GRR

Video: How Alfa Romeo almost won the 1972 Targa Florio

20th August 2019
Laura Thomson

The narrow mountain streets of Sicily are steeped in motorsport history, with the echoes of endurance racing omnipresent on the island. This was the home to the Targa Florio.

From its incarnation in the hands of eccentric Italian count Vincenza Florio in 1906 to its eventual demise in 1977, the Targa Florio saw hundreds of sportscars gather annually to race around varying road circuits, competing for the title at what was considered to be one of Europe’s most important races.

The most recent incarnation of the course, the Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie, was a 45-mile loop, which drivers lapped 11 times. It was on this circuit, from 1955 until 1973, that the Targa Florio formed part of the World Sportscar Championship. Nowadays, those very roads are used as part of the Italian Rally Championship.

In the height of its popularity, the Targa Florio was a dangerous game for both drivers and locals alike. The roads which made up the mountain circuit were only closed on race day, leaving competitors to practice on open roads…

For a real taste of the incredible racing, take a look at this marvellous period video. It’s narrated by then-current racer Vic Elford, a man who in 1968 alone become European Rally Champion in a works Porsche 911, won Porsche’s first 24 hour race at Daytona in a Porsche 907, won the Targa Florio and finished fourth in his first Formula 1 race.

Vic’s challenge for the win at the Targa Florio ended with an engine failure in his Alfa Romeo Tipo 33, so he sat and watched as the other Alfa, driven by Nanni Galli and Helmut Marko, hunted down the leading Ferrari 312PB driven by Arturo Merzario and Sandro Munari.

  • Video

  • Motorsport

  • Formula 1

  • Targa Florio

  • Helmut Marko

  • Vic Elford

The must-have subscription for motorsport enthusiasts

JOIN NOW
targa-florio-1972-nanni-galli-helmut-marko-alfa-romeo-33tt3-lat-motorsport-images-main-goodwood-20082019.jpg

Formula 1

Video: How Alfa Romeo almost won the 1972 Targa Florio

20th August 2019

brian_redman_targa_florio_24051606.jpg

Historic

Brian Redman Serialisation – Tackling The Targa

26th May 2016

vic-elford-nurburgring-1000km-1969-rainer-schlegelmilch-mi-main-15032022.jpg

Historic

Vic Elford, 1935-2022

15th March 2022

vic_elford_porsche_04071812.jpg

Historic

How one man turned the Porsche 911 from gentleman GT to thoroughbred racer

04th July 2018

fos-2019-ducati-desmosedici-two-seater-nick-dungan-video-main-goodwood-05082019.jpg

Formula 1

9 highlights from GRR in August

03rd September 2019

targa-florio-s.c.a.t-and-porsche-911-rsr-at-80mm-main.jpg

Historic

60 years separate these Targa Florio winners

18th July 2023

targa-florio-1973-video-clay-regazzoni-carlo-facetti-alfa-romeo-33tt12-lat-mi-main-goodwood-10112020.jpg

Historic

Video: This footage shows how crazy the Targa Florio was

10th November 2020

best-circuits-that-no-longer-exist-list-7-charade-f1-1972-emerson-fittipaldi-lotus-72d-david-phipps-motorsport-images-goodwood-30042020.jpg

Formula 1

The seven best circuits that no longer exist

30th April 2020