Modena Cento Ore

Limited to one hundred teams in order to be able to use the best and most interesting venues and hotels and to keep the event cosy, the Modena Cento Ore changed departure point this year and began on 10 October from Orbetello in the Monte Argentario and visited Lazio, Umbria, Tuscany and of course had its traditional finish in Modena in the Emilio-Romagna.  In the past, the dates for this event were in June, but when COVID forced the organisers to move the event to the autumn, competitors found the cooler days and quieter roads to their liking and the date change stuck.  The four-day route took in nearly 1000kms in all, featuring nine special stages and four circuits.  The drivers represented 15 nations, with 90% of them coming from outside of Italy.  The cars from the later Periods G/H/I have become increasingly popular in recent years, with over 40 entries, while Periods D/E/F, the Period from which the overall winner comes, saw only 20 entries, ranging from five-time winner Philip Walker’s Jaguar E-type to Augustin Sabatié-Garat and Caterina De Bartolo’s XK120.

In the later categories a plethora of Porsches and Ford Escorts was interspersed with some five 308 GTB Ferraris and seven GTAM Alfas, along with Lancias, BMW CSLs and a Vauxhall Firenza entered by GTO Engineering for Brian Watts and Michael Hewson.

There were 27 cars entered in the Regularity Category.

The competition started at the thick end, with a run from the startline to the Vallelunga Circuit and the first races.  Seb and Steven Perez won this in their Lancia Stratos Gr4 ahead of the Porsche 911 SC of veteran rally driver Kris Rosenberger, navigated by Nicola Bleicher.  Not far behind, in fourth place, was the first Period F car, the Lotus Elan Shapecraft of Robin Ellis and Julian Thomas followed in close succession by Philip Walker paired with Miles Griffiths.  Perez went on to dominate the day’s two special stages, while Max and Andrew Banks moved up to fourth place in an Alfa Romeo GTA Junior.  Walker’s E-type overtook Ellis on the stages in the period F contest, as the crews went back to where they had started, the Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort, for the night.

As always, alongside the competition, the Canossa Events team showed the participants some of the most magnificent vistas, hidden villages and cultural sights of Italy along the way and made sure they were able to sample Italian hospitality, food and wine at its best and most traditional. 

To read our report see our December 2023 issue.  Not yet a subscriber?  HMRN is available in hard copy and digital editions.