There’s a particular pleasure when tires meet pavement. The miles and hours advance quickly as you blur through towns, then other times pass slowly as the world around you seems to melt away, leaving only the road before your front bumper. Endurance racing is another thing entirely. Long-distance driving along a series of roads built for neither speed nor accuracy requires true physical and mental fortitude. The freedom of the open road is matched only by the nothing-like-it pleasure of a full-body stretch at the end of the day, having successfully crossed each checkpoint.
The 1000 Miglia—Italy’s storied 1,000-mile circuit that once challenged drivers through medieval villages and mountain passes—has evolved from its daring origins into a global celebration of automotive heritage. After decades confined to Italian roads, the iconic race recently expanded to new horizons, including the United Arab Emirates in 2022 and China in 2024. This February, the legendary rally made its American debut with the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida winding through Collier and Lee counties as drivers looped through the Sunshine State. “The 1000 Miglia is a symbol of endurance, precision and timeless elegance,” Massimo Cicatiello, president of the Experience Florida, says. “Bringing this legacy to Florida meant preserving the essence and spirit of the race while adapting it to a new setting.”
From 1927 to 1957, the original race dazzled. Drivers were often referred to with divine categorizations, Italian automakers vied to have their latest sports cars on the podium and spectators lined the roads in nearly every town. A grueling endeavor—the inaugural co-drivers crossed the finish line in an OM 665 Superba after 21 hours of nonstop driving—the first edition made headlines. In Italian newspaper La Stampa, journalist Giuseppe Tonelli wrote: “[It’s] crazy, exhausting, non-stop racing, through countryside and cities, on the mountains and by the sea, day and night. Roads that wind under the roaring cars, eyes that do not close in sleep, faces that do not tremble, drivers with nerves of steel.”
Injuries and crashes marred the event over the years, but 1957 marked a point of no return. A Ferrari crashed into a crowd near Mantua, just 30 miles short of the finish line, killing both drivers and nine spectators. In response, the Italian government banned racing on public roads, effectively ending the automotive spectacle.
Then, in 1977, a group of Italian car enthusiasts revived the event as a regularity rally, a precision-based competition where drivers follow prescribed routes and speeds rather than racing for outright velocity. Now held annually, the race restricts registrations to the same historic models that participated in the original event. Drivers trace a similar course through Northern Italy, splitting the circuit across multiple days and stopping at checkpoints to trace their progress. Though it pays tribute to the original, today’s iteration is more spirited driving than Gonzo racing.
Courtesy 1000 Miglia Experience Florida
Photography by Brian Tietz
Photography by Emin Kadi
Courtesy 1000 Miglia Experience Florida
Despite being inextricably tied to the Italian landscape, automotive culture and sporting fanaticism, the legendary competition recently launched the 1000 Miglia Experience to capture the essence of the Italian original around the world—whether winding through the stark desert and futuristic cities of the United Arab Emirates or zipping across the Everglades’ River of Grass.
The organizers chose Florida for the inaugural United States experience due to the state’s vast, varied landscapes and deep enthusiasm for automotive design. Held in February, the race traded vineyards and hill towns for tangled swamps, oceanfront highways and vibrant urban neighborhoods. Highlighting the region’s affinity for design and style, it took place between the Miami Concours and ModaMiami, two exclusive showcases of rare vintage vehicles and modern hypercars.
The 1000 Miglia’s four-day extravaganza began at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, where 70 participating cars, each piloted by a set of drivers, lined up for inspection. In a break with the Italian event, the Florida race allows for a wider range of cars, sorted into one of three classes: The 1000 Miglia Original Class comprises models that took part in the 1000 Miglia before 1957 with special dispensations given to automobiles of special historic or sporting interest from the same period, even if they did not participate in the previous race. The Classic Icons Class includes models from 1958 to 1994, and the Hypercar & Supercar Class opens the race to sport, grand touring and supercars manufactured from 1995 to present.
Photography by Emin Kadi
1000 miglia florida experience american debut in front of hotel
Enthusiasts gathered at Naples checkpoints to admire rare machines, from a 1962 Rolls-Royce to a 1950s Jaguar XK120, once the fastest street-legal car in the world. With plans underway for 2026, the Sunshine State rally proves what automotive lovers already know: Florida was made for driving.
After inspections, drivers attended training sessions to familiarize themselves with navigational and driving techniques for the rally—a key component since winners in each class are determined by hitting checkpoints and adhering to the precise speeds and driving times. “Driving 1,000 miles in a classic or high-performance car is a journey that tests both man and machine,” Massimo says. “It requires focus, precision and endurance. What makes it special is the camaraderie among participants, the thrill of passing through iconic locations and the deep connection between driver, co-driver and car.”
The next morning, drivers set off early for the first, 300-plus-mile leg of the race, stopping for time stamps at the Italian consulate in Coral Gables and the Miccosukee Indian Village as they passed through the Everglades. As they cruised into Naples, cars were waved into Bayfront, where the Porsche enthusiasts of the Paradise Region Gruppe cordoned off the central avenue so spectators could peruse the parade of rare gems.
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Photography by Brian Tietz
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The route cut through the Everglades, carving its way toward the Gulf. Co-drivers navigated public roads to checkpoints at assigned speeds, cruising through Naples, Fort Myers and Venice, before turning toward the Kennedy Space Center and West Palm Beach, then returning to Miami.
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Photography by Brian Tietz
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The next stop was at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, where a small cluster greeted the teams in the back parking lot. Drivers mingled with car enthusiasts, everyone taking time to appreciate the leather interior of the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC (the oldest car in the lineup) and snap photos of a pair of 1952 Jaguar XK 120 roadsters, which were once the world’s fastest street-legal cars. Each collector and car lover seemed to be drawn to different aspects of the day’s vehicles, from the unmatched luxury craftsmanship of the 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud 2 to the sleek lines of the 1964 Aston Martin DB4 GT (similar to the model Sean Connery drove in Goldfinger). The 1965 Fiat 500F got a round of applause as it rolled into The Ritz. Not long into the drive, it had experienced technical issues (an expected hurdle with so many antique and classic cars participating in the rally), but its drivers were able to make repairs and get it back on the road, arriving at the Naples checkpoint shortly before cars were set to depart for the next leg.
Among the most anticipated automobiles was the 1953 Ferrari 250 MM. Named after the race—the MM stands for the phonetically written out ‘Mille Miglia’—the prized machine ranks among Ferrari’s earliest grand touring models. With a compact tail and an easy-to-access gas tank at the rear, the vehicle was immediately touted as a great racing car. “This edition saw an incredible lineup of cars, blending history with modern innovation,” Massimo says. “We saw an extraordinary mix, demonstrating how 1000 Miglia bridges different generations of automotive excellence.”
The Barn Miami, a boutique dealer known for classic and collectible cars, partnered with the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida to help secure cars for the event. Owner Gaston Rossato also participated in the race, driving a 1992 Ferrari 348 Serie Speciale, which he chose for its practical comfort (air conditioning and a closed top for driving up to 12 hours a day in the intense Florida sun). “I was thinking Miami Vice. This isn’t a Testa Rossa, but it’s the same design language,” he says, pointing to the iconic side intakes (the sculpted air channels that define the car’s profile).
After lunch and a few quick repairs in The Ritz’s parking lot, the cars growled back to life. Each stopped for a time trial to mark its progress along the route, before setting off along the long, palm-lined drive and continuing north, tracing local roads toward Fort Myers. After crossing the Edison Bridge, the parade of cars linked up with US 41, passing through Cape Coral, Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor en route to Venice and Tampa. The next two days unfolded in much the same manner, long drives punctuated by a stop at the Kennedy Space Center, a private dinner at a mansion in West Palm Beach and the grand finale along Miami’s art deco Ocean Drive. “I’ve lived in Florida my whole life, and I saw places I’d never seen before,” Gaston says. “[On the first day,] there was this little sliver of island with homes on it, where the backyard was a bay and the front yard was the Gulf. They were having cheese and wine parties in their driveways with 1000 Miglia flags and cheering us on.”
With the first edition under its belt, the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida is working on the 2026 lineup, considering refinements to the route and new elements that could enhance the overall journey. Gaston has already signed up to drive again. “To take a car out without a purpose is a beautiful thing. To drive and build camaraderie with like-minded people is an absolute pleasure. You don’t get a lot of chances to do that,” he says. Although different from the original, the Experience Florida similarly captures the joys and challenges of long-distance racing. “You are tired. There are times when you are just staring at the clock, the temperature, the oil pressure,” Gaston admits, acknowledging the mental and physical fortitude that add to the thrill of the race. Massimo echoes the sentiment: “The 1000 Miglia is not just a race,” he says. “It’s an adventure.”
Courtesy 1000 Miglia Experience Florida
Courtesy 1000 Miglia Experience Florida
Courtesy 1000 Miglia Experience Florida
Photography by Emin Kadi