With less than a month to go until the start of the Targa Florio Classica (13 - 16 October), big names in international motorsport are ready to take part in an edition that will go down in the history of the oldest race in the world.
In the spotlight is the participation of a driver who wrote important pages of motorsport in the 1960s and 1970s: Toine Hezemans. The multiple Dutch champion, winner of the ETCC championship in 1970 and 1973, boasts six participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as success in the 1971 edition of the Targa Florio together with Nino Vaccarella in an Alfa Romeo 33/3.
This year the driver from Eindhoven will take part in the regularity race under the colours of the Scuderia Real Art on Wheels at the wheel of an equally important car, the Porsche 911 T that triumphed in 1969 among the Gran Turismos with Ostini - "Nomex", the year in which the Stuttgart-based manufacturer celebrated a poker of consecutive successes in the Madonie race.
At the Targa Florio he triumphed in 1971, bringing an iconic Alfa Romeo 33/3 to success on the Piccolo Circuito delle Madonie with local idol Nino Vaccarella, beating the Porsche squadron. The following year, again with the Alfa, he took third place, again climbing onto the podium. 


What does it feel like to return to the same places that gave you access to the roll of honour of one of the most important competitions in the world?
I am a lover of Sicily and the Targa Florio, which always gives unique emotions, as happened about ten years ago when I returned to race in the iconic island race, at the wheel of a historic car. This time, thanks to a friend, I will have the chance to race an important Porsche that won the GT 2.0 category in the '69 edition with Gianpiero Moretti, founder of MOMO. 

What are your memories of the Sicilian public, which at the time of the World Sport Championship was estimated at around one million spectators?
In those years there was a truly unique air, with fans starting to populate the course from the early hours of the morning. I remember with great affection the great support they gave Nino and me in 1971, not only cheering for us, but also helping us when our car ended up off the road and pushing us until we could get going again. Which was not the case at all when it was a Porsche's turn....

Last year Vaccarella, the 'flying headmaster' so loved by the people of his homeland and around the world, passed away. What has his image left you?
Vaccarella was really special and at the Targa Florio, in front of his public, he showed that he had an edge. I remember when he was at the wheel, that with the team we couldn't realise how fast he was. We could hear the roar of our car's engine and then for more than a minute there was absolute silence... With his helmet off he was a real gentleman, whereas I was a bit of a cowboy at the time.

The Targa Florio at the time passed through several towns. Do you remember which was the most difficult, fascinating part of those 72 kilometres?
I remember that at the beginning the track was very dirty and difficult to drive on, then with the passage of so many cars, the trajectories tended to get cleaner and so you could drive better. The built-up areas were easier, while in the open ones you had to be very careful. At that time Vaccarella kept a very high pace everywhere, while I tended to be more conservative in some sections. 

You have raced with many types and models of cars. Which of them still echoes the sound of the engine in your ears?
I am a great admirer of 8- and 12-cylinder engines like Ferrari's, but one of the teams that has remained most in my heart is Alfa Romeo, with whom I shared moments that will remain in my memory forever.

With what spirit will you face the 2022 edition?
I will not be returning to the Targa Florio to set a new record (he smiled), but to have fun and enjoy the beauty of a unique territory. It will be nice to crew with Mark Koense, who besides having worked in Formula 1 and having founded an important Dutch team, is now the author of several books on motorsport, including one about my career.