A century of speed marked at Monza

Monza marked its centenary year with a string of celebratory events, plus the small matter of a grand prix, at the start of September.

First opened in 1922, Monza has become one of the world’s most famous racing circuits, having held the Italian Grand Prix every year bar one since the world championship’s formation in 1950 – plus 15 other pre-F1 world championship events between 1922 and 1949.

Safe to say times have changed since that first race 100 years ago, when Pietro Bordino won a 5hr 43min thriller aboard a Fiat 804, with a fastest lap of just over 4min 5sec. The track then hosted the closest finish in F1 history when in 1971 Peter Gethin edged to victory ahead of a top five covered by just 0.61sec.

Fast forward to more modern times and speed records have repeatedly fallen, with Michael Schumacher winning the fastest-ever F1 race at an average speed of 153.84mph in 2003 and Lewis Hamilton setting the fastest-ever qualifying lap, at 164.28mph in 2020.

So, what better way to celebrate the Cathedral of Speed than by holding a pootling parade? Ahead of this year’s race a celebration took place featuring 112 cars linked to Monza, led by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali in a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport featuring Zagato bodywork. The race itself failed to live up to the occasion, controversially finishing under yellow flag conditions, much to the audible displeasure of the passionate tifosi.