Wikipedia

Coppa della Toscana

Coppa della Toscana (meaning Tuscany Cup in Italian) was a sports car race held on the roads of Tuscany, through Livorno and Florence, between 1949 and 1954.[1]

Cornacchia and Del Carlo in a Ferrari 195 S during the 1950 event

History

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For the 1949 season of the Mille Miglia race, it was decided that this years edition would bypass the city of Florence. As a direct consequence of this decision, the Automobile Club of Florence decided to organize an alternative race that would run in Tuscany. The new event would enable sports cars and touring cars to compete through the streets of the Tuscan cities and on the roads around the region.[2]

The main organizer of this race was the director of the Florence Automobile Club, Amos Pampaloni who also negotiated with a neighboring automobile clubs to receive their support. In the end the event crossed ten Tuscan provinces: Arezzo, Florence, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa, Pisa, Pistoia, Siena and Viterbo.

The race ran from 1949 to 1954 as a non-championship race, circling around the Tuscany region. The first two editions ran on a circuit with a starting point and finish in Livorno, and from 1951 the start and finish was moved to Florence. The distance and course of each race changed with almost every edition, but was much shorter than the Mille Miglia. Contestants had to finish a single lap of the race.[3]

For each race numerous categories were prepared, covering sport, grand touring and touring cars, later expanded by series-produced sports car classes. Each category was further subdivided into engine capacity classes, even as small as 350 cc.[4]

1949

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Fiat-Ermini 1100 Siluro
 
Cisitalia 202 CMM driven by Misorini and Serena

The first edition, I. Coppa della Toscana, was held in July 1949. The start of the race around Tuscany was at Livorno. The course had a total distance of 604 km. Out of 80 teams that entered in the race, only 44 had managed to finish back in Livorno.[5]

The overall winner of the race was Ugo Bormioli in the Ermini 1100 Siluro, that managed an average speed of 113.8 km/h. He competed in a smaller 'Sport 1.1' class. The Lancia Aprilia and Alfa Romeo 6C, on second and third places respectively, were from a bigger 'Sport 1.1' category.[6]

Giovanni Lurani, aided by Cortese won the 'T 1.5' class in a Bristol. Danzi and Bracco in the Lancia Aprilia won the 'T1.5' category. Leonardi/Rosati team in a rare Fiat-Patriarca were first in the 'Sport 750' class.[7]

Top results of the 1949 Coppa della Toscana:[8]

Pos. Class
Pos. 		Class No. Drivers Car
1st 1st S1.1 1210   Ugo Bormioli
  Caffini 		Fiat-Ermini 1100 Siluro[9]
2nd 1st S 1.1   Sonio Coletti Lancia Aprilia
3rd 2nd S 1.1   Aldo Benedetti
  Renzo Battaglini 		Alfa Romeo 6C 2500
4th 2nd S1.1   Elio Checcacci
  M. Checcacci 		Stanguellini S1100
5th 3rd S1.1   Ovidio Capelli
  Mario Brambilla 		Stanguellini S1100

1950

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Winning Ferrari 195 S Touring Barchetta
 
Carotti and Ercolani in Fiat 1100 S berlinetta at Coppa Toscana

The second edition, II. Coppa della Toscana, followed a longer circuit route that was 680 km long, with, the start and finish was still in Livorno. Popularity of the race grew and now 152 teams had entered.[10]

Two Ferrari 195 S' scored first two places, the very same cars that placed first and second at the Mille Miglia, earlier that year, but in a reverse order. The winning barchetta's average speed was 127.7 km/h. Third was Ermini only three seconds behind but securing a victory in class. Its Fiat-based engine was half the size of the Ferrari 195.[11]

Schwelm Cruz with Datisi in the Alfa Romeo 6C won the GT class. "Ippocampo" (Umberto Castiglioni) and Mori in the Lancia Aprilia won the 'T 1.1' category.[12]

Top results of the 1950 Coppa della Toscana:[13]

Pos. Class
Pos. 		Class No. Drivers Car
1st 1st S 2.0 1221   Dorino Serafini
  Ettore Salani 		Ferrari 195 S barchetta[14]
2nd 2nd S 2.0 1217   Franco Cornacchia
  Del Carlo 		Ferrari 195 S berlinetta[15]
3rd 1st S1.1   Piero Scotti
  Giulio Cantini 		Fiat-Ermini 1100

1951

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Winning Ferrari 212 Export Fontana Berlinetta l'Uovo

III. Coppa della Toscana used the same circuit length but the start/finish line was moved to Florence. Even more cars competed this year: 186 and 97 of those were classified at the finish line.[16]

 
Biondetti Ferrari-Jaguar Special driven to a 4th place and class victory

The winning Ferrari 212 Export Fontana Berlinetta l'Uovo was entered by Scuderia Marzotto.[17] The car was converted form a crashed 166 MM barchetta and rebodied in a one-off coachwork by Carrozzeria Fontana.[18] The winner's average speed was 129.7 km/h.

Cornacchia and Del Carlo in the Ferrari 212 MM, entered by Scuderia Guastella won the GT class.[19]

Top results of the 1951 Coppa della Toscana:[20]

Pos. Class
Pos. 		Class No. Drivers Car
1st 1st S2.0 1302   Giannino Marzotto
  Marco Crosara 		Ferrari 212 Export berlinetta[21]
2nd 1st S 2.0 1258   Vittorio Marzotto
  Vittorio Zanuso 		Ferrari 340 America barchetta[22]
3rd 2nd S2.0   Piero Scotti Ferrari 212 Export spyder[23]
4th 1st GT 2.0 1303   Clemente Biondetti
  G. Vinci 		Biondetti Ferrari-Jaguar Special[24]
5th 1st S1.1 1224   Giulio Cabianca
  Luigi Zanelli 		Osca MT4 1100

1952

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The "Rosa Bianca" Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 of US Lieutenant Henry Bartecchi
 
Renato Nocentini in the Motto-bodied 1947 Ferrari 159 C s/n 002C

Quarta Coppa della Toscana, the fourth edition of the race was held in June 1952.[25][26] Race distance was lengthened to 739 km. The winning Ferrari's average speed was 121.9 km/h.[27][28]

Scotti and Pieratelli driving the Lancia Aurelia won the 'GT2.0' class. Felice Bonetto aided by Giampaolo Volpini, also in the Lancia Aurelia, but a B21 berlina, won the 'T 1.5' category. Emilio Giletti with Walter Loro Piana in the Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta were first in the 'S2.0' class.[29]

Top results of the 1952 Coppa della Toscana:[30]

Pos. Class
Pos. 		Class No. Drivers Car
1st 1st S 2.0 1249   Bruno Sterzi
  Arnoldo Roselli 		Ferrari 225 S berlinetta[31][32]
2nd 1st S1.1 1230   Roberto Sgorbati
  Luigi Zanelli 		Osca MT4 1100
3rd 2nd S1.1 1210   Bruno Venezian
  Achille Albarelli 		Osca MT4 1100
4th 1st GT 2.0   Franco Cornacchia
  Ruffini 		Ferrari 212 MM berlinetta[19]
5th 3rd S1.1 1213   Diego Capelli
  Giuseppe Veronelli 		Osca MT4 1100

1953

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT

V. Coppa della Toscana was held in May 1953. Circuit and race distance was shortened to 633 km. In total 200 teams had started the event, 109 of those had classified at the finish line.[33]

 
Ferrari 166 MM rebodied by Zagato as berlinetta

Scuderia Lancia dominated the event and podium with all three first places filled by their Aurelia GT 2500. The winning team of Clemente Biondetti and Gino Bronzoni achieved an average speed of 117.6 km/h.

 
Ferrari 340 MM Vignale Spyder with hardtop driven by Bruno Sterzi and Giulio Rovelli to a 6th place overall

Roberto Sgorbati and Luigi Zanelli, driving the OSCA MT4 1100 won the 'S1.1' class. Luigi Bellucci with Colucci in the Alfa Romeo 1900 won the 'GT2.0' category. Sergio Mantovani and his Maserati A6GCS/53 Fantuzzi Spyder were the 'S2.0' class victors. Carlo Chiti entered the Benedetti Giannini 750 Sport but did not finish the race.[34] Best Ferrari result was tenth overall with Scotti and Cantini. Siro Sbraci driving the Ferrari 212 Inter scored a victory in the 'serS 2.0' category.[35]

Top results of the 1953 Coppa della Toscana:[36]

Pos. Class
Pos. 		Class No. Drivers Car
1st 1st GT 2.0   Clemente Biondetti
  Gino Bronzoni 		Lancia Aurelia GT 2500
2nd 2nd GT 2.0   Gino Valenzano
  Luigi Maggio 		Lancia Aurelia GT 2500
3rd 3rd GT 2.0   Roberto Piodi
  Bruno Veglia 		Lancia Aurelia GT 2500
4th 1st S 2.0   Franco Bordoni
  Luigi Daffano 		Gordini T15S 2.3
5th 1st T 1.5   Piero Carini
  A. Artesani 		Alfa Romeo 1900 TI
6th 2nd S 2.0 933   Bruno Sterzi
  Giulio Rovelli 		Ferrari 340 MM Vignale Spyder
7th 1st S1.1 218   Roberto Sgorbati
  Luigi Zanelli 		OSCA MT4 1100
8th 1st GT2.0   Luigi Bellucci
  Alfredo Colucci 		Alfa Romeo 1900

1954

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Piero Scotti after winning Coppa della Toscana with Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Spyder

VI. Coppa della Toscana, was the last edition of the Tuscan Cup. It ran on the longest 760 km circuit around the Tuscany. The popularity started to diminish compared to the previous year as only 132 cars were entered. After the race 75 teams were classified.[37]

Race was won by Piero Scotti in a 4.5-litre Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Spyder at an average speed of 126.3 km/h. The second-place 3.0-litre Gordini arrived at the finish line almost twelve minutes later.

Francesco Giardini and Cestelli, driving the Osca MT4 1100 won the 'S1.1' class. Piero Carini with A. Artesani in the Alfa Romeo 1900 TI were first in the 'TS' category. Franco Ribaldi aided by Basili, driving the Lancia Aurelia GT won the 'GT 2.0' class. The smallest engine capacity class, 'S350', was won by the Romiti brothers in the Iso Isetta.[38]

Top results of the 1954 Coppa della Toscana:[39]

Pos. Class
Pos. 		Class No. Drivers Car
1st 1st S 2.0 937   Piero Scotti Ferrari 375 MM spyder[40]
2nd 2nd S 2.0   Franco Bordoni
  A. Da Fano 		Gordini T24S 3.0
3rd 1st serS 750   Camillo Luglio
  Elfo Frignani 		Ferrari 250 MM berlinetta[41]
4th 3rd S 2.0   Roberto Piodi Lancia Aurelia GT 2500
5th 2nd serS 750   Sergio Ferraguti Maserati A6GCS/53 spyder

Cancellation

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The race ran for six consecutive editions between 1949 and 1954. In 1955 the ten Tuscan automobile clubs failed to come to an agreement over the next years edition. The Automobile Club of Florence was left without support and the Coppa della Toscana was cancelled. The Club decided to organize an alternative Tuscan race on the Mugello Road Circuit, that would later be known as the Grand Prix of Mugello.[42]

Revival

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In 1996, the members of the Tuscan Vintage Motor Car Club revived the long-closed event. The recreated race became a tourist event called the Tuscan Cup and is recognized by the ASI organisation. Since 2002 the re-enactment of the historical race combined the organizational support of all the Tuscan Automobile Clubs.[43]

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coppa della Toscana.
  1. ^ "2019: 70th Anniversary of the Coppa della Toscana (1949-1954)". automotivemasterpieces.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Il Mugello e gli altri circuiti toscani nel dopoguerra". motorwebmuseum.it (in Italian). Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Coppa della Toscana". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Coppa della Toscana - All Races". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Coppa della Toscana 1949". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Coppa della Toscana 1949 - Race Results". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  7. ^ "1 Coppa Della Toscana. 31.07.1949r". kwa-kwa.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Non Championship Races 1949". wsrp.cz. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  9. ^ "1949 Fiat Ermini Siluro 1100". automotivemasterpieces.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Coppa della Toscana 1950". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Coppa della Toscana 1950 - Race Results". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Non Championship Races 1950". wsrp.cz. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  13. ^ "2 Coppa Della Toscana. 4.06.1950r". kwa-kwa.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  14. ^ "166 MM s/n 0038M". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  15. ^ "166 MM s/n 0026M". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Coppa della Toscana 1951". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  17. ^ "Coppa della Toscana 1951 - Race Results". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  18. ^ "1950 Ferrari 166 MM/212 Export "Uovo" by Fontana". rmsothebys.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  19. ^ a b "212 MM s/n 0070M". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  20. ^ "Non Championship Races 1951". wsrp.cz. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  21. ^ "166 MM s/n 024MB". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  22. ^ "275 S s/n 0030MT". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  23. ^ "212 Export s/n 0094E". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  24. ^ "Clemente Biondetti, il re della Mille Miglia". wheels.iconmagazine.it (in Italian). 16 February 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  25. ^ "Quarta Coppa della Toscana 1952". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  26. ^ "1952 - COPPA DELLA TOSCANA". lanciamarino.it (in Italian). Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  27. ^ "A Ferrari rises from the ashes". auto.ferrari.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  28. ^ "4 Coppa Della Toscana. 1.06.1952r". kwa-kwa.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  29. ^ "Non Championship Races 1952". wsrp.cz. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  30. ^ "Quarta Coppa della Toscana 1952 - Race Results". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  31. ^ "225 S s/n 0178ED". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  32. ^ "Annuaire Ferrari 1952". curve.folieo.com (in French). Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  33. ^ "Coppa della Toscana 1953". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  34. ^ "Non Championship Races 1953". wsrp.cz. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  35. ^ "Annuaire Ferrari 1953". curve.folieo.com (in French). Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  36. ^ "Coppa della Toscana 1953 - Race Results". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  37. ^ "Coppa della Toscana 1954". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  38. ^ "Coppa della Toscana 1954 - Race Results". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  39. ^ "Non Championship Races 1954". wsrp.cz. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  40. ^ "375 MM PF Spyder 0360AM". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  41. ^ "250 MM PF Berlinetta 0252MM". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  42. ^ "Mugello road circuit: the path, the races and the reasons for its end". discovermugello.it. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  43. ^ "XXII Coppa Toscana – Camet". bancacambiano.it (in Italian). Retrieved 21 October 2019.
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