STORY OF THE DAY: Sighinolfi Brings the Monza Home Sixth

Sergio Sighinolfi finished sixth in the 1955 Mille Miglia with the number 724 Ferrari 750 Monza. He completed the course in 11 hours, 33 minutes and 27 seconds, placing behind the dominant Mercedes-Benz entries and several larger sports cars. The result gave Ferrari another classified finisher in a World Sportscar Championship round of exceptional speed.

Sighinolfi’s race was defined by persistence during a contest remembered principally for Stirling Moss’s record. The 750 Monza lacked the Mercedes 300 SLR’s maximum speed and sophisticated preparation, so maintaining momentum and avoiding costly incidents became essential. A sixth-place finish over nearly a thousand miles represented a strong result for a driver competing without the attention given to Ferrari’s leading stars.

The 750 Monza combined a tubular chassis with a front-mounted three-litre Lampredi inline-four, the number 750 referring to the approximate displacement of each cylinder. Twin overhead camshafts, strong torque and light Scaglietti spider bodywork produced an agile and responsive racer. Its simplicity and broad power delivery made it well suited to climbs and slower road sections.

Sighinolfi was an Italian driver with experience in sports cars, Formula Two machinery and national events. He competed for Ferrari during a period when the factory drew on a wide group of capable Italian specialists. His sixth place mattered as a complete, measured performance in one of the fastest and most competitive Mille Miglia editions ever held.