The Susa–Moncenisio race, in Piedmont, is one of the oldest motorsport competitions. It began in 1902, on a still-gravel-covered track, when a young driver named Vincenzo Lancia won behind the wheel of a Fiat 24 HP. Two years later, in the race’s second edition, he repeated his victory in a Fiat 75 HP. The symbolism is quite extraordinary: Lancia He won the first two editions of the race before founding the Lancia & C. company in Turin in 1906.
The route followed the course of the mountain road built under Napoleon I, the roadway of which had been widened in places during the construction of the Moncenisio Railroad. It began in the town of Susa, in the province of Turin, and ended at the summit of the Moncenisio Pass after 22.6 kilometers and an elevation gain of 1,430 meters. The final kilometers of the course featured the challenging hairpin turns of the «Gran Scala.» The list of winners would go on to include the biggest names in Italian motorsports: Alfieri Maserati won three times in the early 1920s, Giuseppe Campari won in 1928 driving an Alfa Romeo, Achille Varzi in 1931 driving a Bugatti, and then Piero Taruffi in 1949 driving a Cisitalia.
The race then experienced long hiatuses before being revived in various forms starting in the 1980s. Today, the course is less spectacular and is less than 5 kilometers long. But the historic spirit of this event remains.
A Truly Versatile Lancia Delta
More than a century after Lancia, another Piedmontese man made his mark on the history of the Susa–Moncenisio: Silvano Carmellino. His first appearance in a Lancia Delta It dates back to 2003, during the Formula Challenge in Nizza Monferrato. He was already the fastest driver in Group 8A there.
His name appears on the list of winners for the 40th edition, in 2007. This edition was unique: Renzo Napione won the hill climb behind the wheel of an Osella PA/BMW, while Carmellino won the slalom in a Lancia Delta Supersalita, ahead of a Fiat 126/BMW (!) and a Fiat Uno Turbo. A year later, in 2008, the scenario changed. This time, Carmellino won the hill climb, again in his Lancia Delta Supersalita. In two years, he thus etched his name into the record books in two different disciplines on this legendary route. The records refer to a Delta HF Integrale, a Delta Integrale 16V, or a Delta Evoluzione, depending on the discipline and the year.
In 2026, our driver competed in the 2026 Susa–Moncenisio race in a Lancia Delta Integrale, this time in the Auto Classiche championship, sporting a stunning red Martini Racing livery. And guess what? Carmellino clocked a time of 5’09″20 and won his class. He was also in top form at the Cesana-Sestrières hill climb. The Lancia Delta is keeping busy, as it’s also competing in rallies, notably at the most recent Rally del Rubinetto.
Over the course of a twenty-year span, the Lancia Delta won the same race—a slalom, a hill climb, and then a classic race—in its respective categories. This was a race won by Vincenzo Lancia more than 120 years ago, and one that helped give birth to the brand. What a beautiful full circle!
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