Vredestein to be fitted on vintage Porsche for 1000 Miglia

ATLANTA— Apollo Tyres Ltd.'s Vredestein brand is the official tire partner of the annual Mile Miglia car rally, a 1,000-mile race for classic and vintage cars that were produced no later than 1957.

Vredestein tires will be fitted on four vehicles in the event, including a restored 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster entered for the first time by the tire manufacturer's U.S. operations. The race begins June 15.

"Vredestein and 1,000 Miglia are historic names with rich heritage legacy," Abhishek Bisht, assistant vice president, Americas, said. "We are proud to be an official partner, and even more thrilled to have a Porsche Speedster sponsored by our US operation running the Sprint Classic tires that we developed specifically for these types of cars and their discerning owners."

A total of 415 vehicles will participate in the race, driving through villages throughout Italy.

The Speedster will be co-driven by Lara, also known as "The Porsche Girl," and its owner, Bernard Moix. Lara is a trained driver and SAG/AFTRA member.

"To drive the 1000 Miglia in an iconic," she said. "Porsche such as Bernard's is something most Porsche fans can only dream of.

"I can't wait to share the experience with my audience and bring them a little closer to this legendary event."

Moix is an avowed Porsche fan who owns a collection of revitalized classic Porsches.

The car will run on Vredestein Sprint Classic tires, a summer tire that combines classic aesthetics with contemporary tire technology for safety, allowing for = short braking distances on wet and dry surfaces, Apollo said.

The tire is suitable for speeds up to 167 mph and features a modern tread compound that helps deliver performance for classic vehicles such as the Porsche 356 Speedster.

Moix's 1955 Pre-A Speedster is one of 10 of the original 365 produced that were distributed in France. He acquired it after being tipped off by a friend who became aware of the car sitting in Marseilles. Moix acquired the vehicle, which was in poor shape, and had it restored to the state it's in today.

"Every great car has a story, and my Speedster is no different. It has an interesting provenance and its journey from the condition in which I found it to how it presents today is a point of great satisfaction," Moix said.