The Giro d'Italia automobilistico was an automobile race around Italy, historically first held in 1901, then reinstituted as annual event between 1973 and 1980, resurrected for 1988 and 1989, and again in 2011. Both in its historical and modern iterations the Giro d'Italia was inspired by its French equivalent, the Tour de France Automobile.
History
1901
The first Giro d'Italia was organised by Club automobilistico di Torino with the patronage of Milanese newspaper Il Corriere della Sera. Seventy-two crews enrolled. The race started on 27 April 1901 in Turin; of the 72 cars which had enrolled, only 32 were present at the starting line. These included nine Fiats, four Panhards, four Peugeots, three Renaults, two Rossellis, two Morses, and one each from Benz, Ceirano, Delahaye, Marchand, Daimler, De Dion, Isotta Fraschini and Darracq.
1973
The first Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 24 and 28 October. The race was part of the Italian Group 4 Championship.
1974
The 2º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 14 and 20 October. The race was part of the Italian Group 4 Championship. The works Fiat Rally team fielded four cars: two Fiat Abarth X1/9 prototypes, a mysterious Abarth SE 030prototype based on the yet unveiled Lancia Montecarlo, and finally a Group 4 124 Abarth Rally. Lancia was only represented by the Andruet/Biche's victorious Lancia Stratos Turbo. Another notable entrant was Arturo Merzario, on an ill-prepared Jolly Club Group 5 Stratos, stopped by an engine seizure already on the first day, at Casale. Of 85 on the starting grid, 52 finished the race.
1975
The 3º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 11 and 18 October. For 1975 the coefficient for hillclimb races times was raised to 3:1, thus favouring rally drivers over circuit drivers, less accustomed to racing on closed public roads; no Formula One drivers took parts to the 3rd Giro. Autodelta fielded an Alfa Romeo 33/3 in Group 5. The favourite Munari/Maiga duo ended sixth, but only after having witnessed their Alitalia Stratos Turbo burn to the ground after the last race. Winner were Pianta and Scabini on a 3.5-litre Abarth SE 031, a prototype based on a heavily modified Fiat 131.
1976
The 4º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 17 and 20 October. The race was part of the Italian Group 4 Championship, Italian Group 5 Championship. A one-make "Trofeo Alfasud" was disputed by 15 Alfa Romeo Alfasud in separate races. Amongst the notable entrants there were two Lancia-Marlboro Stratos Turbo of Facetti/Sodano and Pinto/Bernacchini, with the "silhouette" body allowed by the newly enacted Special production cars Group 5 rules. Despite looking almost identical, the two cars were very different; Pinto's Stratos used the previous year's carburetted engine, while Facetti's one had an all-new fuel injected and intercooled engine developing about 100 PS more. Fiat sought to replicate its past year's success by entrusting Pinto another prototype 131, this time an unassuming Gr. 4 131 Rally made into a Group 5 car enlarging to 2.1-litre. Other Group 5 "silhouette" cars were Merzario's Ford Escort, Finotto's BMW-Schnitzer 2002 Turbo and Mannini's Fiat X1/9-based Dallara Icsunonove. Facetti won with
1977
The 5º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 12 and 16 October.
1978
The 6º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 13 and 18 October. It was one of ten non-World Rally Championship races that counted for the FIA Cup for Rally Drivers. The race was also part of the Italian Group 4 Championship, Italian Group 5 Championship and the one-make "Trofeo Autobianchi A112 Abarth". Winners were Alén/Pianta/Kivimäki on a works Lancia Stratos; Pianta drove on the track, while the Alén/Kivimäki rally duo tackled the road stages. The car was a modified Group 4 rally car, classed in Group 5 as it was fitted with the 24-valve engine and other components which had lost their FIA homologation that year. Markku Alén went on to win the FIA Cup for Rally Drivers, also thanks to points scored in the Giro.
1979
The two Lancias and other entrants were disqualified, and the first prize went to third-arrived Moretti, Schön and Radaelli privateer trio.
1980
1988
The 9º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 16 and 20 November 1988.
1989
The 10º Giro d'Italia automobilistico took place between 14 and 19 November 1989. A poker of Alfa Romeo 75 IMSA took the top positions; the third classified D'Amore/Noberasco/Cianci were privateers.
