On May 12, 1957, the legendary Mille Miglia, Italy’s famed open-road endurance race, came to a devastating and historic end. What had long been celebrated as one of the most prestigious events in international motor racing turned into a scene of horror when a Ferrari, driven by Spanish aristocrat and race car driver Alfonso de Portago, suffered a tire blowout at high speed. The resulting crash killed de Portago, his co-driver Edmund Nelson, and eleven spectators—five of them children—marking one of the darkest days in motorsport history.
First held in 1927, the Mille Miglia was a 1,000-mile race through the towns and countryside of Italy, attracting top drivers, cutting-edge cars, and massive crowds who lined the public roads to catch a glimpse of high-speed drama. Its mix of glamour, challenge, and spectacle made it a favorite among fans and participants alike, including legends like Stirling Moss and Tazio Nuvolari.
By the 1950s, however, concerns were growing about the dangers of holding such high-speed events on public roads without adequate safety barriers or crowd control. Yet, the Mille Miglia persisted, its allure undiminished—until tragedy struck in 1957.
While traveling at over 150 km/h (approximately 90 mph) near the town of Guidizzolo, de Portago’s Ferrari 335 S suffered a catastrophic tire failure. The car veered off the road and into the crowd, its momentum and debris causing immediate and widespread devastation. De Portago and Nelson were killed instantly, along with several bystanders, including entire families who had come to watch the spectacle.
The crash shocked the world and instantly shifted the tone of the Mille Miglia from celebratory to somber. The graphic nature of the incident, and the fact that children were among the victims, triggered widespread public outrage and grief.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Italian government swiftly banned future competitive Mille Miglia races on public roads. Though the Mille Miglia would later return in the form of a classic car rally, the 1957 disaster effectively ended its era as a high-speed motorsport event.
The accident also had broader consequences for motor racing. It prompted a global reevaluation of safety in motorsports, influencing new regulations, improved car construction standards, and enhanced crowd protection measures. Race organizers and governing bodies began to prioritize safety more seriously, leading to the development of purpose-built tracks and stricter event oversight.
The 1957 Mille Miglia remains a poignant reminder of the fine line between thrill and risk in high-performance racing. Alfonso de Portago, remembered as a daring and charismatic figure, became a symbol of both the passion and peril inherent in the sport.
May 12, 1957, serves as a somber chapter in racing history—a day when the pursuit of speed met the harsh reality of its consequences. The tragedy marked not only the end of an iconic race, but the beginning of a new, safety-conscious era in motorsport.