Alfa Romeo P2

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Alfa Romeo 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 (two straight 4 blocks),

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 kilo / 1353.6 lbs
Fuel
Tyres
Debut 1924 Circuit di Cremona, Antonio Ascari, 1st
Races competed
Constructors' Championships 1925 Automobile World Championship
Drivers' Championships Not applicable before 1950
Race victories 14

1924 Cremona Circuit Antonio Ascari
1924 Italian Grand Prix Antonio Ascari
1925 Europe GP at Spa Antonio Ascari
1925 Italian GP Gastone Brilli-Peri

1927 Coppa Acerbo Giuseppe Campari
1928 Coppa Acerbo Giuseppe Campari
1929 Alessandria GP Achille Varzi
1929 Rome Grand Prix Achille Varzi
1929 Montenegro GP Achille Varzi
1929 Monza Grand Prix Achille Varzi
1929 Cremona Circuit Gastone Brilli-Peri
1929 Tunis GP Gastone Brilli-Peri
1930 Alessandria GP Achille Varzi
1930 Targa Florio Achille Varzi

Last season 1930


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.

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 kph, and then went on to win the speed trial at 195 kph. 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.


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