Forget the usual Italian escape. This September, Louis Vuitton took to the open road, bringing together vintage racing cars, spectacular Alpine scenery and some of Italy’s most glamorous landmarks for a four-day race from Venice to Milan.
After a 13-year hiatus, the Louis Vuitton Dolomites Classic Run returned with 22 cars setting off from the magnificent Villa Pisani in Venice. Over 600km, the route wound through the Dolomites before culminating in Milan, with the Italian Grand Prix providing an appropriately high-octane backdrop.
The itinerary was almost as impressive as the cars themselves. Neoclassical villas, the Museo Gypsotheca Antonio Canova and the legendary Autodromo Nazionale di Monza all featured along the way, bringing together some of Italy’s finest art, architecture and motoring history.
© LOUIS VUITTONThe invitation-only event was a regularity rally, with competitors judged on their ability to maintain precision and consistency rather than simply reaching the finish line first, which is a format particularly suited to vintage cars. Among the standouts was a 1939 Aston Martin C-type speed roadster Bertelli, driven by Italian collector Gianandrea Redaelli.
"The Louis Vuitton Classic Run stands as a unique form of competition with rules and requirements that extend far beyond the mere pursuit of speed," Pietro Beccari, chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton said. "These iconic automobiles stand as witnesses to passions and values that run deeper than the mileage covered, echoing Louis Vuitton’s savoir-faire and pursuit of excellence."
Redaelli ultimately claimed victory, taking home a trophy designed by Sabine Marcelis and produced by Italian glass house Venini. Even its journey to the winner was suitably curated. The sculptural award travelled in a bespoke Louis Vuitton trunk, handcrafted at the maison’s historic Asnières-sur-Seine workshops in monogram canvas and finished with its signature details.
© LOUIS VUITTONThe final stop was Milan’s Castello Sforzesco, where friend of the house Giulia Maenza presented the trophy. It was a suitably cinematic end to a journey where the destination was only ever part of the appeal.
