[MotoGP] Aprilia unveils special "Perla Bianca" livery at San Marino GP to celebrate Vespa's 80th anniversary

Aprilia Racing unveiled the special "Perla Bianca" livery to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Vespa at the MotoGP San Marino & Riviera di Rimini GP, held from September 10th to 13th. The design is inspired by the racing suit worn by F1 driver Gilles Villeneuve in 1981.

A special edition inspired by a legendary F1 driver

The "Perla Bianca" livery showcased by Aprilia Racing at the Misano GP is a special color scheme celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Vespa brand. It draws inspiration from the white racing suit worn by Gilles Villeneuve when he won the 1981 F1 Monaco GP. The sleeves of that suit featured the Piaggio Vespa logo, and this special edition reinterprets that bond on the modern MotoGP machine, the RS-GP26.

During the Grand Prix weekend, team staff will also wear exclusive white uniforms matching the new livery. Furthermore, the original racing suit worn by Gilles Villeneuve in 1981 will be on display outside the Aprilia Racing pit.

Massimo Rivola of Aprilia Racing commented, "For the 80th anniversary of Vespa, which has become a globally recognized symbol, it was essential to celebrate the bond with Gilles Villeneuve, one of the most beloved drivers in F1 history." He emphasized the significance of honoring these two icons, which belong to different worlds but have left deep footprints in history, at their home race in Misano.

Additionally, GV27, the official Gilles Villeneuve heritage brand, offered praise, stating, "A breathtaking homage has been created, from the historic Vespa logo to Gilles' signature on the front screen." There is no doubt that this will be a special weekend where the history of motorsports intersects.