Alfa Romeo’s All-Star Lineup Wins Villa d’Este Best of Show

No stranger to winning, a 1933 Alfa Romeo P3 Grand Prix racing car has left the 2025 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este with Best of Show title and provides a glimpse into what Formula racing was almost a century ago. 

Villa d’Este

Image: Alfa Romeo

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The single-seater, part of the Auriga Collection in Germany, stood out at the annual Lake Como event for its historical weight and remarkably preserved condition. This particular car, officially known as the Tipo B, was awarded the prestigious Trofeo BMW Group – Best of Show by a panel of esteemed judges.

Related: Zagato Unveils One-Off Reimagined Alfa Romeo 8C

Originally developed for Grand Prix racing in the early 1930s, the P3 marked a turning point in motorsport engineering. Designed by Vittorio Jano, it was among the first genuine single-seat Grand Prix cars and made use of a lightweight chassis and a supercharged straight-eight engine. In its initial 1932 configuration, the 2.65-litre engine produced around 158 kW. This output was significantly increased over the years, reaching 187 kW from a 2.9-litre engine in 1934, and ultimately up to 246 kW from a 3.8-litre engine in 1935. Weighing in at approximately 700 kg, its lightweight and powerful engine, along with its innovative design featuring a V-shaped drive shaft layout that allowed the driver’s seat to be placed low in the chassis, made it exceptionally quick for its era.

P3

Image: Alfa Romeo

On track, it quickly became the car to beat. This particular chassis played a key role in that story. Driven by legendary racers like Achille Varzi and Guy Moll, it secured victories in Nice, Tripoli, and Berlin during the 1933 season, alongside strong finishes elsewhere. At the time, Alfa Romeo, facing financial difficulties, had handed racing duties to Scuderia Ferrari, then a young team led by a certain Enzo Ferrari. Under his direction, the P3 extended its dominance.

The car’s most famous moment came in 1935 at the German Grand Prix. Tazio Nuvolari, racing against the might of the factory-backed German Silver Arrows (Auto Union Type A and Mercedes-Benz W 125), pulled off one of the biggest upsets in motorsport history by winning in a P3 at the Nürburgring. This victory, against technically superior and newer machines, cemented the P3’s legendary status.

 

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Despite its age, the car shown at Villa d’Este remains in remarkably good condition. It’s one of the few surviving examples that still captures the spirit of early Grand Prix racing and stood alongside Alfa Romeo’s other special creations, which include the all-new 33 Stradale (which won Villa d’Este Best Design), Giulia GTAs, a 155 DTM and various other prototype racers.

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The post Alfa Romeo’s All-Star Lineup Wins Villa d’Este Best of Show appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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