ITALIAN CAR DAY 2016

The 31st Italian Car Day broke all previous attendance records with 6239 visitors coming through the gates at the historic motoring and aviation venue. Ferrari were prominent with 226 of Maranello’s finest displayed around the restored pit lane garages area, while 54 Lamborghinis surrounded the spectacular British Airways Concorde. Maserati had a big turn out with cars gracing the paddock entrance. The area set aside for Alfa Romeo soon overflowed its 250 spaces and extended throughout the site. Meanwhile, Abarths were gathered together in unprecedented numbers, estimated to have exceeded 150 cars. Fiats and Lancias of all shapes and sizes and eras gradually spread along the entire restored banked track and under the Members’ Bridge. Once again the Club House paddock was packed with a wide variety of classics mixing it with supercars, where else would you see an Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS parked next to a Bizzarrini Strada, or a Fiat 850 Moretti Sportiva next to a LaFerrari? There were more Italian motorcycles on display than in previous years ranging from a racing Ape to Lewis Hamilton’s own MV. The real treat though was the celebrity guest, 15 times world champion Giacomo Agostini. The great man took up the offer of apassenger ride up the Test Hill with Editor Phil Ward in a Lamborghini Huracán. The popular track demonstration across the bridge at Mercedes-Benz World included a wide range of supercars and classics to delight the spectators. Highlights included Rob Whitehouse’s Group B Lancia 037 and Jon Oakley’s outrageous 1200bhp Bugatti Veyron. The main feature for the afternoon was the Test Hill run where Fiat Cinquecentos and Uno Turbos were rubbing shoulders with Ferraris and Maseratis, much to the delight of the crowds that were enjoying the sights and sounds at close quarters. There are some major changes currently underway at Brooklands with the relocation of the Bellman Hangar and its aviation exhibits. This will open up a large new display area for cars that will extend all the way from the Clubhouse to the banking. Roll on 2017!