Maserati recently celebrated the 80th anniversary of Luigi “Gigi” Villoresi’s impressive win at the 1939 Targa Florio at the wheel of the Maserati Tipo 6CM. The Milan-born driver achieved victory at the Parco della Favorita circuit in Palermo, Sicily on May 14th 1939 by covering the race’s 40 laps, totalling 228 km, in 1:40.15.4. Luigi Villoresi also recorded the fastest lap in the race with the time of 2:24.6, averaging 141.908 km/h. Piero Taruffi and Guido Franco Barbieri finished second and third, also in Maserati Tipo 6CM cars.
The victory in 1939 was a historic result for Maserati, confirming its leadership in the prestigious Sicilian race. Maserati had also dominated the 1937 and 1938 editions, taking the first three places in both years. Luigi Villoresi also finished first in the 1940 edition, driving a Maserati Tipo 4CL.
