Alfa Romeo P3
Alfa Romeo P3 #12
Race: Winner, Italian GP 1933
Driver: L. Fagioli
The history of the Alfa Romeo P3.
The Alfa-Romeo Type B was the most successful single-seat Grand Prix racing car of its time. It was built and put into service by Alfa-Romeo between 1932 and 1936. Initially as an Alfa-Romeo factory car, then under the Scuderia Ferrari label after Alfa took over its racing activities.
Designed by legendary designer Vittorio Jano, the car was based on the no less legendary Alfa-Romeo 8C models. P3 was Alfa-Romeo’s second single-seater after the Type-A monoposto of 1931.
The race.
The eleventh Italian Grand Prix was characterized by the heated battle between Nuvolari in his 3-liter Maserati monoposto, on the one hand, and Fagioli and Chiron in Alfa Romeo P3 monoposti, on the other. A total of 16 lead changes between those three plus Taruffi kept the crowd continually on its toes. Driving an Alfa Romeo P3 with start number 12, Fagioli eventually won the race.
The Italian Grand Prix, initially scheduled for July 25, has been postponed until September 10 due to ongoing renovations to the Monza circuit, pits and grandstands. It was the same day for which the Monza Grand Prix was scheduled. Thus, for the first time in the history of international motorsport, two major races were held on the same day on the same circuit. The Italian Grand Prix was to be held at 9:30 a.m. on the 10-kilometer circuit of the Autodromo di Monza. Required race distance of 500 km was to be covered with 50 laps.
Monza Grand Prix was scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. For the last time, racing cars without weight or displacement restrictions participated in both Monza races.The confirmed entry list for the Italian Grand Prix consisted of 26 drivers without including any official Bugatti drivers. It turned out that the new 2.8-liter Bugatti model was not ready yet. Scuderia Ferrari entered Alfa Romeo P3 monoposti for Fagioli and Chiron, while Eugenio Siena and Tonino Brivio would drive Alfa Romeo Monzas. The Maserati factory registered single cars for Nuvolari, Zehender and Taruffi as well as a two-seater for Ernesto Maserati. Aside from these top contenders, there were also quite a few independent entrants.
Also, on the morning of September 10 there was a brief rain, but the track was drying at the time of departure. Surrounded by their mechanics, the drivers paraded their race cars around the grandstands to the lively applause of ecstatic spectators, and then the machines were driven to their assigned places on the starting grid. There were 19 of them.
At the beginning, Siena’s Alfa Monza took the lead, but it was Nuvolari’s Maserati that completed the first lap, followed by Fagioli in an Alfa P3 and Taruffi in a Maserati monoposto. On the next lap, Fagioli caught up with Nuvolari in front of the stands. After five laps, the field stretched out considerably with a leading group pulling away from the rest of the field. In the leading group, Fagioli and Nuvolari were fighting closely ahead of Taruffi, Chiron and Zehender. The two leading drivers were leading alternately until Fagioli had to stop to refuel on lap nine.
Upon returning from the pits, Fagioli dropped to fifth place. While he tried with all his might to catch up with the cars in front of him, the battle for first place developed between Nuvolari, Taruffi and Chiron. Overall, Nuvolari remained the leader. On lap 17, however, Nuvolari pitted with a flat tire, dropping him to fourth position. Earlier, Fagioli had overtaken Zehender and was in third position, with Taruffi in the lead and Chiron in second position. But Taruffi was soon forced to make a pit stop with tire problems.
What followed was a series of frequent lead changes between Chiron, Fagioli and Nuvolari, as each had to pit for help again and again. Gradually, the race seemed to become monotonous after lap 35, during which Chiron gained a two-minute lead over Nuvolari, followed by Fagioli and Zehender. This remained unchanged until lap 41, when Chiron’s Alfa engine began to malfunction with a broken valve and his chance was effectively over.
Now it was the duel between Nuvolari and Fagioli for the final victory. The lead that Nuvolari had over Fagioli at that point was about 30 seconds. He continued to complete lap after lap at top speed, and the spectators cheered in anticipation of another big victory for Nuvolari.
However, with 20km to go on lap 48, Nuvolari’s rear tire went flat. The race was practically lost for Nuvolari when Fagioli’s red Alfa P3 super or the now static Maserati. No matter how much Nuvolari tried to make up the lost ground during the last two laps, it was all in vain. After 50 laps, Fagioli was the winner and Nuvolari was second with a difference of 40 seconds. Once again, the Alfa Romeo P3 monoposto was crowned with a great victory, this time against the Maserati 3-liter monoposto with a formidable Nuvolari at the wheel.
Technical data of the original vehicle:
Inline 8-cylinder engine with two Roots superchargers
Displacement: 2654 cm3
Power: 215 hp
Length: 3840mm
Width: 1375mm
Height: 1165mm
Wheelbase: 2642mm
Weight: 700kg
Maximum speed: 225 km/h
The replica.
Model description:
Model hand-assembled from 1,805 parts, including over 85% metal
Authentic, full-scale monoposto body
Precise stainless steel ladder frame
The hood can be opened from both sides with spring latches
Highly detailed inline eight-cylinder engine with two Roots superchargers complete with auxiliary units, routing and wiring
Hand-assembled wheels with aluminum rims and stainless steel spokes mounted on base nipples
Removable wheels secured by center locking nuts that feature side threads
Detailed link of steering and brake
Functional fuel, water and oil filler caps
Authentic cabin with leather seat
Originally designed dashboard with all gauges and controls
Front and rear suspension faithfully reproduced with leaf springs and friction shock absorbers
Removable floor after loosening the screws
Limited edition.
Model produced in a limited edition of 1000 pcs.
1/18 scale die-cast car model.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
