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Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo was one of the most evocative names in motor sport circles in the 1920s and 1930s, and then it was also prominent immediately
after the Second World War. The Alfa Romeo name is an emotive one, too, always linked with a strong sporting heritage although the company last won a Grand Prix all the way back in 1951.
Alfa Romeo entered the Grand Prix arena in 1924. One of the most
brilliant designers of the age was Vittorio Jano. After 12 years with Fiat, one of the most successful makes from the sport's early days, Jano was lured to Alfa Romeo in 1923 and his P2 became the standard setter for the next two years.
Antonio Ascari won the car's first race, at Cremona and, so crushing was the Italian superiority in the 1925 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, that Jano actually laid out a quality lunch in the pits and called his drivers in to partake while mechanics polished the cars. The team then continued with their display... Sadly, their fortunes changed when Ascari crashed and died in the French Grand Prix at Montlhery, but Alfa Romeo still took the manufacturers' title and added a laurel wreath to its distinctive badge in recognition.
The Tipo
Another Jano great was the Alfa Romeo Tipo B which was fielded in 1932. Between then and 1934, it won every Grand Prix for which it was entered, driven by the likes of Rudolf Caracciola and the great Tazio Nuvolari, whom many rate as the greatest driver of all time. In 1933 Alfa Romeo was nationalized and officially withdrew from motor sport, although Ferrari continued to field the cars on a semi-works basis. Even against the might of emerging German marques such as Mercedes and Auto Union, Nuvolari managed some great feats with the Tipo B, none better than his win in the 1935 German Grand Prix in front of Hitler and the Nazi-backed German cars.
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