memorial
MARIAGRAZIA DONATO

Competitiveness and tradition, news and history become harmoniously interwoven in the “Circuito di Cremona – Memorial Mariagrazia Donato”. The Automobile Club Cremona and the “Club della Ruggine”, in fact, point out this event as a means of keeping alive the memory of a trial, which, in the 1920’s, constituted a motor Olympics that has already become part of automobile history. From 1923 to 1929 Varzi and Nuvolari, Ascari and Borzacchini met under the shadow of the Torrazzo, lighting up the four events they took part in.
Then, once the epic of the great street marathons was over, local motoring lived through the exhilarating experience of the rally. The competition, named in memory of the president of the town’s Automobile Club, Luigi Feraboli, became one of a limited group of events that was of interest on a national level. So much so that during fifteen events the best-known drivers and the highest performance cars challenged one other to special Cremona tests.
The secret of the "Circuito", if there is a mystery to it, lies in fact in its ability to reinvent itself. More than eighty years after the first event, in fact, the race has the same thriving vitality. The race has of course changed with the times, in the constant search for improvement and much has changed. It was not by chance that already in 1928 the Automobile Club Cremona, always intent on promoting the culture of motor sports, was in charge of the event.
Such commitment is alive more than ever today, and allows the "Circuito" to project a great heritage in our time: the event, today, in fact, represents an opportunity for lovers of rallies and vintage cars to meet. In this way, even when history gives way to news, the “Circuito di Cremona” continues to establish itself as a privileged moment for sport and culture.

Also this year the “Circuito di Cremona” wishes to remember a character of great human and professional importance, who has always supported the race doing all she could so that the talents and the passions of motor-racing should have well-deserved interest: Mariagrazia Donato. As Director of External Affairs of the Saima Avandero Group, Mariagrazia has managed company communication with an eye turned towards the sporting sector, combining Formula One sponsorship with other disciplines, such as golf, off-shore powerboat racing, ice and field hockey and horseracing. Her commitment has brought plenty of satisfaction: three Formula One world titles, with Lauda and Prost; a Second Class off-shore powerboat world title; two shields, one Italian Cup and One European cup in field hockey; one shield in ice hockey and a speed touring championship. However she has never forgotten her Cremona roots, promoting events that will raise the cultural and sporting profile of the town. The sponsorship of the “Circuito” was one of the feathers in her cap.
And so that the memory does not fade, as well as the prestigious dedicated prize, for historical reasons the event has taken on the name “Memorial Mariagrazia Donato”.
The trophy will be ultimately awarded to the driver who is awarded the “Circuito di Cremona” three times.