Targa Florio

The Targa Florio was first held in 1906, making it one of the oldest automobile races in the world. It was founded by Vincenzo Florio, a wealthy Sicilian industrialist and automobile enthusiast, and was run on public roads in the Madonie mountains of Sicily.

The Targa Florio was run as a round of the World Sportscar Championship until 1973, after which escalating safety concerns led to its removal from the international calendar. The race continued as a smaller national event until 1977, when it was finally discontinued as a competitive road race due to the inherent dangers of high-speed racing on narrow mountain roads.

The Targa Florio was run on a circuit of narrow, winding public roads through the Madonie mountains in Sicily, with the original course measuring roughly 148 km per lap. The challenging route featured hundreds of corners, dramatic elevation changes, and varied road surfaces, making it one of the most demanding circuits in motorsport history.

Porsche was the most successful manufacturer at the Targa Florio, achieving numerous victories throughout the 1960s and 1970s with legendary models such as the 908 and 911. Alfa Romeo and Ferrari also recorded multiple wins in the race's earlier decades, reflecting the strong Italian presence in the event.