George Russell drove a 100-year-old Mercedes to collect the Trofeo Bandini Award in the medieval village of Brisighella. The 1924 Targa Florio-winning car was restored by Mercedes-Benz Heritage to celebrate the centenary of the landmark victory. Thousands of locals took to the streets to witness the demo run. George will also drive the car at Imola later.
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George Russell completed a historic demo run through the streets of the medieval Italian village Brisighella on Wednesday, 15th May. The 26-year-old drove one of the original Mercedes cars that participated in the 1924 Targa Florio, a race won by the German marque. The Brit did so en route to collecting the Trofeo Bandini Award ahead of this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
George Russell said:
It has been amazing to get behind the wheel of a 100-year-old Mercedes. It’s a car you expect to be sitting in a museum for people to admire rather than being driven and entrusted with its first public outing since its restoration, which was an absolute honour. The way it drove was exceptional! The noise was fantastic, and the handling of the corners, considering the narrow tyres, was very impressive. It was an absolute joy to get the chance to drive it, so I want to say a huge thank you to the Mercedes-Benz Classic team.
Collecting the Trofeo Bandini Award was also a true privilege. So many great F1 drivers have won this award, and it was an honour to add my name to that list. It has been a brilliant day, and I’m excited for the rest of the weekend in Imola.
Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, commented:
Yesterday, our original Mercedes Targa Florio racing car from 1924 returned to an Italian road – 100 years after the Mercedes victory at the race in Sicily. It was an incredibly emotional moment for everyone involved. This red racer thrilled the Italian crowds a century ago, and now, it has brought a similar response with George Russell behind the wheel. We are happy and proud that the car successfully made its first public appearance after its comprehensive restoration at our Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre.
Francesco Asirelli, President of the Trofeo Bandini Association, added:
We were delighted that George was here to collect the 31st edition of the Trofeo Bandini. He is a very…
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