Coppa Delle Alpi 2024 Transforms Into An Alpine Grand Tour With A Socio-Economic Focus

The fourth edition of the Coppa delle Alpi, unveiled on 19 March 2024 in Brescia, is set to redefine the winter regularity race for historic cars into a comprehensive Grand Tour spanning the Alpine arc. This year, the event will encompass a journey through seven countries - Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Germany, and France - over five stages. Alongside the competitive aspect, the 1000 Miglia has initiated The Grand Alpine Journey project. This initiative aims to delve into the socio-economic, anthropological, and environmental shifts within the Alpine macro-region.

Limited to 30 cars, with an additional 10 teams representing key figures across five macro-themes - agriculture, crafts, culture, energy, and tourism - participants will engage actively in this reflective journey. The AAster Consortium has laid the groundwork for this project through a comprehensive study. Each race day will feature luncheons and dinners hosting in-depth discussions with local institutions and exemplars of best practices in the regions traversed.

Collaborating closely with the Università della Montagna, the Altagamma Foundation, and the Aosta Valley Region, this project aims to culminate in a concise paper. This document will serve as a foundation for a concluding forum scheduled for 4 May.

The grand tour commences in Trieste with administrative checks on 28 April. The following day, competitors will set off towards Kranjska Gora for lunch, then proceed through Tolmezzo to conclude the day's leg in Cortina. On 30 April, the journey continues through Val Badia with a lunch stop at the Messner Museum in Ripa (Brunico), crossing into Austria towards Seefeld from Innsbruck.

The third leg on 1 May takes participants to Garmisch in Germany, then back to Italy for lunch in Livigno, finishing in Saint Moritz, Switzerland. The tour resumes on 2 May with a morning break in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, followed by lunch at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne and concludes the day in Gstaad. The final leg on 3 May enters France with a lunch break in Chamonix before reaching Courmayeur after covering over 1600 kilometres. Here, a conference will be held on 4 May to discuss the insights gathered throughout the journey.

This ambitious project not only celebrates historical automotive heritage but also fosters a deeper understanding of the Alpine region's evolving landscape. Through this unique blend of sportsmanship and intellectual exploration, The Grand Tour of the Alps and The Grand Alpine Journey project promise to offer an unparalleled experience that transcends traditional motorsport events.