Final Warmup Complete Before the Mille Miglia Roars over SwitzerlandHow do you get to the Mille Miglia? Like getting to Carnegie Hall, practice! So, in the months before the modern recreation of Italy's greatest road spectacle, organizers have held numerous "warm-up" events, the most recent of which was the 1000 Miglia Warm Up Switzerland 2026, which took place May 28-31 over the mountain passes of Switzerland.The event brought 30 classic cars onto spectacular Swiss Alpine roads for a driving and racing experience in the spirit of the original Mille.The modern Mille is a series of time-speed-distance runs nothing like the reckless 1,000-mile cross-country banzai of the original, the latter which was held annually from 1927 to 1957. That race brought out the best cars and drivers of the era, with names like Tazio Nuvolari, Stirling Moss, and Alberto Ascari driving the fastest Alfa Romeos, Mercedes, Lancias, and Ferraris of the day. But turning loose a couple hundred race cars and having them fly over the skinny roadways of Italy was not without peril. Anyone who watched the movie Ferrari a couple years ago saw what can happen there. The original Mille Miglia ended after a spectacular crash killed 10 spectators and two Ferrari drivers.Mille Miglia (Mille Miglia)So the modern recreation of the original Mille Miglia takes place in a much more controlled series of stages, but with many of the same great cars. In order to master the timing and mapping of the modern rally route, organizers offer a number of practice runs, the last of which just finished.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut what a practice route it was! Over four days of the race, the crews tackled 430 miles of route, taking on 50 Time Trials, 9 Average Trials, 4 Passage Controls, and 9 Time Controls, in an ideal testing ground to hone their technique, precision, and teamwork ahead of the 1000 Miglia.Mille Miglia (Mille Miglia)Based in Zurich, the event saw teams from Switzerland, Great Britain, Italy, and other European countries, as well as participants from the United States and New Zealand."What united them was the desire to test themselves on a technical and demanding route, characterized by high mountain passes, scenic passages, and some of the most iconic roads in the Swiss Confederation," said Mille organizers. "Among the most evocative moments of the event, the passage over the Klausen Pass brought to mind one of the most fascinating chapters in the history of European motor racing. Between 1922 and 1934, in fact, this historic mountain pass hosted one of the most prestigious and demanding hill climbs of the era."The route also had a leg at the Verkehrshaus der Schweiz, the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne where the crews were welcomed by a photographic exhibition dedicated to the "Most Beautiful Race in the World," and even a stop at the Consulate General of Italy.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe race then passed through the Canton of Appenzell, "amidst alpine landscapes, winding roads, and snow-capped peaks.""Along the route, the local public enthusiastically welcomed the passage of cars, helping to create that authentic atmosphere that has always accompanied 1000 Miglia events."Mille Miglia (Mille Miglia)And the winner was:"The overall victory went to Fabrizio Macario and Giovanna Di Costanzo driving a 1955 Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Darren Comber and Nyasa Comber in a 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint took second place on the podium, while third place went to Basil Martin and Mandy Bachmann in a 1954 Porsche Pre-A.AdvertisementAdvertisementNow, on to the big Mille Miglia, with 400 cars expected to participate, starting and finishing in the original race's hometown of Brescia in Northern Italy, June 9-13. That course will wind in a big figure 8 over the vast middle of the country, heading east from Brescia to Padua, then southwest to Siena and Rome, before turning north again through Assisi, up the Back of the Boot through Rimini, and home to Brescia. Looking forward to seeing that. Ciao!