant corporation Boehringer Ingelheim. This year, too, he has chosen his bosom car, the BMW 328 of 1937 n°113. Four aces in the sports game of the Gnutti family: Emilio, well-known financier and president of Hopa, partnered by his wife Ornella Pozzi, will be at the wheel of the Ferrari 340 A of 1954 n°159, while their daughter Arianna and their son Thomas will be respectively in the Porsche 550 RS of 1955 n°157 and in the Ferrari 225 S of 1953 n°162.
Among the first enthusiasts to apply for admission to the Mille Miglia 2004 are some financiers and industrialists, namely Federico Imbert, top manager at the famous American business bank J.P. Morgan Chase Manhattan Bank, in a Ferrari 250 MM Vignale of 1955 n°158; the Brescia industrialist and sponsor of the Mille Miglia Leonardo Bossini, partnered by Romano Marniga, managing director of Hopa holding company, in the Jaguar XK 140 of 1954 n°171; Luigi Lucchini junior, grandson of the famous industrialist, at the wheel of the Maserati A6G 54 Zagato of 1955 n°173. Another family is looking for fun at the Mille Miglia: Enzo Cibaldi, managing director of Estral and vice-president of the Mille Miglia Museum - City of Brescia, will be in the Osca MT4 1450 of 1953 n°226 with his wife Elena, while his son Michele will race the Gilco 1100 Sport of 1948 n°233.
Other well-known industrialists and managers have fallen under the Red Arrow's spell and have been training intensely to do their best in the race. They are the worldwide famous Brescia industrialists Ugo and Franco Gussalli Beretta, in the Mercedes 300 SL of 1955 n°242; Armando Vincoli, at the wheel of the Jaguar 100 SS of 1938 n°131, and Marco Mattioli, general manager of Ma-Fra, sponsor of the Mille Miglia, in the Lancia Aprilia of 1938 n°133 with Prince Augusto Ruffo di Calabria as co-driver. Eager to repeat last year's nice experience, Rudy Lamprecht, managing director at Siemens Mobile, will be at the wheel of the Porsche 356 Speedster of 1955 n°210, closely followed by Doriano Giambarda, general manager of Fin Eco Leasing (a long-standing sponsor of the Mille Miglia), partnered by his wife Silvana Alberti in the Jaguar C-Type Parravano of 1950 n°212. Another company that supports the prestige of the Red Arrow is the Tuscan sponsor Masini Cantuccini. Last year Marco Masini and his daughter Ilaria came 25th overall: now their aim is to finish among the top ten, in their Nardi Danese 1500 Sport of 1947 n°217.
The list of top managers wouldn't be complete without adding another three sponsors of the Mille Miglia 2004, namely Angelo Facchinetti, president of Earchimede, who has chosen the Fiat 1100 TV of 1955 n°172; Umberto Falchetti, president of MTA - auto electric systems, at the wheel of the Ferrari 250 TDF of 1957 n°175, and Marco Besana, top manager at B.Burago model cars, who will race the Lancia Aurelia B 24 S of 1957 n°244. Also JosŽ Maria Alapont, managing director at Iveco, will join the party as co-driver for Nazario Bacchi, in the 1957 Maserati 200 SI n°263, while the German crew Erich and Alexander Sixt, of the well-known group of international car rentals, will share the cockpit of the 1956 Mercedes 300 SL "gullwing" n°317.

STATISTICAL DATA: 375 PARTICIPANTS WITH 55 MARQUES FROM 29 COUNTRIES
The 375 crews of the 2004 Mille Miglia represent no fewer than 55 car marques from all over the world: Ferrari is the most represented one, with 41 cars entered, followed by Mercedes (with 36), Alfa Romeo (increased to 33), Lancia and Porsche (23 each), Bugatti and Fiat (22 cars each). Next in the list are BMW (19), Aston Martin (15), Maserati (13), Bentley (11), Osca (10), and so on. Taking part in the Mille Miglia has been for a long time even more important than winning it. The extremely prestigious and longed-for admission to the historical retrospective of the most famous race in the world is in itself a prize to boast, a sign of distinction to be proud of in years to come, while those that haven't been admitted this year cherish the hope of taking part in the 2005 edition. The 375 crews admitted come from no fewer than 29 countries: a real Babel of motorsports. The most represented country is Italy, with 145 participants; followed by Germany with 83, the United States with 31, Switzerland with 25 and Japan with 19.Then we find Great Britain (16), the Netherlands (9), Argentina (8), and France (6). We count some attendants also from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Finland, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, and so on.

A BREATH-TAKING RIDE ACROSS CITY CENTRES AND NATURE RESERVES
The route of the 2004 Mille Miglia presents a few changes though basically respecting the traditional itinerary of the 24 editions held between 1927 and 1957. Travelling from Brescia to Ferrara, from Ferrara to Rome and then back to Brescia, the competitors will appreciate the extraordinary scenery of art and history offered by the squares of some of the most beautiful Italian cities such as Verona, where the cars of the Mille Miglia will parade at night at the foot of the Arena; Ferrara with the Castle; Ravenna with the Cathedral; San Marino; Urbino; Rome, where every corner is laden with history; Viterbo; Siena with the Piazza del Campo; Florence with the tour across its historical heart; Bologna; Modena and finally Cremona with the Torrazzo. No less delightful will be to cruise far from the cities and admire the natural beauties of the countryside across some of the most beautiful Italian regions, such as Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Marches, Lazio and Tuscany. The passage through the smallest republic in the world, San Marino with its Fortress, will be equally unforgettable. The 2004 Mille Miglia, a long breath-taking ride, will offer the participants an exclusive mixture. On one hand, it will promote and highlight considerably the most ancient and genuinely Italian villages, where history has left its indelible mark; on the other, it will favour the appreciation of peerlessly charming places, wildlife parks and areas where nature has remained untouched, such as the nature reserve of the Furlo Gorges (past Urbino), the magnificent Sibylline Mountains, before plunging into the Umbrian landscape and the towns of Norcia and Spoleto, and finally the nature reserve of Vico Lake, situated between Ronciglione, the Cimino Pass and Viterbo.

HERE'S THE ROUTE OF THE 2004 MILLE MIGLIA
Brescia: soon after the scrutineering and the technical inspections that will take place all through the morning and afternoon of Thursday 6th May, the first lap will take off from Viale Venezia. The cars will tour through the city centre and then head for Verona and Ostiglia, to finish the first day's race in Ferrara, where they will receive the enthusiasts' warm and cheerful welcome.
On Friday 7th May, the Mille Miglia will leave Ferrara and make for the Adriatic coast. The convoy will pass through Ravenna first, and then will move inland towards Gambettola and the Republic of San Marino. From there, the cars will start the crossing of the Apennines, passing through Urbino and the Via Flaminia, and cruising along the breathtaking Furlo Gorge towards Foligno. The caravan will then go on southwards, pass through Colfiorito, Visso, Castelluccio, the Sibylline Mountains, touch the towns of Norcia, Spoleto, Sangemini and Terni, and finally reach Rome along the Via Flaminia. On making their entry into the very heart of Rome, all the competitors - not only the foreign ones - will be given the extraordinary opportunity to admire the "Eternal City" at close quarters: a 33-km tour that will warm the cockles of the participants' hearts and will remain in their mind for a long time.
On Saturday 8th May the cars will leave Rome for the third and final lap, on the traditional route along the Via Cassia towards Ronciglione, Vico Lake, Viterbo and Radicofani. Past the small towns of Pienza, San Quirico d'Orcia and Buonconvento, the competitors will experience one of the most thrilling moments of the whole Mille Miglia: the passage amidst the cheery crowd in the Piazza del Campo, in Siena. The Chiantigiana, a most famous road in the Tuscan countryside, will frame the route as far as Florence, maybe the city the competitors of the Mille Miglia love best. A few kilometres from there, on the Futa and Raticosa Passes, the most faithful enthusiasts will be waiting for the cars of the Red Arrow to give them the usual enthusiastic and cheery welcome. Just past Bologna, the winding Apennine route will turn into a long straight road, the Via Emilia, along which the cars will speed towards Modena, where the last difficult series of Time Trials will settle the final results. Then, on again towards Carpi, Brescello - where two men wearing costumes will welcome the Mille Miglia by reviving the old saga of Don Camillo and Peppone - Viadana and Casalmaggiore. The straight stretches across the Plain of the Po will lead the convoy into the heart of Cremona, where the competitors will be given the usual warm welcome.
The cars will make their final parade along the "Quinzanese" main road before their long-awaited arrival in Brescia.

NO FEWER THAN 38 TIME TRIALS: A REAL ARENA FOR REAL CHAMPIONS
For a few crews, the Mille Miglia is a real competition, a hard sports contest, a relentless fight between timekeeping specialists, a daunting challenge to oneself and an all-out struggle against opponents that give themselves body and soul to the race and devote all their energies to get as close as they can to the perfection of the hundredth of a second. For many other crews, however, the Mille Miglia is a joyful parade, a playful journey across Italy discovering many picturesque places, without agonizing too much over race schedules to be respected with the utmost precision. We wish to remind everyone where the time trials are: Bussolengo, Mercatino Conca, Visso, Gualdo, the Sibylline Mountains, Sangemini, Ronciglione, Vico Lake, Radicofani, Pienza, San Quirico d'Orcia and Modena. Many other extremely charming places have been chosen for the stamp control posts.

THE ODDS ARE EVEN AMONG THE CANDIDATES FOR VICTORY
Even if the historical retrospective of the Mille Miglia has been conceived as a motorsports event complying with De Coubertin's popular motto, the fame it grants to the winner is incredible. You can hardly figure out how famous Giuliano CanŽ - thanks to his seven triumphant wins - or the twice winner Flaminio Valseriati, or last year's winners, Argentine Carlos Sielecki and Juan Hervas have become. This year, many crews will pursue that dream once again, by facing the 38 time trials with great skill and perfect understanding between driver and co-driver. The odds are even for favourites and outsiders: at least twenty crews cherish ambitious hopes and do not hide their thirst for glory, thus keeping on training both privately and in regularity races in Italy and abroad. Among these crews are: Valseriati-Bocelli (for the first time in the Riley Brooklands of 1928 n°14), Sielecki-Hervas (Bugatti T 23 Brescia of 1923 n°15), Aghem-Conti (Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 MMS of 1928 n°39), Viaro-Mayer (Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS of 1929 n°46), Claramunt-Peckoroff (Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 SS of 1928 n°53), Schildbach-Netzer (Mercedes 720 SSK of 1929 n°58), Vesco-Vesco (Fiat 508 S Coppa Oro of 1934 n° 97), Scalise-Scalise (Aston Martin Le Mans of 1933 n°98), Boni-Barziza (BMW 328 of 1937 n°103), Colombetti-Sanchez (Aston Martin Le Mans of 1933 n°116), Sucari (Maserati 4 CS 1100 of 1934 n°137), CanŽ-Galliani (BMW 328 MM CoupŽ of 1939 n°139), Accerenzi-Zanini (Riley 12/4 of 1936 n°146), Gnutti-Savoldi (Ferrari 225 S of 1953 n°162), Cibaldi (Gilco 1100 Sport of 1948 n°233), Giansante-Ferracin (Porsche 550 A RS of 1957 n°245), Sisti-Sisti (Healey Silverstone of 1950 n° 340).
But beware of odds, since they may be like dreams and fade at dawn...

THE GRACEFUL CHARM OF THE MILLE MIGLIA TINGED WITH PINK
Who says that motor racing is a sexist sport that forbids women to play a starring role? Just take a look at the results achieved by Franca Boni and Monica Barziza, the many-time winners of the Ladies' Cup who last year managed to finish 18th overall out of 289. They will aim at the top positions in the BMW 328 of 1937 n°103. After her overall win in the Winter Marathon 2003 and her second overall in 2004, the Californian woman-driver Sylvia Maria Antonietta Oberti will drive solo again, and bets on her Alfa Romeo 750 Competizione with start number 278. This year, too, the "pilotessa" will raise funds for humanitarian non-profit organizations. The daughters of two great drivers will be on the stage of the Mille Miglia: Cica Lurani, daughter of the legendary driver and writer Giovanni Lurani, will share the cockpit of the Bugatti T 35 n°29 with Iria Cornaggia Medici, daughter of Marquis Gian Maria Cornaggia Medici,

who was Alfa Romeo's official driver for a long time. Remarkable is the attendance of female crews from Germany, all determined to be well-placed. Antje Dauphin and Ursula Simon in the BMW 328 of 1938 n°114; Eveline and Anke Rueckwarth in the powerful Mercedes 720 SSK of 1929 n°23; Heidi Hetzer and Elke Middeldorp in a very rare Invicta 4.5 S of 1928 n°66, and Elke Dauphin and Conny Hoffmann in the Mercedes 300 SL of 1955 n°211, all of them will try to have a major role. Equally competitive will also be Quirina and Anisa Louwman, from the Netherlands in the Aston Martin DB 3S of 1952 n°281
Two sophisticated ladies from Brescia, Elena Ciocca and Maria Bonera will try to win the Ladies' Cup. Besides, there will be Maria Galeazzi and Anna Maria Gadani in the Fiat 508 S of 1933 n°77, Arianna Gnutti at the wheel of the Porsche 550 RS of 1955 n°157, Novella and Francesca Martini in the Cisitalia 202 SC of 1950 n°198, and Monica Rampezzotti and Paola Trifir˜ in the Mercedes 300 SL of 1955 n°237.

NEW OFFICIAL SPONSORS SUPPORTING THE 2003 MILLE MIGLIA
All popular events in the world of sport and culture have to share their fame and prestige with the companies that support them. The Mille Miglia is no exception, since it can boast privileged partnerships with worldwide famous brand names. Many of them have been linked to the Red Arrow's emblem for years; others have freshly joined in. The Mille Miglia can rely on prestigious sponsors such as BIPOP CARIRE CAPITALIA GRUPPO BANCARIO, BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM, B-BURAGO model cars, CHOPARD watches Geneva, BOSSINI-La doccia, DAUPHIN office furniture, DUE EMME MILLE MIGLIA alloy rims, EARCHIMEDE commercial advice agency, ESTRAL, ETI Tabacchi Italiani, FIN-ECO LEASING, MASINI CANTUCCINI, MERCEDES-BENZ, MTA auto electronic systems, REALE MUTUA ASSICURAZIONI, SANGEMINI mineral water (official purveyor of drinks and mineral water), SIEMENS MOBILE (leader marque in the sector of mobile telephony), TELECOM Italia (leader company in the sector of fixed telephony). This year, new prestigious companies have joined in the pool of sponsors, namely IDRA casting machines, MA-FRA car cosmetics, and MARIELLA BURANI FASHION GROUP, which has designed the clothes for the competitors and the organizers. ALITALIA and DISTILLERIE FRANCIACORTA are still collaborating effectively as technical sponsors. The Organizers wish to express their affection and gratitude to all these remarkable sponsors for supporting the Mille Miglia so energetically.