An iron Contessa and 172 kilometers in a Mystery Car. (upd. no Benz but Serpollet steamer)

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A no further known Committee in Padova (Italy) gave more than ample compliments to Contessa Elsa Albrizzi and her mystery car with elaborated radiator set-up. It was June 1899 and in the most baroque - nearly Latin-esque - wording a wonderful document was fabricated to honour the virtues and iron perseverance of La Contessa. And right so, as the charming Elsa had covered no less than 172 kilometers (more than 100 miles) in races in or near Padova. Something no other female had dared to do in this region and era. And probably not too many male drivers either. Oh wish that Elsa was still amongst us! As she has no problems with driving 100 miles, of course we would have welcomed her in this Sundays 100 miles of Amsterdam! But maybe one other ladies team has the courage to fill the very last position in this trip for tough guys and our one and only iron lady team Yvonne van Egmond & Marion van Maanen (car Nr. 27, '37 MG TB).   What Elsa can, you can. Or?
(photo & diploma reproduced with kind permission of the Museo dell'Automobile "Bonfanti-VIMAR" )  UPDATE: the car most probably is a 1899 Benz Rennwagen

English translation of the document by Valerio Scanacapra:
Dedicated to Countess Elsa Arbizzani who unites, in a fascinating harmony,  skillful ingenuity and culture to her extraordinary courage and iron will as she demonstrated in the recent car racing in Padua where she, the only one of her gender, drove 172 km tirelessly - the committee with admiration 
 

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