Key Highlights
- Eberhard & Co. confirmed as Main Sponsor and Official Timekeeper of the Vernasca Silver Flag 2026, the 30th edition of Italy’s premier historic racing concours.
- Event runs 19–21 June along a 9-kilometre closed road between Castell’Arquato and Vernasca in the Val d’Arda, Emilia-Romagna.
- 2026 theme dedicated to the sponsors and liveries of the late 1950s to 1970s that defined the visual identity of motorsport, under the banner “Sponsors of Speed.”
- Around 200 historic vehicles on parade, including the Ferrari 166 MM, Ferrari 857 S, and a rare Alfa Romeo 1900 TI Super in Carrera Panamericana specification.
- Eberhard & Co. presents Best of Show Pre-War, Best of Show Post-War, and most evocative livery awards.
First Look
For GCC collectors who follow the intersection of horology and automotive culture, few European concours carry the curatorial rigour of the Vernasca Silver Flag. Eberhard & Co. has renewed its dual role as Main Sponsor and Official Timekeeper, a position that aligns naturally with the Swiss manufacture’s chronograph heritage and its long association with precision timing in competitive contexts. The 30th edition of this Piacenza-based event is not a routine anniversary; it represents three decades of an institution that has consistently evolved its scope and ambition.
The Story Behind the 30th Edition
The Vernasca Silver Flag is organised by the Club Piacentino Automotoveicoli d’Epoca, the historic motoring association dedicated to preserving Italy’s automotive legacy. Where many concours rest on fixed categories, this event has adapted continuously to shifts in collecting culture, broadening its classifications to reflect how enthusiast communities have changed. The 2026 theme, “Sponsors of Speed,” focuses on the liveries and commercial partnerships of the late 1950s to 1970s that gave racing cars an immediately recognisable graphic identity. It is a theme with genuine collector resonance: the period produced some of the most studied and replicated livery designs in motorsport history.
The Cars on Show
Around 200 historic vehicles will parade at controlled speed along the 9-kilometre closed road linking Castell’Arquato and Vernasca in the heart of the Val d’Arda. The Ferrari contingent alone justifies the journey: the Ferrari 166 MM, celebrated for post-war victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mille Miglia, will appear alongside the Ferrari 212 Export E and the Ferrari 857 S, a racing car produced in only a handful of examples. The Alfa Romeo representation is equally compelling. An exceptionally rare Alfa Romeo 1900 TI Super in Carrera Panamericana specification will be on show, as will the 1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 S Freccia d’Oro owned by Corrado Lopresto, Brand Ambassador of Eberhard & Co., which competed in the 1950 Carrera Panamericana with race number 103.
Zagato, Sandro Munari, and the Gathering’s Breadth
A special tribute to Carrozzeria Zagato brings together a concentration of Alfa Romeo Tubolare Zagato models rarely seen in one location: the TZ, TZ2, and the ultra-rare TZ3 in both road and racing versions. The TZ2 stands as the apex of the Autodelta programme, a benchmark of 1960s technical thinking in competition coachbuilding. The event also pays tribute to Sandro Munari, with cars drawn from across his rallying career, including the Lancia Fulvia Coupé HF and the subsequent evolutions that accompanied Lancia’s rise in international rallying. Beyond the parade itself, the programme includes meetings with key figures from the period and themed exhibitions on historic motoring culture — the kind of programming that separates a concours of substance from a static display. This breadth mirrors the curatorial approach also visible in the Istanti Ritratti photographic series, through which Eberhard & Co. has explored the relationship between time, memory, and human achievement.
Eberhard & Co.’s Position at the Event
As Official Timekeeper, Eberhard & Co. will present the Best of Show Pre-War and Best of Show Post-War awards, alongside the prize for the most evocative livery in the Sponsors of Speed category. The brand’s involvement goes beyond logo placement: the awards function links a Swiss precision-timing heritage directly to the act of judging automotive excellence. For collectors in the GCC with an eye on European auction results, the cars assembled at Vernasca consistently appear on the major sale rosters in the months that follow, making the event a credible reference point for market-aware enthusiasts. For more on the brand’s editorial universe, visit the official Eberhard & Co. website.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vernasca Silver Flag and when does the 2026 edition take place?
The Vernasca Silver Flag is a restoration and preservation concours for historic racing cars organised by the Club Piacentino Automotoveicoli d'Epoca in Piacenza, Italy. The 2026 edition, marking the event's 30th anniversary, runs from 19 to 21 June along a 9-kilometre closed road between Castell'Arquato and Vernasca in Emilia-Romagna.
What role does Eberhard & Co. play at the Vernasca Silver Flag?
Eberhard & Co. serves as both Main Sponsor and Official Timekeeper of the Vernasca Silver Flag. The brand also presents awards in the categories Best of Show Pre-War, Best of Show Post-War, and the most evocative livery within the Sponsors of Speed category.
What is the theme of the 2026 Vernasca Silver Flag edition?
The 2026 edition is dedicated to the sponsors and liveries that, between the late 1950s and the 1970s, shaped the distinctive aesthetics of motorsport. The theme is captured in the category title Sponsors of Speed, celebrating the visual identity of racing cars from that era.
Which historic cars are among the highlights of the 2026 event?
The exhibition features the Ferrari 166 MM, Ferrari 212 Export E, and the rare Ferrari 857 S, alongside an Alfa Romeo 1900 TI Super in Carrera Panamericana specification and the 1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 S Freccia d'Oro owned by Corrado Lopresto, Brand Ambassador of Eberhard & Co. A dedicated gathering of Alfa Romeo Tubolare Zagato models, including the TZ, TZ2, and ultra-rare TZ3, also features prominently.
Where is Eberhard & Co. based and what is its connection to motorsport heritage?
Eberhard & Co. is a Swiss watchmaker with deep roots in chronograph and timing traditions. Its long-standing partnership with the Vernasca Silver Flag reflects the brand's sustained commitment to historic motorsport culture and automotive preservation.
