Club Italia Challenge Cup, passion races onto the track
VAIRANO DI VIDIGULFO, 10 NOVEMBRE 2025 – “Racing is life. Everything else is just waiting”. If there is one phrase that succinctly expresses the pleasure of sitting behind the wheel of a car, shutting the world out, gripping the steering wheel, pressing down on the accelerator and racing away, it is the one uttered by Steve McQueen in the film Le Mans. The same pleasure and joy that, on a Saturday in November, was experienced by the members of Club Italia and their guests taking part in the Club Italia Cup Challenge Cup, a classic social event that, for the fourth consecutive year, took place at the Vairano di Vidigulfo circuit in Pavia.
On a mild autumn Saturday, the stars of the day organised by the association that brings together collectors and enthusiasts of Italian classic cars were the cars involved in both the morning track day, an opportunity to test their driving skills in complete safety, and the Club Italia Challenge Cup race in the afternoon, a real competition regularly included in the ACI Sport calendar.
A wide variety of cars, from racing cars to road cars, vintage cars and modern cars, large and small engines, but all, of course, beautiful and strictly Italian. Under the eyes of those who were able to enjoy the show, Ferrari 348 TB and 812 Superfast, three Alfa Romeo 4C, Fiat Cinquecento Trofeo, Panda Kit, Grande Punto Trofeo, Punto Kit Car, Abarth 500 Assetto Corse, Lancia 037, Stratos, Delta Integrale, Fulvia HF, Flaminia Sport Zagato and B20 GT, which won the rosette for the oldest car at the event. And then there were the many Abarth 695, including the very latest Club Italia models, to which a Club Italia Challenge Cup of the Scorpion was dedicated.
Like any respectable race, at the end of the Club Italia Challenge Cup a ranking was drawn up and prizes were awarded, but, as happens on special occasions such as this, everyone was a winner simply by being there. And everyone will be applauded during the team challenge award ceremony, which will take place at the end of the Club Italia Christmas Dinner, hosted this year at the Fratelli Cozzi Museum, culminating in the presentation of the Club Italia Challenge Cup to the flag bearer of the winning team.
And, given its size, weight and the responsibility of the years of history and stories linked to it in thirty-nine editions, the first a pro-am in 1992, for members, winning the Club Italia Challenge Cup means having the privilege and responsibility of adding a new chapter to this history to be preserved and handed down, year after year, together with the cup, which over the years has become “il Coppone”.
The race is life. Everything else is waiting. Just under a year to go until the 2026 Club Italia Challenge Cup.
