In honor of the 100th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz’s victory in the 1924 Targa Florio race, British racing driver George Russell had the unique opportunity to get behind the wheel of one of the original participating cars.
The 26-year-old piloted a two-liter car, which had been meticulously restored by Mercedes-Benz Classic, on Wednesday, May 15th. His drive was part of the celebration leading up to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend, where he would also collect this year’s Trofeo Bandini Award.
George. A 100-year-old Mercedes race car. Italian countryside. Very, very cool 😎 pic.twitter.com/w4KNDaI0zJ
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 15, 2024
George Russell expressed his excitement about driving the iconic car: “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the Tipo Indy 2.0 and get a sense of what the finest drivers of 100 years ago went through. The restoration by Mercedes-Benz Classic is second-to-none, as always.” He also acknowledged the significance of driving such a historic vehicle while en route to collect the Trofeo Bandini Award.
Marking the centenary of Mercedes' victory in the 1924 Targa Florio, George Russell will get behind-the-wheel of one of the original participating cars this Wednesday (15th May) to collect this year's Trofeo Bandini Award. pic.twitter.com/UyULhC17gr
— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) May 13, 2024
Russell’s journey took him from the nearby town of Faenza to Brisighella, a village in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. There, he received a warm reception and thanked the committee for their generous selection.
The Targa Florio: A Historic Mercedes Road Endurance Race
The Targa Florio, held in the mountains of Sicily, Italy, was a grueling public road endurance race that began near the start of the 20th century. It was one of the toughest competitions and became a showcase for automotive manufacturers to demonstrate their latest creations. In 1924, Mercedes entered the race with its Tipo Indy 2.0, the first project overseen by Chief Engineer Ferdinand Porsche. The car was painted red to discourage local fans from obstructing its progress.
Christian Werner drove the Tipo Indy 2.0 to victory in the 1924 Targa Florio, completing the race in a remarkable time of eight hours, 17 minutes, and three seconds. This victory marked Mercedes’ second win in the prestigious event.
The car’s restoration by Mercedes-Benz Classic ensured that it remained true to its historic roots, allowing George Russell to experience what the finest drivers of a century ago went through. George Russell’s drive in the 100-year-old Mercedes race car serves as a tribute to the rich motorsport history of Mercedes-Benz.
READ MORE: F1 CEO addresses the question of whether Italy will continue hosting races beyond 2026
