STORY OF THE DAY: A Touring Car Runs with the Racers

Giovanbattista Guidotti and Ercole Boratto finished fourth overall in the 1937 Mille Miglia with a Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 B MM Berlinetta Touring. They completed the rain-affected 1,623-kilometre course in 15 hours 40 minutes 1 second and won the national touring class above two litres. Published classifications commonly list their car as number 119, conflicting with the number preserved in the supplied title.

Their race was exceptional because a closed, production-related six-cylinder car remained among the leading purpose-built sports racers. Guidotti challenged strongly for much of the journey before the crew secured fourth behind two Alfa 8C 2900As and a Delahaye. In difficult weather, the result demonstrated that aerodynamic efficiency, reliability and disciplined driving could compensate for a substantial power disadvantage.

The 6C 2300 B MM used a 2,309 cc twin-overhead-camshaft inline-six in a chassis with independent suspension. Touring’s lightweight Superleggera construction supported thin aluminium panels on a fine tubular framework, reducing mass while creating a streamlined closed body. The special berlinetta’s combination of weather protection, stability and approximately 105 horsepower made it particularly effective during the wet Mille Miglia.

Giovanbattista Guidotti was an Italian Alfa Romeo test driver and racer who had accompanied Tazio Nuvolari to victory in the 1930 Mille Miglia. Ercole Boratto was an Italian chauffeur and skilled driver best known as Benito Mussolini’s personal motorist, but his competition results established abilities beyond that occupation. Guidotti supplied intimate technical knowledge of the Alfa, while Boratto helped complete a class-winning run of genuine sporting merit.