Tucked away within the picturesque hills of central Italy is Magione – Autodromo dell’Umbria. Once yearly, this small circuit transforms right into a vibrant hub for automobile enthusiasts through the Tarox Magione Super Battle (MSB). 2024 marked its third consecutive edition, with participation doubling and competitors and spectators travelling from across Italy, Portugal, and the UK.
I had the honour of being invited by the Magione Super Battle’s organisers, Alessio C. and Alessio P., to witness the 2 days of festivities, from setup to the ultimate pack-down. To say it was sensible can be an understatement.
As mentioned in previous MSB coverage on Speedhunters, the event was inspired by Attack Tsukuba. After visiting the unique Attack – formerly generally known as Battle Evome – Alessio C. was determined to bring a slice of Japanese time attack culture back to Italy. He even secured the blessings of Daisuke Aoki, the founder and CEO of Attack, to make use of the Attack logo within the event’s promotion.
Fast forward two years, and the Magione Super Battle has grown well beyond its grassroots origins. While motorsport runs deep in Italy, time attack on this format – particularly centred around Japanese vehicles and culture – remains to be a comparatively recent concept.
Saturday: Practice
Saturday morning greeted us with patchy weather that slowly gave option to clearing skies. Undeterred, many MSB entrants made their option to Magione for the practice sessions. Autodromo dell’Umbria is a technical circuit much like Tsukuba, with 11 turns and a 2.5km length (Tsukuba TC2000 has nine turns over 2.0km). This leads to a good battlefield where competitors aim for times within the low one-minute range.
While you would possibly envision Italian automobile culture dominated by Fiats, Ferraris, and Alfa Romeos, there’s a fast-growing Japanese and grassroots Euro automobile scene. A Portuguese AE86, a UK RWB Porsche, and a handful of Lotus models were all within the lineup. Nevertheless, one brand dominated the paddock and wasn’t what I expected: Honda.
S2000s and Civics were plentiful on the 2024 Magione Super Battle, showcasing how Hondas have turn out to be the go-to chassis for competitors looking for essentially the most competitive and economical option to put down a decent lap time. Nevertheless, their story deserves dedicated coverage, so stay tuned for that.
Sunday: The Fundamental Event
Because the ominous weather moved on, Sunday morning brought a shocking fog that blanketed Magione, setting the stage for an ideal day of racing.
MSB’s programme included three morning sessions for every category, followed by demo runs featuring notable Italian-built cars. The afternoon showcased the eagerly anticipated ‘Super Lap’ segment, where each automobile chased class-specific and overall unofficial lap records.
Several cars set personal bests, but none rivalled the staggering performance of a Honda K-swapped Lotus Exige, which left the remaining of the paddock in its rearview mirror with a 1:16:088 lap. I used to be told that’s faster than a professionally driven Porsche GT3 RS under similar conditions.
Because the event progressed, the crowds swelled, filling the power. Talk shows and interviews shared the thrill of time attack experiences, and the pits were kept open for all to explore. The atmosphere echoed that of Attack Tsukuba, fostering a laid-back vibe with none negative competitive rivalry. Each Alessios noted the unprecedented attendance – a testament to the planning and keenness invested within the MSB.
Amidst the ocean of competing cars, just a few stood out, drawing crowds to the pit wall while they ran their laps.
Hiroshima Screamer
First up was Alby’s astonishing 26B-powered FD3S Mazda RX-7. Once I received the invitation to cover the Magione Super Battle, I never imagined encountering a four-rotor in motion, so it was a really welcome surprise. This meticulous construct is comparatively unsuspecting from the surface, but the RX-7 was unattainable to disregard because it blasted down Autodromo dell’Umbria’s principal straight.
One other crowd favourite was a vibrant yellow Celica. This isn’t any odd Toyota, so I’m saving the main points for a standalone highlight.
Magione Parade
As Sunday got here to a detailed, a select group of cars took to the track for MSB’s traditional parade lap.
I seized the chance to hop into the back of a van, precariously dangling out of the boot to capture the ultimate moments of a incredible event.
With its growth trajectory, I don’t doubt that the Magione Super Battle will soon rival Japanese Attack events in size. From the little details, like imported nobori flags, to the nice and cozy hospitality and sense of community, MSB represents the essence of grassroots motorsport passion. Under Alessio C. and Alessio P.’s guidance, it’s only going to get larger and higher from here.
Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco
This Article First Appeared At www.speedhunters.com
