Bella Italia in Salzburg – Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria in the museum

thereserotschne

4 days ago

2 min read

Therese Rotschne I October 12, 2026

The Freccia Rossa on a world tour

The 1000 Miglia, once described by Enzo Ferrari as "the most beautiful race in the world" , is now much more than the legendary drive from Brescia to Rome and back.

With the Warm-Up Editions, the “Freccia Rossa” carries its spirit out into the world: exclusive regularity rallies with a strictly limited field of participants , where teams perfect timing and navigation under real conditions – and in the best case secure a starting place for the Mille Miglia in Italy.

Warm-ups and experiences are currently taking place in the USA, Switzerland, Great Britain, Japan, Greece, China and the United Arab Emirates.

Austria has also been part of this select group since 2024.

Mille Miglia Warm Up Manro Classic Museum Alfa Romeo
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria De Tomaso Pantera
Mille Miglia Warm Up Manro Classic Museum

Alpine passes, lakes and genuine passion – why the 1000 Miglia Warm Up Austria is at home here.

That Austria was chosen is no surprise. Alpine passes like the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, shimmering lakes, picturesque town centers – and an audience that doesn't just admire classic cars, but lives and breathes them. Along the route, young and old line the roadside, waving, taking photos, and applauding. It is precisely this combination of scenery and passion that makes Warm Up Austria a fixture on the international classic car calendar.

Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria City of Salzburg
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria on the road
Mille MIglia Warm Up Austria Houtcamp

When the Mille Miglia calls – a visit to the MANRO Classic Museum

We were all the more honored to welcome the strictly limited field of around 40 vehicles to our museum in 2025 and 2026.

We made every effort to present the teams with an outdoor museum – and the Mille Miglia called: Numerous vintage car enthusiasts from the region came with their own vehicles to greet the passing classic cars.

Both times, the heavens blessed us with perfect "Bella Italia" weather. The atmosphere: a dream.

Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria Mercedes 190 SL Manro Classic Museum
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria Manro Classic Museum Stop
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria Stop Manro Classic Museum Alfa Romeo
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria Manro Classic Museum Jaguar XK
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria Manro Classic Museum
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria Maserati 3500 Manro Classic Museum
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria Porsche 911 Manro Classic Museum
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria Manro Classic Museum Herman Schwarz Porsche 356
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria Alfa Romeo Houtkamp Manro Classic Museum

A starting field from all over Europe

The starting field was decidedly international – teams from Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Austria. Right in the middle was John Houtkamp, patron of the Mille Miglia from the very beginning, who not only supports the event as a partner but also took the wheel of his 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C Zagato himself – and won the Warm Up Austria 2026 for the third time in a row.

Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria Lancia Aurelia Manro Classic Museum
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria stamp check
Mille Miglia Warm Up Austria Therese Rotschne

Grand finale under historic wings

The 2026 rally started in Bad Gastein, with the grand finale taking place in Hangar-7 in Salzburg: The warm-up came to a fitting close with a gala dinner under the wings of historic aircraft. For us, it remains two unforgettable days, many encounters, and the certainty that the Mille Miglia has found a home in Austria. Arrivederci – until next year!

Gala Dinner Hangar 7 I Mille Miglia Warm Up

Grazie Mille!

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing team, who worked so hard and with such passion to ensure our guests felt completely welcome. A very special thank you goes to Angelika Colombini-Maier – for the outstanding organization and for bringing an event of this caliber to Austria. Grazie mille – we're already looking forward to next year!