The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Citroën and Ford World Rally Team Communication.
Sebastien Loeb won the Brother Rally New Zealand and concluded the first half of the season with a distinct advantage over team-mate Hirvonen. With the win in New Zealand, Loeb took his third consecutive victory and was thus awarded even more valuable points in the standings. He can now begin to think more seriously about winning the Championship.
[Read more…] about Rally New Zealand in English and Italian
Photos by: Roberto Motta, “Alfa Romeo Automobilismo Storico, Centro Documentazione (Arese, Milano)” and Carrozzeria Cristallo di Castelnovo Vicentino
The Alfasud still divides fans into two categories: the admirers and detractors. The first recall the unique engine, advanced suspension, driving pleasure and exuberant performance. For all of its faults, the new Alfasud was a brilliant design and always fun to drive. But many others objected to the dramatic changes that were reflected by the coming of the Alfasud: a new factory in Naples, (in the Mezzogiorno!) a new chief engineer (Viennese Rudolfo Hruska) and a completely different engineering and marketing philosophy (an inexpensive front wheel drive sedan).
And yet it was with the humble Alfasud that Alfa Romeo would establish a new “Trofeo” (Trophy) series which would bring it attention while serving as training class for new drivers. In 1976, the world of sports cars and sedans was going through a period of great change due to the emergence of new categories and the introduction of new technical regulations. Not only new classes, but complete series of challenge events based on low cost sedans including the Renault Elf Cup, which hosted the Renault R5, and Ford Escort Mexico Challenge. Alfa Romeo’s Alfasud would be a perfect subject for such a series of races. The Alfasud had been introduced in 1973 with a 73 hp 1186 cc SOHC flat four, and a year later the Alfasud TI (for Touring International) was on the market with 79 hp (SAE) and a five speed transmission. The TI would provide the basis for the Alfasud TI Trofeo.
[Read more…] about Alfasud TI Trofeo in English
IL BISCIONE METTE I MUSCOLI
Testo di Roberto Motta
Foto di: Roberto Motta, “Alfa Romeo Automobilismo Storico, Centro Documentazione (Arese, Milano)” e Archivio Carrozzeria Cristallo
L’Alfasud ti Trofeo divide ancora gli appassionati in due categorie: gli ammiratori e i denigratori. I primi ne ricordano la grinta, la piacevolezza di guida e le prestazioni esuberanti. Gli altri non possono perdonarle di essere il frutto del ‘tradimento’ compiuto dalla Casa milanese nei confronti delle tradizioni e dei canoni tecnici Alfa Romeo.
Nel ‘76, lo sport automobilistico italiano vive un periodo di grandi cambiamenti dovuti alla nascita di nuove categorie e all’introduzione di nuovi regolamenti tecnici. E’ un periodo in cui il panorama motoristico ‘minore’ vive un momento eccezionale grazie alla nascita di numerosi trofei monomarca fra i quali ricordiamo la Coppa Renault Elf, disputata dalle R5, ed il Challange Ford Escort Mexico. Campionati decisamente spettacolari che vivono all’insegna del massimo agonismo e della relativa economicità di gestione.
Sull’onda del successo ottenuto nei vari trofei monomarca e nel primo campionato austriaco riservato esclusivamente a vetture Alfa Romeo Alfasud (ideato dall’ex pilota Ortner), i responsabili dell’Alfa Romeo decidono di rafforzare l’immagine sportiva della Casa e della vettura prodotta a Pomigliano d’Arco, varando il primo ‘Trofeo Alfasud’, trofeo che verrà disputato in Italia e nella vicina Austria.
[Read more…] about Alfasud TI Trofeo In Italian
Arturo Merzario with the Alfa T33.
Story and Photos by Roberto Motta
More than 350 cars, an exhibition of cars and motorcycles and spare parts, gatherings of club history, parades and the presence of thousands of spectators marked the success of the event most awaited by lovers of classic cars.
[Read more…] about Coppa InterEuropa 2012 in English and Italian
Loeb wins in Greece and heads for a Ninth World Championship
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Ford World Rally Team and Mid-Acropolis Rally of Greece
Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena won the 2012 Acropolis Rally, capturing their fourth win of the season edging out teammate Mikko Hirvonen, while Jari-Matti Latvala of Ford finished in third place.
Qualifying Stage was won by the ever-quick Petter Solberg, followed by Jari-Matti Latvala and Sebastien Loeb.
[Read more…] about Acropolis Rally 2012
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Ferrari and Porsche AG-Media-Press
Spa Francorchamps –
After a break of two months, the FIA World Endurance Championship was back in action during the weekend of May 4-5 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. [Read more…] about Spa 2012: Second Round of WEC In English and Italian
Rare color image of Ascari at the Brickyard in 1952, courtesy Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
During the month of May and the Indy 500, it’s appropriate to think about two events, Monaco and the Indy 500. Most of us are probably very aware of the appearance at Indy of Alberto Ascari in 1952 and the broken wheel which ended his drive. However, more obscure are the other Ferrari entries that continued for some years after the 1952 event. Below Roberto Motta puts it all together in two parts with the help of images from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. [Ed.]
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Ferraris attempts at “The Brickyard” began in 1952, but continued in subsequent years until 1956, with the last Ferrari Bardhal Experimental car. The results were never encouraging, partly because of a lack of preparation and commitment. Perhaps Ferrari did not take the unique and difficult requirements racing at the Indy 500 as seriously as was warranted. [Read more…] about Ferrari at Indy
Catch the Portello entries at Donington, Monte Carlo, and the Mille Miglia in May.
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Scuderia del Portello
Scuderia Portello has a big month planned for May as they celebrate their 30th Birthday.
On May 5th and 6th, the Scuderia del Portello will be at Donington Park “Historic Festival”, with its English partners. The Milanese team entered the first race with the Alfa Romeo GTA U2TC driven by the “gentleman drivers” Jason Wright, Michael Gans and Simon Tate. Wright and Gans will also take part in the “1000 km”.
The Alfa-de Tomaso F1 car will compete at Monte Carlo.
From May 10 to 13, Scuderia del Portello, and Ross Zampatti, the ubiquitous Australian pilot of Italian descent, will participate in the ‘”8th Grand Prix de Monaco Historique”, with the De Tomaso – Alfa Romeo that took part in the Grand Prix of Italy in 1961 with Nino Vaccarella. The car will be entered into the D category, reserved for cars with rear engines up to 2,000 cc. Zampatti won the European Car GT Historical 2006 with Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS Zagato entered by Scuderia del Portello.
On May 17 to 20, the Scuderia del Portello will be at the “Mille Miglia” with four cars.
Wishing to emphasize the international aspects of the club, Scuderia del Portello will assign the MM cars with drivers from different countries.The all-female team formed by the crew of Christina D. Von Schinkel and Caroline N. Koc, (based in Turkey) will be at the start of the event with an Alfa Romeo 1900 TI. This car competed in the Carrera Panamericana in 1954, with Bonini and Zanaboni.
The Italian crew, composed of Paolo Zanardi and David Tizzi, will drive an Alfa Romeo Spider Sebring.
Shintaro Goto and Takayoshi Matsui, members of Scuderia del Portello Japan, will participate in a 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 TI Super.
Finally, the German partners and Josef Joachim Isselhorst Schnippering, will participate in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Berlina
On hand at all the events will be this Alfa Giulia Estate to serve as a support vehicle.
A team of mechanics at the wheel of an Alfa Giulia Wagon of 1972, fully restored to be a mobile workshop, will be on the scene to assist as necessary.
We hope you will stop to see our Scuderia Portello friends at these events, and tell them you read about them in VeloceToday…
In Italian
Continuano i festeggiamenti per i 30 anni i Scuderia del Portello
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Scuderia del Portello
Nel corso dei festeggiamenti per i trenta anni dalla fondazione, nel prossimo mese di maggio la Scuderia del Portello sarà presente in numerose manifestazioni di carattere Internazionale.
Il prossimo 5 e 6 maggio, la Scuderia del Portello sarà presente al Donington Park “ Historic Festival con i suoi soci inglesi.
La scuderia Milanese sarà impegnata nella 1° gara di campionato U2TC con le Alfa Romeo GTA affidate ai “gentleman driver” Jason Wright, Michael Gans e Simone Tate. Wright e Gans prenderanno parte anche alla “1000 Km“.
Dal 10 al 13 maggio, Scuderia del Portello e Ross Zampatti, l’onnipresente pilota Australiano di origini italiane, saranno presenti all’“8°Grand Prix de Monaco Historique”, con la De Tomaso – Alfa Romeo che prese parte al Gran Premio d’Italia del 1961 con Nino Vaccarella.
La vettura sarà iscritta nella categoria D, riservata a vetture con motore posteriore fino a 2.000 cc.
Ricordiamo che Zampatti ha vinto il titolo Europeo Auto G.T. Storiche del 2006 con Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS Zagato iscritta dalla Scuderia del Portello.
Infine,Dal 17 al 20 maggio, la Scuderia del Portello sarà presente alla “Mille Miglia” con 4 vetture
Volendo sottolineare l’internazionalità del Club, Scuderia del Portello sarà presente alla MM con vetture affidate a piloti provenienti da diverse nazioni.
Il team tutto femminile formato dall’equipaggio Turco delle sorelle Christina D. Von Schinkel e Caroline N. Koc, saranno al via della manifestazione con un’Alfa Romeo 1900 TI.
Questa vettura partecipò alla Carrera Panamericana del 1954, con i piloti Bonini/Zanaboni.
L’equipaggio Italiano, composto da Paolo Zanardi e Davide Tizzi, porterà in gara un’Alfa Giulietta Spider Sebring Monoposto.
Goto Shintaro e Matsui Takayoshi, soci di Scuderia del Portello Giappone, parteciperanno alla MM con un’Alfa Romeo 1900 Ti super del 1954.
Infine, i soci tedeschi Joachim Isselhorst e Josef Schnippering, parteciperanno alla MM con un’Alfa Romeo Giulietta Berlina.
Il team ufficiale del Portello sarà seguito, come ogni anno, dalla squadra di assistenti meccanici alla guida di un’Alfa Giulia Giardinetta del 1972, perfettamente restaurata ad officina mobile.
Loeb drove cautiously to win in Argentina.
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Ford World Rally Team and Media-Rally Argentina
After having been in command of the rally since Friday, Loeb and Hirvonen finished one-two in the Rally of Argentina. Sébastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena achieved their seventh consecutive victory in South America, a victory somewhat dimmed by the Citroen team’s decision to maintain positions and not allow their drivers to fight for the lead.
[Read more…] about Rally Argentina 2012
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Ferrari Media
Monza, 15 April, Monza Italy
The Blancpain Endurance Series was organized in parallel with the FIA GT3 European Championship and the GT4 European Cup and is approved by the FIA and presented by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium and SRO Motorsports Group, with the support of the prestigious Swiss watch manufacturer.
[Read more…] about Ferrari at the Blancpain Series in English and Italian
Visible evidence of one of the most popular sports in the world. Where is the WRC Rally U.S.A.?
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Ford World Rally Team and Rally de Portugal
After an endless series of twists and turns, the “Vodafone Rally de Portugal” was turned upside down. Sebastian Leob nearly destroyed his car on an early special stage and retired. Many stages had to be cancelled for safety reasons. The Citroen DS3 of Hirvonen appeared to be a clear winner…until post race scrutineering excluded the Citroen from the results due to technical irregularities.
[Read more…] about Rally Portugal Surprises: In English and Italian
The recent introduction of the Bertone Nuccio and its obvious (and striking) connection with the 1970 Bertone Stratos caused our Italian Editor to recall driving the famed Lancia Stratos Zero (see last week’s article) but also to dig through his archives, where he found these remarkable drawings from the Archive Bertone. We now present them with the sketches of the new Nuccio for your pleasure.