The 1940s were a turbulent decade for the Mille Miglia, a time when the race itself mirrored the changing face of Europe. After more than a decade of thrilling competitions, the event came to an abrupt halt with the outbreak of World War II, leaving a ten-year gap between the 1938 edition and the post-war revival in 1947.

But the Mille Miglia never disappeared completely. In 1940, even as tensions rose across Europe, a special edition of the race took place: the “Brescia Grand Prix”. Unlike the traditional 1,000-mile open-road route, this event was held on a closed triangular circuit between Brescia, Mantua, and Cremona. It was here that a young driver named Enzo Ferrari fielded his Scuderia with the brand-new Tipo 815, often considered the very first car to carry the Ferrari spirit, even before the company officially bore his name.

After the war, in 1947, the Mille Miglia made a triumphant return. Despite Italy’s difficult recovery, the race symbolized hope, resilience, and a return to normalcy. That year, Clemente Biondetti, one of the greatest Mille Miglia specialists, claimed victory in an Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B, setting the tone for Ferrari’s rise as the new dominant force in the years to come.

The 1947 edition was run under harsh conditions: post-war Italy had damaged roads, fuel shortages, and limited resources. Yet thousands of people lined the streets to watch the cars fly past, proving that the Mille Miglia was more than a race, it was a celebration of Italian identity, resilience, and passion.

The decade of the 1940s thus became a bridge between two eras: the golden pre-war dominance of Alfa Romeo and the post-war emergence of Ferrari. It showed that no matter the difficulties, the Mille Miglia would always find a way to endure.

Today, the 1000 Miglia Experience Greece carries this same spirit, honoring the resilience of a tradition that not even a world war could stop.

Because the Mille Miglia is not just history, it is a story of rebirth, written on the open road.