Hidden in the picturesque hills of central Italy lies Magione – Autodromo dell’Umbria. Once a year, this small circuit turns into a bustling hub for car enthusiasts during the Tarox Magione Super Battle (MSB). 2024 was the third edition in a row, with a doubling of participation and participants and spectators from all over Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
I had the honor of being invited by the organizers of the Magione Super Battle, Alessio C. and Alessio P., to witness the two days of festivities, from the set-up to the final packing. To say it was brilliant would be an understatement.
As mentioned in previous MSB coverage of Speedhuntersthe event was inspired by Attack Tsukuba. After visiting the original Attack – previously known as Battle Evome – Alessio C. was determined to bring a piece of Japanese time attack culture back to Italy. He even got the blessings of Daisuke Aoki, the founder and CEO of Attack, to use the Attack logo in the promotion of the event.
Fast forward two years, and the Magione Super Battle has grown far beyond its basic origins. Although motorsport is set deep in Italy, time attack in this format – mainly centered around Japanese vehicles and culture – is still a relatively new concept.
Saturday: Exercise
Saturday morning we were greeted with changeable weather that slowly gave way to clearing skies. Undeterred, many MSB participants made their way to Magione for the practice sessions. Autodromo dell’Umbria is a technical circuit similar to Tsukuba, with 11 turns and a length of 2.5 km (Tsukuba TC2000 has nine turns over 2.0 km). This results in a tight battlefield where competitors aim for times in the low one-minute range.
While you might imagine Italian car culture dominated by Fiats, Ferraris and Alfa Romeos, there is a burgeoning Japanese and grassroots Euro car scene. A Portuguese AE86, a British RWB Porsche and a handful of Lotus models were all in the line-up. However, one brand dominated the paddock and was not what I expected: Honda.
S2000s and Civics were in abundance at the 2024 Magione Super Battle, showcasing how Hondas have become the go-to chassis for competitors looking for the most competitive and economical way to set a respectable lap time . However, their story deserves special reporting, so stay tuned.
Sunday: the main event
As the ominous weather continued, Sunday morning brought stunning fog that blanketed Magione, setting the scene for a perfect day of racing.
The MSB program included three morning sessions for each category, followed by demo runs featuring notable Italian-built cars. The afternoon presented the highly anticipated ‘Super Lap’ segment, with each car chasing class-specific and overall unofficial lap records.
Several cars set personal bests, but none could match the dazzling performance of a Honda K-swapped Lotus Exige, which left the rest of the paddock in the rear-view mirror with a lap time of 1:16:088. I was told this is faster than a professionally driven Porsche GT3 RS under similar conditions.
As the event progressed, the crowd grew and filled the facility. Talk shows and interviews shared the excitement of time attack experiences, and the pits were kept open for everyone to explore. The atmosphere mirrored that of Attack Tsukuba, providing a relaxed atmosphere without any negative competitive rivalry. Both Alessios noted the unprecedented turnout – a testament to the planning and passion invested in the MSB.
Amid the sea of competing cars, a few stood out, drawing crowds to the pit wall as they ran their laps.
Hiroshima screamer
First up was Alby’s amazing 26B-powered FD3S Mazda RX-7. When I received the invitation to cover the Magione Super Battle, I never imagined I would see a four-rotor in action, so it was a very welcome surprise. This meticulous construction is relatively unsuspecting from the outside, but the RX-7 was impossible to ignore as it shot down the Autodromo dell’Umbria straight.
Another crowd favorite was a bright yellow Celica. This is no ordinary Toyota, so I’ll save the details for a standalone spotlight.
Magione parade
As Sunday drew to a close, a select group of cars took to the track for MSB’s traditional parade lap.
I took the opportunity to jump into the back of a van, dangling precariously from the trunk, to capture the final moments of an amazing event.
With its growth trajectory, I have no doubt that the Magione Super Battle will soon rival Japan’s assault events in size. From the small details, such as imported nobori flags, the warm hospitality and the sense of community, MSB represents the essence of the passion for motorsport at the grassroots level. Under the leadership of Alessio C. and Alessio P., it only gets bigger and better from here.
Alec Pender
Instagram: no plans co
