A new sporting event on the rally calendar designed with Italian cars in mind, kicks off from Norton Plaza in Leichardt, suburban Sydney, next Friday. Amongst the field will be a smattering of exotic Italian cars – Ferraris, Alfa Romeos, Maseratis and Fiats, plus a range of sporting cars from other countries including Porsche, Lotus, Triumph and Citroen.
The event will celebrate the connection of two of the largest Italian communities in Australia and will link Norton Street, Leichardt in Sydney with Lygon Street, Carlton in Melbourne via a demanding 1200 kilometre route using some of the best drivers’ roads in both states.
Although entries are a little down on early expectations, the event will more than make up for that by offering crews three days of classic rallying while at the same time raising money for a very worthwhile charity, TLC for Kids. A huge cavalcade of Italian cars, motorcycles and scooters will lead the field away at 10.30am next Friday as they head south on the first of the rally’s six legs.
Amongst the entries is well known former F2 racer, Lucio Cesario, who will be seen at the wheel of one of a trio of Ferrari 430s. Similar cars will be driven by Lido and Sylvia Russo, and Alf Merlino and George Pandeleo, while Maserati honours will be upheld by Guido Merlino in a Maserati Quattro. The smallest car in the field will be a classic Fiat 1100D to be driven by Peter Parussolo and Rennie Vecchies, highlighting the fact that the event is open to any age and model of Italian vehicle.
As cars leave the start amongst a flotilla of other two and four-wheeled Italian vehicles, other localities along the route will be getting ready for the arrival of the event. A number of social and competitive sub-events are planned for the next three days, and include motorkhanas at Tumut in southern NSW and Myrtleford in North Eastern Victoria, and welcoming functions at overnight halts.
Come Sunday evening and the weary entrants will be feted at a gala dinner in the heart of Melbourne’s Italian district, to which an internationally-famous star is tipped to appear. It will round off what is sure to be the first of a series of similar rallies to be held in years to come, and which aim to demonstrate that the Italian community are right behind supporting worthwhile charities.
For more information visit the Italian Connection Rally website.
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