The history of Eberhard & Co., which celebrated its 130th anniversary this year, is a succession of unforgettable creations (from the Chrono 4 to the 8 Jours, from the Tazio Nuvolari collection to the Extra-fort model) and re-editions of successful historical watches such as the Contograf and Scafograf 300. Not forgetting women's collections such as the Gilda, and the most recent models presented at the 2017 Basel Watchmaking Show, namely the Chrono 4 130 and the Scafograf GMT. The brand also has a long-standing bond with the fascinating world of speed and retro-style challenges, an enduring passion that began in 1991, the year in which the House became inextricably linked to one of the greatest motor racing legends of all time, Tazio Nuvolari, with a collection dedicated to him, and became Chronometer and Official Partner of the Gran Premio Nuvolari, the famous race named after him, ready to start up again this year for a new edition, which will take place from 15 to 17 September. The 2017 edition features a new route (its length is over 1,000 km) that will touch on some of the most characteristic and fascinating corners of Italy, along an itinerary that will start in Mantua and then cross the Po Valley and the Apennines until reaching the Adriatic Riviera. Rimini, in particular, will play a pivotal role in the Grand Prix this year, hosting both the first and second stages, before continuing through the beauties of Tuscany, Umbria, Marche and Emilia Romagna, before returning to Mantua, the birthplace of Tazio Nuvolari, where the winners will cross the finish line and parade on the stage in Piazza Sordello. The protagonists will be 315 vintage cars produced from 1919 to 1972 and crews from all over the world, 174 of them from Europe, Asia, America and even Australia, with no less than 17 countries represented, namely Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, England, Italy, Luxembourg, Holland, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and the USA, confirming the fame and success of the event at international level, ready to do battle in the name of the most beautiful regularity. Forty-seven car manufacturers are competing: from the Italian Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, OM and Ferrari to the British Triumph, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Bentley; from the US Ford, Buick and Chrysler to the German Auto Union, DKW, Mercedes, BMW, Porsche to the French pursangs signed Ettore Bugatti. There are numerous initiatives that Eberhard & Co. has always presented on the occasion of the Gran Premio Nuvolari, starting with the new products that the competitors will discover during the Grand Prix opening cocktail party at the Piccinini jewellers in Mantua and in the following days at the Spazio Eberhard. After the extraordinary success of his first participation in last year's GP Nuvolari, in the race with Eberhard Italia CEO Mario Peserico, Miki Biasion will return to participate with Eberhard of which he is brand Ambassador. He will wear the colours and watches of the Maison, offering his experience and fame. A two-time World Rally Champion in 1988 and 1989, Biasion, who boasts a vast palmares of world and European titles, will once again compete in regularity, forming a special crew together with journalist Laura Ciarallo on board a beautiful Alfa Romeo 1900 C Super Sprint and will thrill fans and collectors of the motor world on race days. Also participating for the first time as a special Eberhard crew will be the 'champions' Andrea Vesco and Andrea Guerrini, absolute winners of the last five consecutive Gran Premio Nuvolari and the last two editions of the Mille Miglia. As always, the Classicteam-Eberhard, the team captained by Corrado Corneliani, which has represented the brand in motorsport since 2010, will be present with a prominent line-up, fresh from an exceptional season of success: the Scuderia won the 2017 Italian Historic Car Regularity Championship (CIREAS) and is chasing victory no. 4 at the GP Nuvolari. As many as 15 crews will line up with 10 pre-war cars, including a rare 1929 Lancia Lambda Casaro. Foreign crews (2 German and 1 Swiss) from the Vintage Racing Team Eberhard, consisting of Müller-Manetsch, Zettl-Suffa and Tiggemann-Sagnak will also take part in the Grand Prix. Welcoming and crowning the winners at the finish line, the coveted prizes of a unique and special race, will be two beautiful watches from the Tazio Nuvolari collection, the iconic collection conceived and created on the basis of a design philosophy that takes the instrumentation and style of racing cars as its reference. Partners of the event together with Eberhard & Co. will be Audi - "Main Partner & Car", Banca Generali, "Official Partner & Private Bank", and Red Bull as "Special Partner".
