Fans of la dolce vita fled Europeʼs winter to the sunshine of the UAE with the Cavallino Classic Middle East and 1000 Miglia Experience UAE from 24-26 November and 3-7 December respectively.
Devoted to the Prancing Horseemblazoned cars of Modena, the Cavallino Classic Middle East followed the Formula One round atYas Marina, Abu Dhabi, the final race of the 2023 season. It was the third year of the concours event and marks an expansion of the calendar that includes similar meetings in Florida and Italy.
Divided into six classes, the busy concorso dʼeleganza featured 37 Ferraris, while a further 11 non-judged cars were also on display. Two Best in Show prizes were awarded, one for Gran Turismo models, the other for the best Ferrari Classiche-certified car. William Heineckeʼs stylish 1967 Ferrari 330GTC Speciale, one of just five built and the original Geneva Salon car, won the former; the latter was handed to Jan Sandmannʼs 1970 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona, a car that spent most of its life in Japan before returning to Ferrari Classiche in Maranello for a full restoration in the 2000s.
Italyʼs most famous rally, the Mille Miglia, also came to the UAE, with a four-day, 1000-mile route through Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Musandam Peninsula of Oman. An Italian crew won the regularity, as Salim Rifai and Giordano Mozzi landed top honours in their 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster.
In all, 120 cars took part in the event and, unlike the 1000 Miglia revival held in Italy, cars that did not participate in the original road race were considered. As well as the traditional 1000 Miglia class, the Classic Icons group included cars produced before 1976, while a Contemporary Icons category considered applications from more recent vehicles.
The event was designed to introduce new enthusiasts to the sport of regularity rallying, and included a first day of tutorials and instruction. Participants came from 15 different countries, including the United States, Britain, Turkey and Lebanon.
Alberto Piantoni, the CEO of 1000 Miglia, said: “Events such as the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE give us the opportunity to tell our story to those who have not yet had the chance to be part of it, either because they have never come into contact with it or because they do not know about the event, its rules and its complexity.”
