Classic and modern cars of interest

A Ferrari 166 MM was one of the classic cars rounding the track at Nurburgring. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

Two of the four other groups were reserved for classic and modern cars of interest. The classic group saw a mix of road and racing cars. Among them were two Maserati 250Fs, an AC Cobra and the Ferrari 250 GT 'Breadvan,' which was driven very spectacularly.


Slightly newer were the Ferrari and 512 M and 312 PB, which were originally raced by Jacky Ickx. The Belgian endurance racing legend was, as always, on hand but did not drive any of his old cars. Instead he gave lucky passengers a ride around the track in the new V-10 Audi R8.

When asked what he thought of his old cars, he explained that the 5-liter 512 M was a very heavy car to drive. By comparison the smaller-engine 312 PB was like a “toy.” The modern road cars were mostly a mix of Ferraris and Porsche 911s of different guises. The rarest was no doubt a road-going 911 GT1, which was joined on track by one of the racing cars.

Modern sports racers

A rare 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLR race car that escaped the crusher after one flew into the trees at LeMans. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

Perhaps somewhat unusual for the Modena Trackdays, the real stars of this year's edition were not Ferraris but McLarens and Mercedes-Benzes. Two McLaren F1 GTRs with rich racing histories could be found out on the track. One was of 1996 vintage, originally campaigned by the Gulf team, while the other was one of the 1997 Longtail works cars raced by BMW.

An even rarer sight was a 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLR. This ill-fated racer will forever be remembered for its “flights” at Le Mans, where it took off no fewer than three times. We always thought all surviving cars were crushed, but this one clearly escaped. It was one of the cars withdrawn from the race after Dumbreck flew into the trees in the run up to Indianapolis.

From the same stable came the Mercedes-Benz CLK LM that was driven to the FIA GT championship a year earlier. Complementing the CLK line-up was a CLK DTM car. A fourth Mercedes of interest was a Sauber-Mercedes C11, which made its debut after a complete restoration.

Ferrari was represented in this group by two glorious 333 SPs, a Ferrari F40 LM and the lesser-known but highly successful Monte Shell F40 GT that dominated the Italian GT Championship in 1994.

There really is no event quite like the Modena Trackdays. Its relative low-key approach is probably essential to attract these very special vehicles. Even though it was well advertised in advance and tickets were not very expensive, the spectator count was not highly impressive.

Perhaps picking Monday and Tuesday ensures that only true enthusiasts make the effort to come down. Visiting the next edition, held in two year's times, is highly recommended. We will surely be back for more!

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