Monza Four Hours - The Coppa Intereuropa Revival - June 2, 2012

Innovative organiser of the Coppa Intereuropa Jason Wright will shake up the Monza meeting this year with a four-hour race echoing the famous Monza 1000kms of the ‘60s and ‘70s. The Monza 1000 km race was for many years the highlight of the Italian season, often eclipsing in popularity the Italian GP. The same cars will be eligible now that were eligible then.
Essentially an extension of the 1000km series for pre-1972 prototypes, this will be one of the rounds counting towards the 1000km overall mileage and all 1000km cars are eligible. In addition, as in the early ‘70s, Touring cars and GT cars of the same period will be accepted in their own classes. These will include Ferrari Daytona, Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro, Porsche 911 and 914, Alfa Romeo 1300 GTA, GTAM, Ford Escort, Boss Mustang, Pantera etc.
The race is by invitation and will take place on Saturday afternoon June 2, with sensible refuelling arrangements in place. On Sunday, the same cars will line up in reverse grid order for a five-lap shootout, the winner of which will receive a big prize.
A full compliment of support races will be at the three-day meeting, including two of the most competitive series in historic racing today, Classic F3 and U2TC, not to mention the famous and very popular Alfa only race of the Scuderia del Portello.
The GT & Sports Car Cup will field a huge grid of Pre-’66 GT cars and pre-’63 sports prototypes, with Cobras and E-types at the sharp end, but also Alfa Romeo TZs, MGBs, Morgans and the diminutive Lotus XI and XV prototypes fighting for classes.
Earlier GT cars will be presented in the prestigious Pre-’63 GT race, last year dominated by the 330 GTO of Carlo Vögele against the ranks of Aston Martin Zagatos and Short Wheel Base Ferraris, while in the smaller classes, there will be a battle royal amongst a fleet of Lotus Elites, Alfa Giulietta SZs, AC Aces and Acecas.
For fans of Formula One, Boss GP has confirmed their grid of recent F1 cars.
Notes to Editors: The Monza Coppa Intereuropa was first held in 1949 and over its history was part of the World Sportscar Championship with the exception of 1979. The record of most wins currently belongs to Jacky Ickx, who won the race in 1972, 1973 and 1976. 2012 will see the 60th running of the Coppa Intereuropa.
Historic Motor Racing News is a monthly subscription-only publication for historic motor sport competitors. It supports three race series that run throughout Europe. U2TC, for pre-1966 under two-litre touring cars, Pre-’63 GT for Tourist Trophy-type GT cars that raced before 1963, and 1000km for pre-1972 prototypes. 1000km typically races four races of 250kms each to find an overall winner. This year the Monza Four Hours will count towards the 1000km end-of-season results. These series race at major international events throughout Europe. www.historicmotorracingnews.com.
Photo Monza Paddock, 1000kms, 1970
Further high resolution photos available on request: contact@historicmotorracingnews.com