If you have listened to us and done everything right this year, you are currently packing your seersucker jacket, loafers and shades, making ready to hit the road for the annual collector car gathering at Lake Como. On Saturday and Sunday, Fuoriconcorso Velocissimo will celebrate the unparalleled heritage of Italian motorsports with a breathtaking line-up of cars from all eras in the lakefront gardens of Villa del Grumello and Villa Sucota. "Velocissimo is more than just a theme," says Fuoriconcorso founder and Larusmiani CEO Guglielmo Miani. "It's an ode to Italian genius, to that inimitable fusion of beauty, functionality, and emotion that has always shaped our vision of the automobile."
"I have a deep love for all things beautiful and well-made – for creations thoughtfully designed, meticulously built, and harmoniously completed. This is joined by a true passion for race cars, born to compete and to win through technological innovation, which is the real driving force and the very reason behind the challenge. Italy has gifted the world not only with dream-inspiring cars but also with a unique understanding of progress: not cold and functional, but human, sensual, romantic, and artisanal." Each vehicle on display will tell a story of speed – but also of style, craftsmanship, and visionary thinking. "FuoriConcorso was created to give voice to a culture that transcends mechanics, encompassing design, art, and identity," Guglielmo explains. "And Velocissimo is our way of celebrating all of that – bridging racing, memory, and the future."
Following this unique philosophy, Fuoriconcorso Velocissimo will not only line up some of the world’s most impressive racing machines – it will also bring together some of the most influential, innovative, and iconic personalities from the automotive world. On Saturday between 16:45 and 17:45 CET, the Fuoriconcorso Conversation Program will kick off with a panel discussion dedicated to the art of collecting and investing. Hosted by Classic Driver’s very own CEO, J.P. Rathgen, the panel will feature the collector Stéphane Sertang of Ginion Group, whose team won the GT3 championship in 2024, the F1 team principal and bluechip Ferrari collector Colin Kolles, the influential motorsports consultant Michele Bertoncello, and the collector and historic racing driver Julia de Baldanza.
On Sunday at 15.30 to 17.30, the second instalment of the conversation program will wrap up an amazing concours weekend with a talk dedicated to "Le Corse Italiane" – from rallying to Formula 1. The discussion will be moderated by the journalist, TV host and former rally driver Claudia Peroni. The panel will feature Ferrari club president and gentleman driver Vincenzo Gibiino, the Formula 1 driver Alex Caffi, the Lancia Safari expert Vittorio Roberti, Marcus Breitschwerdt of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, the legendary Targa Florio winner and Scuderia Ferrari pilot Arturo Merzario and the GT racing pioneer Stephane Ratel.
But that’s not it: the Formula 1 legend Jean Alesi, the Lancia WRC team manager Cesare Fiorio, the Ferrari WEC pilot and Le Mans winner Antonio Giovinazzi as well as the rallycar driver and racing manager Daniele Audetto are expected to make a virtual cameo appearance, paying tribute to the art of speed. So if you are not packing your bags already, we strongly suggest you to cancel your plans and book your last-minute trip to Lake Como – as this year’s Fuoriconcorso Velocissimo is certainly not one to miss!
Photos: Andrea Luzardi
