In the early years of the 20th century, the wealthy and noble of Europe began competing on the roads, like modern-day knights in the saddle of their automobiles.

And although the first Monte Carlo Rally was held in 1911 at the behest of Prince Albert I, the homeland of Italian rallying was the Riviera dei Fiori, where the Rallye Sanremo was born in 1928; after two editions the competition passed to the neighbours in Monaco, and the event was relaunched in 1961 as the Rally dei Fiori.

Technology advances, but hearing the engine roar of incredible cars like the Lancia Fulvia HF, Alpine, Lancia Stratos, Porsche 911, Fiat 131 Abarth and Peugeot 205 – the classics in this historic rally – is a very special experience that enthusiasts are unwilling to give up; so 1986 saw the start of the Sanremo Historic Rally. This year in its 38th edition, the race is valid as the eighth leg of the European Historic Rally Championship and the final event in the Italian Classic Cars Rally Championship.

The adrenaline-fuelled challenge returns on 7 and 8 October on the iconic roads of western Liguria: San Bartolomeo, Caravonica, Colle d’Oggia and San Bernardo (Saturday 7); Langan, Semoigo, Bignone, Coldirodi and Bajardo (Sunday 8).

Top drivers in the event include Lucio Da Zanche, partnered by Daniele De Luis in their Porsche 911 Carrera RS, and the duo Matteo Luise and Fabrizio Handel, winners of recent triumphs.

For a closer look at the cars, there’s an opportunity on Friday 6th, when they’re being checked over from 10:00 to 17:00 in Piazzale Adolfo Rava, Sanremo, or at the riordino in Piazza Colombo,  Sanremo, the starting point of the race a few decades ago, where the contestants will park for 30 minutes from 14:44 on Saturday 7th, and 20 minutes from 13:12 on the 8th.

Chequered flag and hold your breath until the finish line.