LA MITICA TARGA FLORIO: IL DUELLO FERRARI-CASTELLOTTI-MERCEDES-FANGIO-MOSS

In the long and passionate history of the Targa Florio, the 39th edition, held on 16 October 1955 over 13 laps of 72 km at the Piccolo Circuito delle Madonie - for a total distance of 936 km - was undoubtedly one of the most exciting and memorable for the multitude of unexpected events and surprises that occurred from the beginning and throughout the exhausting race, with overtaking and counter-overtaking.

The official participant teams, Ferrari, Maserati and Mercedes, went down to Cerda with maximum commitment and so did the drivers who were candidates for the overall victory, the most famous at the time, Fangio, Castellotti, Collins, Maglioli, Moss, Luigi Musso, Villoresi, who alternately appeared at the top of the general classification.

That year the World Championship for Makes arrived in Sicily with Ferrari first, only three points ahead of its rival Mercedes, which had only competed in two races and won them, Tourist Trophy and Mille Miglia.

Alfred Neubauer had convinced Mercedes' Stuttgart management - after the Le Mans tragedy - to compete in the Targa, where in the case of an overall victory he would overtake Ferrari in the final classification.

Mercedes arrived in Sicily with all the power of its organisation: a dozen transport-workshop vehicles, a speedy car transporter, 45 mechanics and support staff for Strategy, Radio Communications, road signs, and assistance to the three competing cars.

The silver SLR with 3000 direct-injection engines were the absolute protagonists, even in the midst of road accidents, crashes, and daring off-road exits, finishing in the first two places.

Eugenio Castellotti, third with his Ferrari, the true Hero of the day, was carried off in triumph by the spectators at the end of the race, receiving more glory than the winner.

La mitica Targa Florio by Dino Caldarera recalls that very special and intense edition, and combines the unfailing technical-sporting narrative with an intimate and lived tale, rich in descriptions of everything that was the background to the event: nature, the landscape and fans, who actively participated in the event.

Inside, a few pages in memory of his friend and driver Nino Vaccarella, known to everyone as the 'Preside volante', and a great protagonist of the Targa Florio.