18 - 20 September 2015 – The story that unites Eberhard & Co., Tazio Nuvolari and the renowned Grand Prix named after him is one of passion and challenges which has endured over time. The countdown to the finishing line has officially started, and is of particular importance this year, this being the 25th edition of the Nuvolari Grand Prix.
The long-awaited event, one of the world’s most important regularity races, organised by Mantova Corse, ACI Mantova and the Tazio Nuvolari Museum, will cover an impressive 1,070 km in 3 days. The event will comprise 15 different sets of trials (a total of 81 time and 5 average time trials), will pass from two racing circuits (San Martino del Lago and Varano), cross two Apennine passes (the Cisa and the Bocca Serriola) and a number of town circuits, such as Ferrara Castle, which has become a classic; a truly thrilling and unforgettable journey. There have been numerous registrations for the event, which is seeing record numbers: over 300 cars at the start have been confirmed, an increase over last year’s already positive trend, including a strong contingent of foreigners, with drivers hailing from all over the world. The spectacular cars, produced between 1919 and 1969, will pass through the historic centres of some of the most famous Italian towns in the new “two seas” formula: Mantua, Sarzana, Forte dei Marmi, Pisa, Livorno, Volterra, Siena, Arezzo, Città di Castello, Urbino, Rimini and Ferrara, with both start and finish in Mantua’s Piazza Sordello.
There are a number of innovations, starting with the revival of three famous races starring the great “Nivola”: the “Coppa Giorgio e Alberto Nuvolari” in Mantua on Friday, the “Coppa Ciano” in Livorno on Saturday and the “Coppa Luigi Arcangeli” on the hills of Romagna on Sunday; these three events will have their own classifications and prizes.
Eberhard & Co. will of course be marking the time at the start and finish lines with its customary, unmistakable style and elegance, and will record every precious moment out of the many that the competitors of this extraordinary event will experience. The longstanding, deep bond that the brand has with the thrilling world of speed and challenges with a retro flavour dates back to 1991, when it became the official time-keeper and partner of the Nuvolari Grand Prix. The wide range of timepieces crafted by the prestigious Swiss watchmaker, specialised in the production of highly technical watches, includes a special collection of chronographs dedicated to one of the greatest drivers of all time and was the first partner to believe in this event, which has become an increasingly important date in the historic car racing calendar.
The company’s special affinity with the most prestigious historic car competitions inspired the iconic “Tazio Nuvolari” watch collection, a tribute to the legendary driver, who has gone down in history as the “Flying Mantuan”: from the first chronograph that marked the start of this association, to the “Vanderbilt Cup”, dedicated to one of Tazio’s most prestigious victories, the limited edition “Grand Prix”, the “Tazio Nuvolari Date”, the first model from the collection to include the date, right up to the latest “Tazio Nuvolari Vanderbilt Cup Naked”, the movement of which can be admired through the transparent caseback and the “Tazio Nuvolari Automatc”, the first three-hands” watch of the collection, with a decidedly sporty look: tradition and innovation are blended to perfection in these watches.
This year’s latest items in the collection presented to the city and the competitors on the occasion of the GP are the “Tazio Nuvolari 336”, a dual time watch with modern lines, dedicated to the world speed record achieved by the driver and the “Tazio Nuvolari Desk Clock” a brand new desk version that confirms the watchmaker’s aesthetic taste and readiness to venture into new areas, by embracing the world of interior design. “Tazio Nuvolari” timepieces are designed and manufactured according to a design philosophy which borrows from the instruments of vintage racing cars. The cockpit of the extraordinary vehicles in which the “Flying Mantuan” secured so many victories served as a source of inspiration for Eberhard technicians in creating functional and aesthetic solutions. The instruments housed in the dashboard had to be indispensable, clear, easy to read, accurate and resistant to shocks and vibrations. Mechanics, design and performance are important characteristics shared by motor racing and high level watch making.
“While supporting many of the most important events in the world of classic cars in connection with our sponsoring activity,” declared Mario Peserico, Managing Director of Eberhard & Co., “the ‘Nuvolari’ is the one that we are closest to historically and it is becoming an increasingly international event of the highest level. We are ready to go and are particularly pleased to be celebrating the first quarter of a century spent together with the GP and we will do it bend after bend, straight after straight, also with the Classicteam-Eberhard, the team that has represented us in sporting events since 2010 and which this year will be deploying 16 crews with no less than 8 pre-war cars (the oldest one is a Fiat 514 Spider – 1930), the rarest and most prestigious of which is the 1933 Aston Martin Le Mans (130 models produced); the pre-war cars will also feature two 1939 MG TBs (out of only 379 built). Two splendid Tazio Nuvolari timepieces, the race’s sought-after and much-deserved prizes, will be there at the finishing line to welcome and crown the winners.”
Eberhard & Co. and the Nuvolari Grand Prix… united in Tazio’s name for the last 25 years!
THE EBERHARD & CO. STORY
Eberhard & Co., watchmakers historically specialising in the manufacture of highly technical timepieces, was established in 1887 in Chaux-de-Fonds, in the Swiss Jura. In 2012, Eberhard & Co. celebrated 125 years of history, confirming its natural propensity towards development and growth, while retaining its personality and strong spirit of independence and without forgoing the close link with its origins and tradition. Eberhard & Co produces around 15,000 timepieces a year, with objectives of weighted yet constant growth, and is present in about 25 countries, from Europe to the United States, from the Far East to the Middle East. The history of Eberhard & Co. is an ongoing succession of unforgettable creations, from the Chrono 4 to the 8 JOURS, from the Tazio Nuvolari collection to the Extra-fort model, from the women’s collection Gilda, right down to the very latest products: Tazio Nuvolari 336 and Desk-Clock, Contograf Special Edition and Gilda in two precious new models.
THE ROUTE OF THE 2015 NUVOLARI GP
The 2015 edition is based on the formula of “two seas”, with the first stage from Mantua, across the Apennines to Versilia on the Tyrrhenian Sea; the second stage from the Tyrrhenian Sea through the beautiful scenery of Tuscany, Umbria and Marche and arriving in Rimini, on the Adriatic Sea; the third stage, from Rimini, through the towns of Emilia Romagna, arriving back in Mantua, the birthplace of Tazio Nuvolari. A journey of over 1,000 km amidst the beauty of Italy, a combination of history, passion, tradition and exclusive hospitality.
CLASSICTEAM EBERHARD CREWS AND CLASSIC CARS AT THE 2015 NUVOLARI GP
Corneliani - Murru Jaguar XK 120 OTS 1950
Lui - Ceccardi Lancia Aprilia 1350 1939
Grossi - Pizzi Aston Martin Le Mans 1933
Gandino - Scarcella Triumph TR 3 A 1959
Scotto - Corradi Rolla Lancia Aprilia 1350 1938
Savoia - Bonetti Lancia Aurelia B 20 1953
Di Pietra - Di Pietra Fiat 508 C 1935
Pini - Tanlongo Lancia Fulvia Rally 1968
Sisti - Gualandi MG TB 1939
Nobis - Costa MG TB 1939
Zaglio - Zaglio Triumph TR 2 Sport 1954
Fontanella - Covelli Ford B 1933
Montevecchi - Forti Fiat 8 V 1952
Angino-Vagliani Fiat 1200 Cabrio 1961
Fanti-Cadoppi A.R. Giulietta Sprint 1963
De Marco-Serri Fiat 514 Spider 1930
