Bari. Presentation of the eighth historical re-enactment of the Bari Grand Prix.

It took place on the morning of 17 April, at Palazzo di Città, the presentation of the eighth historical re-enactment of the Bari Grand Prix, which will take place in the Apulian capital from 25 to 28 April 2024. The city of Bari is preparing to host the extraordinary parade of vintage cars organized by Old Cars Club, for an edition - included in the ASI Circuito Tricolore - which promises to be even richer in spectacularity. The councilor for economic development of the Municipality of Bari, the commander of the Local Police of Bari, Michele Palumbo, and the president of Old Cars Club, Antonio Durso, spoke at the press conference. The event enjoys the patronage of: Municipality of Bari, Anci, Fiva, Puglia Region, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

Testimonial of the eighth historical re-enactment of the Bari Grand Prix will be Riccardo Patrese, the last Italian driver to have fought for the Drivers' World Championship in Formula 1, since the 1992 season. The great driver from Padua, born in 1954, will be present on the key days of 27 and 28 April and will kick off the salient moments of the historical re-enactment. Patrese has an extraordinary career not only in Formula 1: he was world champion with karts, Italian and European Formula 3 champion, he raced in Formula 1 from 1977 to 1993, competing in 256 Grands Prix (a record which remained unbeaten for fifteen years), winning six. He was also a very valid driver in the "sports prototypes" world championship, at the wheel of Lancia cars, winning eight races and coming close to winning the world title in 1982. Six times, in 1980, and from 1989 to 1993, he was champion absolute Italian of speed.

"We can't wait to get to the key and most awaited moment of the historical re-enactment, we are ready and full of adrenaline for yet another great event that will involve the whole city - declared Antonio Durso -. It costs us a lot of work and sacrifice, which takes us for two whole years, the time between one re-enactment and another. But everything is done with great passion: and this recognition has always come to us from the participants of previous editions, it is the greatest gratification. We will give it our all again this year".

The final program of the four days of the event will start on Thursday 25 April, with the first set-ups of the paddock in Piazza della Libertà (in front of the Prefecture of Bari), which will host all the cars of the event, a VRS driving simulator (Virtual Racing Simulator, which anyone can try their hand at) and spaces dedicated to the numerous sponsors. The positioning of the historic cars will take place from the afternoon of Friday 26th: There will be 50 participating racing cars, of high artistic and collectible value, with crews coming from all over Italy, from Lombardy to Sicily; Drivers and cars from abroad are also arriving, with two presences from Switzerland, one from Holland and an Italian-American driver with 3 precious examples of vintage cars.

There will be no shortage of legendary brands such as Stanguellini, Apache, Cisitalia, Ferrari, Taraschi, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lotus. Cars capable of recalling the years of drivers of the caliber of Ascari, Farina, Fangio, Gonzales, Bira, Taruffi, Lorenzetti (these of Bari origins) and the unforgettable Nuvolari. In particular, among the most representative cars, they will speed: a Stanguellini Corsa, which with the number 514 participated in the Bari Grand Prix in 1948; a Taraschi Urania 750 Sport belonged to Maria Teresa De Filippis, the first female driver of Italian motorsports; and then again, among many, Ermini 1100 Sport, Fiat Negri 508 C, Monaci twin-engine 8C, Apache Formula One MK2, Triumph Sport Cars/Moss Monaco, Talbot 95 AV, Maserati 6CM and Maserati 200 S.

In the morning of Furthermore, on Friday 26th, the pilots participating in the historical re-enactment they will be able to visit, in collaboration with Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, Villa Torre Quarto in Cerignola and the city of Trani, for a welcome cocktail lunch.

The static exhibition will begin on Saturday 27 April, from 9 am, inside the paddock, of all the Grand Prix cars. From 16 pm we then get to the heart of the event dedicated to the entire citizenry, with the cars that will entirely occupy Corso Vittorio Emanuele for the rally of historic cars and motorbikes of the Old Cars Club. For the entire afternoon, then, between music and fun with the official speakers of the Grand Prix, Corso Vittorio Emanuele will be the setting for the parades of all the vintage engines, to which will be added those of the modern cars of the Porsche Club Puglia and the Ferrari Club Italia.

Following, at 19 pm, all the participating cars will carry out a reconnaissance lap of the circuit and, at 21 pm, in Piazza Prefettura, the official opening of the eighth re-enactment of the Bari Grand Prix will take place, with the greeting of the Mayor of Bari, the presentation of the cars and the start of the night parade.

The event will therefore experience its most exciting moment Sunday 28 April, starting at 9am, with the Mameli Anthem, the drivers' briefing and the transfer of the cars onto the circuit. At 9.30 the historical re-enactment of the Bari Grand Prix will begin: starting from the start, located in Piazza della Libertà, the circuit will embrace the entire ancient village of Bari and will offer participants the opportunity to parade in complete safety, thanks to the "chicanes" (obligatory curves): an adrenaline-filled and exciting concentration for crews and spectators, who will be able to savor the memory of the historic track of the Bari Grand Prix, which was raced at the maximum speeds of the Formula 1 of the time.

Finally, at 14pm, near the authorities' stand in Corso Vittorio Emanuele (next to the paddock area), the podium will be set up for the awarding of prizes to the winning pilots of the 8th Re-enactment. Afterwards, the participants will move to the Council Room of the Municipality of Bari for the delivery of the plaques and greetings to all participants by the organizers of the event and the municipal administration.

One of the great innovations of the 2024 edition of the historical re-enactment will be the location, in two strategic points of the route (one in Piazza Libertà, about 100 meters from the paddock, and the other in the space in front of the former Fish Market, in Piazza of Ferrarese), of two large led walls, coordinated by a video direction. From the afternoon of Saturday 27 April onwardsi (until the evening of the night parade), and throughout Sunday morning, will offer live video of the event, to allow anyone to best enjoy the images along the route. They will also be animated by the speakers of the event, including interviews and presentations of the drivers and their cars, as well as stories and anecdotes relating to the entire event.

During this morning's press conference, the official spot for the eighth historical re-enactment of the Bari Grand Prix was also presented. Furthermore, from Thursday 18 April to Friday 26 April, a rare model of the Hamblin Super Two will be exhibited inside the Multicinema Galleria in Bari, a car which will then be present in the final stages of the event.

 

TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS FROM 25 TO 28 APRIL 2024

To allow the smooth running of the re-enactment of the Bari Grand Prix, scheduled until Sunday 28 April, the Municipal Police has issued the following traffic restrictions by order:

I. From 5 am on 25 April 2024 to midnight on 24 April 28, and in any case until the end of the requirements, the "no parking - removal zone" is established in Piazza della Libertà.

II. From 14 pm on 27 April 2024 to 14 pm on 28 April 2024, and in any case until the end of the requirements, the "parking ban - removal zone" is established on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, both sides, stretch between via Cairoli and Piazzale IV Novembre;

III. On April 27, 2024, from 14 pm until 14 pm on April 28, 2024, and in any case until the end of the requirements, a "traffic ban" is established on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the stretch between Via Cairoli and Piazzale IV. November;

IV. On April 28, 2024:

PARKING PROHIBITIONS from 2 am to 14 pm, and in any case until the end of the needs, the "no parking - towing area” on the following streets and squares:

to. Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, both sides, stretch between Via Marchese di Montrone and Via Cairoli;

b. piazza Massari, both sides of the roadway with direction of travel from c.so Vittorio Emanuele II to piazza Federico II di Svevia;

c. Piazza Federico II di Svevia, both sides, including the entire square in front of the Arco Alto and the Arco Basso, the area surrounding the square and the sidewalks;

d. sen. course A. De Tullio, both sides, stretch between Piazza Federico II di Svevia and Piazzale C. Colombo;

And. piazzale C. Colombo;

f. along Imp. Augusto, both sides, including the sections of the access road to the old city;

g. Piazzale IV Novembre;

2. from 5 am to 16 pm, and in any case until the end of the requirements, the "no parking - removal zone" is established on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, on the odd street number side, for a stretch of approximately 30 metres, identified by the intersection with via Lombardi towards piazza Massari;

3. from 7 am to 14 pm, and in any case until the end of the requirements, a "traffic ban" is established on the following streets and squares:

acso Vittorio Emanuele II, stretch between via Marchese di Montrone and piazzale IV Novembre;

b. piazza Massari, roadway with direction of travel from c.so Vittorio Emanuele II to piazza Federico II di Svevia;

c. Piazza Federico II of Swabia;

d. sen. course A. De Tullio, stretch between Piazza Federico II di Svevia and Piazzale C. Colombo;

And. piazzale C. Colombo;

f. long king Imp. Augustus;

g. Piazzale IV Novembre.