Gianmaria Aghem, a name and surname standing for seventy years, twenty-three of them spent as a leading figure in the world of classic cars and regularity competitions. A unique record of victories, its prestige now increased by the last big required to complete the set: the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique.
It was a 1965 Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1200 which finally brought Gianmaria Aghem, from Turin, and Scuderia Milano Autostoriche the first place in a legendary race: the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique.
Thirteen last years after the last victory by an Italian car, another Lancia Fulvia driven by his son Marco with Stefano Delfino navigating, the Italian brand that enjoys iconic status in relation to the Monaco rally has returned to its winning ways. The very same bends have already rewarded the talent of Sandro Munari at the wheel of a Fulvia and, over the years, have confirmed the greatness of the Stratos, 037 and Delta.
Aghem's success in the historic Monte-Carlo event, at seventeenth attempt, has concluded an upward curve, after a series of encouraging results culminating in third place overall in 2016, with a blazing fight-back in the final, and second last year, gained through fine driving, also with Cumino at his side.
A victory that was very distant forty-eight years ago, when it all began for Gianmaria Aghem, in 1969-70. "Those were the years when I started to enter regularity competitions," he tells us. "At that time they were very different from the current system, because we used modern cars and the speeds expected were very high.
I stopped for more than twenty years, before making a return to the regularity scene, competing with the same friends as in the old days and driving the cars I started with, which had become classics in the meantime.
Now as then, I'm accompanied in every race by my wife Rossella. But I was joined by Diego Cumino at the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique."
As his enthusiastic accounts clearly reveal, the motor-sports world has been a lifelong passion for Aghem, a source of thrilling tales and anecdotes. Such as in the case of his first car, his first love. "My first historic car was a Fiat 850 coupé: it wasn't a yet a classic at the time but it was the best I could afford. Obviously, it was also the car I used to go to work," he recalls. "I started to return to regularity competitions with the Fulvia HF “Fanalone”, the car of my dreams when I was a boy."
These dreams were not satisfied with a wonderful model to be jealously conserved in his garage and displayed with pride at races. These dreams were much more ambitious, and, race by race, they have brought Aghem more than seventy wins.
More than four hundred races, always accompanied by Rossella, and a trophy cabinet that has had the good luck to receive impressive cups, plaques and rosettes: overall winner six times at the Rally di Sanremo Coppa dei Fiori, including four consecutive wins; five victories in the Challange Europeen Regularité; and first place in the 500 Miglia Argentina di Salta in 2003.
These are just some of the couple's biggest wins.
And their participations at international events, clearly etched in Gianmaria Aghem's memory, are equally impressive. "The Peking to Paris, for example, was fantastic, the greatest endurance race of all for classic cars. In 2013 we were the only Italian team and we managed to finish well up amongst the "post-war" cars, coming eighth out of sixty-five," and he adds: "Another race we are particularly fond of is the Classic Safari Challange, because we've always adored Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe are wonderful areas to drive through.What a sight!"
But, by his own admission, none of these is the most thrilling race he's ever taken part in. It is his last victory, perhaps the most early awaited. "Every race has its own appeal which makes it unique, although, I must confess, the many editions of the Monte-Carlo Historique have always been particularly close to my heart, in spite of my many disappointments." Until last February. When yet another dream came true.
And the word dream keeps recurring during my chat with Aghem. And he uses the word with strong inspirational connotations. Especially when, looking down from the heights of his seventy years of age and seventy trophies won and sends his best wishes to the new generations of drivers, for whom he is a real role model and whom he has assisted for a long time, teaching them his sport. "Buy the car of your dreams, don't settle for second best, even if you have to wait a while.
When you find it, if it's the right one, it will set all the bells ringing and you won't be able to come home without it.
When you're racing, try above all to have fun and see yourself as the real rival you have to beat. It's not important to come first; what matters is to know that you did your best."
Pearls of wisdom from a true champion, a man who has always lived and competed to the highest standards. And Gianmaria is aware of this. "I've always considered myself a very lucky man, thanks to my loving family, the friends who surround me, my various work experiences, and the several hobbies I've enjoyed with some success," and he mentions his first passion, the one he focused on before dedicating himself to regularity. "For twenty years I flew remote controlled model aeroplanes, winning the Italian championship for electric models three times and setting sixteen world records, properly approved by the World Air Sports Federation."
It seems that being outstanding is a matter of DNA.
But a real "talent" is someone who is able to draw lessons from his own make-up and help those who come after him to improve. And Gianmaria Aghem certainly does not try to avoid this duty; he is unsparing of himself, and before we take our leave he has another message for those who, at some distant time in the future, will take his place. "One last piece of advice: follow your passion, using it sparingly over time to ensure you are not a flash in the pan.
Fuel your enthusiasm by carefully selecting the best events and the best organisers.
My wish for you is that you are able to own the car you've always wanted, and that every drive is just as thrilling as your first test drive."
Because one thing is certain: a quarter of a century of successes can only be achieved if the inner fire is enthusiastically nourished, day by day, with an inextinguishable desire. Just like the very first time.
