Alexandre
After six years in Formula 1, Alfa Romeo is preparing for a new chapter in the world of motorsport.
The motorsport scene is in a constant state of flux. Alfa Romeoa brand synonymous with racing and performance, is no exception. By announcing its withdrawal from Formula 1 at the end of 2023, Alfa Romeo has opened the door to new adventures in motorsports.
Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato recently confirmed in an interview with Motorsport.com that the Italian brand is seriously considering a move into the world of endurance racing. After six years with Sauber in F1, Alfa Romeo is looking to write a new chapter in its rich motorsport history.
"It was the best investment in history," said Imparato, referring to the impressive return on the brand's commitment to F1. Yet he admits to a certain sadness at leaving a team that has carried Alfa Romeo's colors high for six years.
The World Endurance Championship (WEC) is now as a preferred avenue for the brand. With an already rich history in this discipline, Alfa Romeo sees the WEC as fertile ground for continuing to nurture its competitive DNA. The WEC is currently enjoying a revival, with the return of prestigious brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche and others.
The possibility of synergies with Peugeot, another Stellantis Group brand already involved in endurance racing with its Hypercar 9X8, is also under consideration. Imparato stresses that, although nothing has yet been confirmed, cooperation within Stellantis is more than possible.
This reorientation towards endurance racing would mark a welcome strategic turning point for Alfa Romeo. With careful evaluation of the investment required and meticulous planning, the Italian marque could make a comeback as a team, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a field where it has already shone in the past.
As a reminder, about 2 months ago, we all wished thatAlfa Romeo and/or Maserati take part in WECa championship in which both brands have great legitimacy. Thank you for buying Tonales and Juniors just to get Alfa Romeo back into WEC... in 2025?
Why not Alfa Romeo in endurance racing? Although past successes have been in DTM, haven't they?
But a synergy with Peugeot, ah no, Peugeot-powered Alfa Romeos are already going to be seen on some future Alfa models, so this bad joke isn't going to continue in competition.
If it makes you feel any better, it's a 2.6 V6 twin-turbo that's been developed expressly for endurance racing, and I'm told that when Stellantis was born in 2021, Maserati engineers came to lend a hand with the 9X8 program. Now that's another world. Otherwise, Alfa has had success in the past in F1, DTM, endurance racing...
For Alfa Romeo's success in F1, you have to go back quite a long way, as it didn't work out with Sauber.
Endurance racing goes back a long way, to the Alfa 33 over 50 years ago.
DTM and WTCC are more recent.
The 9X8's engine is a marvel, and it's not the engine that's wrong, but the chassis.
In endurance racing, PSA produced a V10 engine that was the most efficient (as efficient as the 787B's quadrotor).
But it's time to replace Peugeot in Endurance and Maserati in FE must stop for Endurance (especially given all the MC12 titles).
Alfa's problem is that they're going to stop producing the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio at the wrong time, and should do so at least until 2030 or 2035.
It won't sell more Tonale or Junior as these sports don't target this kind of product.
I hope they'll do better than in F1, where it was a disaster for 6 years.
Already, if the engine, as Alexandre says, isn't a Ferrari, things will be better.
Because in F1, it was run more than it is possible to beat Ferrari with their engines.
It wasn't an engine issue that prevented Alfa from topping the bill, but chassis development, just like Haas, which missed out on the Evo B of its single-seater.
We saw in qualifying that several times they were very, very well placed, but the Alfa, the Ferrari 🏎️ and the Haas ate their rubber too quickly. Alfa was just a sponsor, but for chassis development it all depended on Sauber, which isn't sure it hasn't signed up with the devil, because Audi doesn't really know if it wants to come to F1 any more for lack of funds, given that it's burying itself little by little every day and its boss hates F1!!!!