Alfa Romeo P2

The Alfa Romeo P2 won the inaugural Automobile World Championship in 1925, taking victory in two of the four championship rounds when Antonio Ascari drove it in the European Grand Prix at Spa and Gastone Brilli-Peri won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza after Ascari died while leading the intervening race at Montlhery.

Alfa Romeo P2

1924 P2
Category Grand Prix
Constructor Alfa Romeo
Team/s Alfa Corse
Designer Vittorio Jano
Drivers 1924 + Antonio Ascari, Giuseppe Campari, Louis Wagner, Ferdinando Minoia, Gastone Brilli-Peri
Chassis
Suspension (front) Rigid Axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, friction shocks
Suspension (rear) Live axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, friction shocks
Engine Front mounted, Alfa Romeo,
Straight-8

Twin Roots Superchargers
2 Memini carburettors,
1,987 cc,
140 bhp (104 kW) @ 5500 rpm (1924)
155 bhp (115 kW) @ 5500 rpm (1925)

Gearbox Alfa Romeo 4 speed manual
Wheelbase 103.5 inches (2623 mm)
Track Front 51.2 inches (1300 mm), Rear 47.2 inches (1198 mm)
Dry weight 614 kg (1,354 lb)
Fuel
Tyres
Debut 1924 Cremona Circuit, Antonio Ascari, 1st
Races competed
Constructors' Championships 1925 Automobile World Championship
Drivers' Championships Not applicable before 1950
Race victories 15
Last season 1930

Although 1925 brought drastic changes of regulations, from 1924-1930 the P2 was victorious in 14 Grands Prix and major events including the Targa Florio. It was one of the iconic Grand Prix cars of the 1920s, along with the Bugatti Type 35, and enabled Alfa Romeo, as world champions, to incorporate the laurel wreath into their logo.

The P2 was introduced by Alfa Romeo for the Circuit of Cremona in northern Italy in 1924, where Antonio Ascari won at over 158 km/h (98 mph), and then went on to win the speed trial at 195 km/h (121 mph). The car was the first creation of Alfa's new designer Vittorio Jano who had been recruited from Fiat by Enzo Ferrari when Nicola Romeo scrapped the P1 after its poor performance in the 1923 Monza Grand Prix against Fiat. The P2 was powered by Alfa's first straight-8 cylinder supercharged engine with 2 carburettors placed after the compressor.

Only 2 of the 6 original models survive, and they can be seen in the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese and the Turin Automobile Museum. The P2 had two body styles using either a cut off or long rear.

One of the P2s was featured on the main sculpture at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed.[1]

The 1930 P2 won the Targa Florio in the hands of Achille Varzi, who broke the average speed record for the race.[2]

Major victories
Year Race Driver Report
1924 Cremona Grand Prix Antonio Ascari Report
French Grand Prix Giuseppe Campari Report
Italian Grand Prix Antonio Ascari Report
1925 Belgian Grand Prix Antonio Ascari Report
Italian Grand Prix Gastone Brilli-Peri Report
1927 Coppa Acerbo Giuseppe Campari Report
1928 Coppa Acerbo Giuseppe Campari Report
1929 Alessandria Grand Prix Achille Varzi Report
Rome Grand Prix Achille Varzi Report
Coppa Montenero Achille Varzi Report
Monza Grand Prix Achille Varzi Report
Cremona Grand Prix Gastone Brilli-Peri Report
Tunis Grand Prix Gastone Brilli-Peri Report
1930 Alessandria Grand Prix Achille Varzi Report
Targa Florio Achille Varzi Report

References
  1. AUSmotive.com 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  2. "Alfa Romeo Heritage". ucapusa.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
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