The 2018 MotorLegendFestival has been officially presented with a press conference, held in the prestigious setting of the Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan. The MotorLegendFestival is set to take place at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola from 20 to 22 April.
Event ambassadors Giacomo Agostini, Riccardo Patrese and Arturo Merzario were in attendance, along with organiser Vito Piarulli and managing director Andrea Gallignani.
This meeting with the press served to outline some of the characteristics of the upcoming show, unique on the Italian motoring landscape.
VITO PIARULLI: “I have long had a dream to create an event in Italy that would allow us to bring together and involve the many enthusiasts and fans who have not been fortunate enough to really know the world of motorsport from the 1970s up to the current time. We spent time following the world’s most important events to gain inspiration. We asked ourselves how the world of motorsport is able to bring together tens of thousands of people at a single event in Great Britain or Germany. This is why we decided to create MotorLegendFestival: a diverse offering that includes courses, meetings, discussions, dynamic shows, static exhibitions, with the biggest stars and most significant vehicles from the golden age of motorsport. All with an Italian feel of course, Italy being the country that has perhaps contributed the most to motoring throughout the course of history. It was only natural to choose the Imola racetrack: we are at the heart of Motorvalley, a symbol of Italian excellence across the world. The support received from Ferrari Corse Clienti, that will bring the single-seaters of F1 customer teams and the beautiful Programmi XX cars to the track, has allowed us to further enrich an already wide-ranging programme that will ensure everyone can enjoy an incredible weekend. We haven’t forgotten about the two-wheeled world either: having Giacomo Agostini and other aces out on track is another very appealing element for the fans”.
ANDREA GALLIGNANI: “Managing to involve drivers, cars and important brands wasn’t easy but I’ve found that everyone’s really on board with the project. Thanks to the FIA Masters Historic, spectators will be able to experience the excitement of a real San Marino Grand Prix, with the Formula 1 single-seaters built between 1966 and 1985 and equipped with Cosworth engines. During the MotorLegendFestival, the FIA Masters Historic will also run races with touring vehicles, GTs from various decades, and will bring prototypes and GTs built between 1995 and 2012, something new. Another new feature will be the Tecno Day, dedicated to the first Italian race car manufacturer that, in the 60s and 70s, gave the British frame builders a run for their money in Formula 3 and Formula 2. Martin Racing will be with us at Imola, exhibiting, on what is the brand’s 50th anniversary of activity in the motorsport world, some of the Formula 1 cars and prototypes that bore this prestigious livery on track. Lastly, I would like to publicly thank Jacky Ickx, Mauro Forghieri and Paolo Barilla who, on Sunday 22 April, will star in a special homage to the recently restored Ferrari 312 B with which the Belgian champion just missed out on the title. Jacky will drive the single-seater at Imola, 47 years after he last saw it”.
GIACOMO AGOSTINI: “Congratulations to the organisers of MotorLegendFestival. We often ask ourselves why 130,000 people attend overseas events such as Goodwood, where there are no real races. Thanks to MotorLegendFestival and its action-packed schedule, I hope that people in Italy can finally understand the importance of what the bikes and cars of our time represent. I’m very attached to Imola. The old track was like a sort of mini Tourist Trophy to me. When racing the MV Agusta, I’d get chills seeing and hearing such enthusiastic crowds around me. I think we’ll be able to experience the same kind of excitement during the MotorLegendFestival”.
RICCARDO PATRESE: “Imola is almost a symbol of my career. They would boo me in 1983 when I was winning the San Marino Grand Prix, they would applaud when I won in 1990. I was also the last Italian driver to win that Grand Prix and so it was natural for me to accept Vito Piarulli and Andrea Gallignani’s invitation. I will drive some single-seaters and prototype vehicles at the MotorLegendFestival, many of which I raced with. I think that people, particularly the youngsters, will enjoy seeing the 1970s cars, each different to the next, noisy and with large tyres. We were lacking this kind of show in Italy and it’s good that the organisers have chosen to give it an international angle while not forgetting those characteristics for which Italy stands out”.
ARTURO MERZARIO: “I’ve won many races at Imola, in every category. But what’s important is to talk about the MotorLegendFestival. We need to communicate, make people aware of the point of a festival that, I believe, is able to bring people closer to a world that many have dreamed of, or have known superficially, but have not really experienced. The idea is to create a big party that does not exclude anyone, where drivers, riders and fans can come together. Transmitting the culture of motorsport, something that has often been missing in Italy. The path that the organisers have taken is the right one and now we, the stars of the event, will do all we can to make it a success”.
