The original sponsor of the event that kicked off the boom in historic rallying is back, 25 years after it first backed the rally.
Pirelli supported the now-famous event in 1988, but is throwing its weight behind it again in 2013, the event's 25th anniversary.
Tomas de Vargas Machuca, joint MD of the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation (HERO), said: "History is repeating itself. Twenty-five years ago the Classic Marathon was the first event of its kind ever to be held.
"We are delighted to see the return of Pirelli to classic rallying. Not only does it bring the necessary prestige to this important event, but it also offers competitors and spectators the opportunity to associate Pirelli to classic car tyres as its heritage in rallying is amongst the most important in the world.”
Paul Hembery, Global Head of Motorsport at Pirelli, added: “The Classic Marathon is one of the most famous classic-car events held anywhere in the world and it gives us great pleasure to be supporting the event once again.”
The Classic Marathon, which is a qualifying round of the 2013 HERO Cup in association with EFG International, starts in Ypres in Belgium and finishes in Cortina d’ Ampezzo in Italy. The rally is now run every other year by the Classic Rallying Association, which is an operating division of HERO.
1964 Rallye de Monte-Carlo winner and 1990 Classic Marathon winner Paddy Hopkirk is to be the event's speaker in Cortina, while EMO 6 – the Mini in which Hopkirk won the Classic Marathon – will be taking part in the event.
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James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car