Alongside the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio was one of Europe’s most spectacular and dangerous open road endurance races, taking place on Sicily’s mountain roads.
Car Magazine paid a visit to the historic 45-mile (72 km) road race route, which in its last 1977 edition was covered 11 times by racers. And what better car to drive a lap of the Targa Florio than the Porsche 911 Targa, named after the famous race?
Obviously, since we’re talking about public roads, driver Ben Oliver had to keep the 911 Targa within legal speed limits, which I assume is not an easy thing to do on that wonderful winding.
You’ll notice that the 911 Targa needed just 3 and a half minutes to cover the 45-mile lap, and that’s because we’re talking about time lapse video. Now imagine the Ferrari, Porsche and Alfa Romeo racing cars giving it 110 percent on those narrow roads and you’ll have a slight idea of how crazy and awesome the Targa Florio race was.