2011 MSA Euroclassic is ‘the Italian job’
Event organiser International Motor Sports Limited has announced further route details regarding this year’s MSA Euroclassic (4-11 September).
As tradition dictates, this year’s running of the annual ‘blue riband’ continental tour will include a mouth-watering mix of sight-seeing and circuit driving opportunities. Now entering its 19th year, however, the 2011 MSA Euroclassic will break new ground both in terms of destinations and permissible car criteria.
This year’s eight-day non-competitive route now starts in the spa town of Contrexéville in western France rather than from Troyes as originally announced due to the availability of better hotel facilities. Participants will then head through some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery – the Black Forest in Germany, the Swiss Alps and the Italian Lakes – before heading south as far as the ‘Eternal City’ of Rome. The expertly-organised journey will then head north through the rolling hills of Tuscany for the finish and ceremonial dinner in the historic town of Parma.
The 1425-mile road trip features either overnight halts or sight-seeing stop-offs at many of Europe’s most desirable and celebrated tourist destinations including Brescia, Bologna, Livorno, Perugia, Pisa, San Marino, Siena, St Moritz, Venice and Verona. Driving enthusiasts are equally well provided for with exclusive track time at no fewer than four different circuits as well as visits to two of the continent’s most revered motor museums: the illustrious Mille Miglia Museum and the official Museo Ferrari.
With this year’s route travelling through the Italian supercar heartlands in northern Italy – home to iconic Latin brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati – the event has been opened up for the first time to a limited number of more contemporary classics. These will line up alongside the MSA Euroclassic’s established entry of cars that are at least 20 years old.
“With so much classical and car culture to savour and experience en route, it’s no surprise that this year’s MSA Euroclassic is being widely hailed as the best yet,” said Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of International Motor Sports Limited. “This is one tour no serious car enthusiast will want to miss and it’s no surprise either that we have already received a large number of entries from owners of both classic and more modern supercars. With the summer driving season now upon us, we are expecting to reach our capacity in the next few weeks and are advising those planning to participate not to further delay their entry.”
Participation costs £2,250 per car plus two-person crew and includes detailed route maps, exclusive driving opportunities at the four selected race tracks, on-event medical and mechanical assistance, lunches on most days, a special Celebration Dinner on the final evening plus a host of other benefits and attractions.
For more information and full details of the 2011 route, log onto the official website at msaeuroclassic.co.uk. Entries are restricted and will be accepted on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. The closing date for entries is 30 June 2011.
2011 MSA Euroclassic Route*
Sunday 4 September
Contrexéville to Schluchsee (c140 miles)
Sunday’s itinerary includes a visit to the fortified town of Epinal with its medieval castle and ramparts rumoured to be haunted by Napoleon’s ghost. The opening day also warms up with race track time at the privately-owned Anneau du Rhin Circuit in Alsace en route to an overnight halt just across the German border in Schluchsee, a popular tourist spot situated on the largest lake in the mountainous Black Forest.
Monday 5 September
Schluchsee to St Moritz (c195 miles)
Monday’s route takes participants through some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery starting in the Black Forest and then entering the Swiss Alps. The day’s drive through the mountains includes lunch at the Romerturm Hotel in Kerenzerberg and culminates in the renowned resort of St Moritz. Widely recognised as the birthplace of winter sports and home to the world famous Cresta Run, St Moritz remains synonymous with glamour, royalty and the jet-set.
Tuesday 6 September
St Moritz to Verona (c225 miles)
Tuesday’s itinerary ticks all the right boxes. The day starts in the Alps before travelling through the romantic Italian Lakes and reaching Verona, a historic city with a pedigree dating back to the Roman times that has been awarded ‘world heritage site’ status by UNESCO. After lunch in the aptly-named Grand Hotel on Lake Garda, the route also includes two highlights for motor sport enthusiasts: a visit to the highly prized Mille Miglia Museum in Brescia plus track time at the Autodromo d’Franciacorta.
Wednesday 7 September
Verona to Bologna (c195 miles)
Wednesday promises to be another memorable driving day with an equally mouthwatering cocktail of culture and speed. From legendary Verona the tour travels east to magical Venice where participants will be able to park their cars and enjoy several hours in one of the world’s greatest and most beautiful cities. The route then turns south along the Adriatic coast to the Adria International Raceway before returning inland for an overnight halt in Bologna, capital of the Emilia-Romagna region and a historic city centre renowned for its medieval, renaissance and baroque artistic monuments.
Thursday 8 September
Bologna to Perugia (c185 miles)
Thursday’s trip contains two further highlights: lunch in San Marino and a fourth circuit visit with track time at the challenging Autodromo Dell’Umbria Magione. Like so much of surrounding Italy, the fascinating little Republic of San Marino boasts a remarkable amount of history and is the world’s oldest surviving sovereign state. The day ends with an overnight stop in Perugia, another jewel in Italy’s artistic crown.
Friday 9 September
Perugia to Rome (c110 miles)
Friday is the most relaxed day of the tour with plenty of time provided for sightseeing and shopping in Rome, the ‘Eternal City’. The Italian capital is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, overflowing with treasures and masterpieces of Roman art and architecture.
aturday 10 September
Rome to Livorno (c225 miles)
After the brief sojourn in Rome, Saturday’s route takes participants north into fashionable Tuscany with a morning coffee stop on the Monte Argentaria peninsula providing panoramic views over the Tyrrherian Sea. The next stop is in the heart of Siena. The wonderful Tuscan hill town is the embodiment of a medieval settlement and home to the Palio, the traditional horse race run around the Piazza del Campo two times a year. Thereafter the route returns to the Mediterranean coast for an overnight stop in the Medici fortress port of Livorno.
Sunday 11 September
Livorno to Parma (c150 miles)
The final day of the 2011 MSA Euroclassic is another encompassing the very best of classical and automotive culture with time in Pisa and at the Maranello Ferrari Museum. The Museo Ferrari is the Prancing Horse’s official exhibition centre and houses a breathtaking collection of cars, trophies and images that have characterised the world’s most mythical sportscar and racing marque. As such, it’s a fitting finale for this year’s MSA Euroclassic event before the end-of-tour festivities held in the culinary centre of Parma later in the evening.
* Provisional as of 18 June 2011
