At 7.22am on May 1 Stirling Moss, a podium finisher in last year’s Belgian Grand Prix, and Motor Sport‘s continental correspondent Denis Jenkinson will start the Mille Miglia.

They are racing for Mercedes-Benz in its new, technologically advanced 300 SLR and are among the favourites to win. Their team-mates are Juan Manuel Fangio and Germans Karl Kling and Hans Herrmann.

Moss only started competing in Formula 1 four years ago, but many tip him as a future star. The pair have spent many days in Italy over the past months refining their notes on the course and are confident that this meticulous preparation will help them beat the Italians on home turf.