George Russell drove a 100-year-old Mercedes to gather the Trofeo Bandini Award within the medieval village of Brisighella. The 1924 Targa Florio-winning automobile was restored by Mercedes-Benz Heritage to have fun the centenary of the landmark victory. Hundreds of locals took to the streets to witness the demo run. George may also drive the automobile at Imola later.
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George Russell accomplished a historic demo run by the streets of the medieval Italian village Brisighella on Wednesday, fifteenth Could. The 26-year-old drove one of many unique Mercedes automobiles that participated within the 1924 Targa Florio, a race gained by the German marque. The Brit did so en path to amassing the Trofeo Bandini Award forward of this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
George Russell mentioned:
It has been wonderful to get behind the wheel of a 100-year-old Mercedes. It’s a automobile you count on to be sitting in a museum for folks to admire quite than being pushed and entrusted with its first public outing since its restoration, which was an absolute honour. The way in which it drove was distinctive! The noise was improbable, and the dealing with of the corners, contemplating the slim tyres, was very spectacular. It was an absolute pleasure to get the possibility to drive it, so I wish to say an enormous thanks to the Mercedes-Benz Traditional crew.
Amassing the Trofeo Bandini Award was additionally a real privilege. So many nice F1 drivers have gained this award, and it was an honour so as to add my identify to that checklist. It has been a superb day, and I’m excited for the remainder of the weekend in Imola.
Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, commented:
Yesterday, our unique Mercedes Targa Florio racing automobile from 1924 returned to an Italian highway – 100 years after the Mercedes victory on the race in Sicily. It was an extremely emotional second for everybody concerned. This crimson racer thrilled the Italian crowds a century in the past, and now, it has introduced the same response with George Russell behind the wheel. We’re glad and proud that the automobile efficiently made its first public look after its complete restoration at our Mercedes-Benz Traditional Centre.
Francesco Asirelli, President of the Trofeo Bandini Affiliation, added:
We have been delighted that George was right here to gather the thirty first version of the Trofeo Bandini. He’s a really educated younger man and an incredible sportsman. We’ve got been working to make this occur for practically a yr, and the second lastly got here. He introduced the solar to Brisighella, and it was a improbable day.
Many because of Mercedes-Benz Traditional for restoring such an unbelievable automobile and having its first public operating at our occasion. Everybody was overjoyed to see it on the village streets, and it was a improbable expertise. An enormous thanks should go to Mercedes-Benz and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Workforce for making it occur.
The award was established in 1992 for the well-known Italian racing driver Lorenzo Bandini, who handed away in 1967. The trophy is given to an F1 determine and chosen by a particular committee. The presentation takes place in Brisighella, a village within the Emilia-Romagna area of the nation. George drove the century-old 2-litre machine from the close by city of Faenza to the ceremony within the village sq., celebrating the award and commemorating Mercedes’ total victory and triple class victory within the Targa Florio 1924.
A public highway endurance race held within the mountains of Sicily, Italy, the Targa Florio started close to the beginning of the twentieth century. First run in 1906, it was one of many hardest competitions. It grew to become one of the vital essential for automotive producers trying to show the efficiency of their racing automobiles and the talents of their drivers. After first tasting success in 1922, Mercedes entered the 1924 race with the 2-litre Targa Florio race automobile. It was the primary mission that then Chief Engineer Ferdinand Porsche developed additional till it was prepared for racing.
Painted crimson to discourage native followers from impeding its progress, Christian Werner gained the distinguished race over 432 kilometres in 6 hours, 32 minutes, and 37.4 seconds to take the German marque’s second victory. It was the primary victory within the Targa Florio for a driver from outdoors Italy. Werner additionally led the crew in a triple-class victory for racing automobiles with a displacement of as much as 2 litres. His teammates completed within the total standings in eleventh place (Christian Lautenschlager) and sixteenth place (Alfred Neubauer).
In 2022, Mercedes-Benz Heritage determined to rebuild the unique 2-litre Targa Florio racing automobile from the corporate’s assortment as authentically as attainable for the anniversary – by the excessive requirements of a manufacturing unit restoration. It’s the car wherein Christian Lautenschlager accomplished the Targa Florio in 1924. Werner’s successful automobile has not survived. The removing of the racing automobile from the Mercedes-Benz Museum was adopted by a meticulous evaluation from paintwork to the motor to the car’s physique and by intensive analysis within the Mercedes-Benz Traditional Archives – the model’s “reminiscence”. Unique technical drawings and historic photographs have been essential sources for genuine restoration, and the Traditional Centre carried out this with a community of consultants.
