Le Mans Yesterday and Today: Alfa Romeo

In the eighth spot on the list of the most successful manufacturers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is Alfa Romeo, with four victories, all earned in the 1930s, breaking the dominance of the Bentley Boys.

In 1931, during the ninth edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, previously dominated by French and British carmakers, Alfa Romeo took to the Circuit de la Sarthe with the latest creation from engineer Vittorio Jano, head of design. The car, the 8C 2300, was equipped with a highly sophisticated eight-cylinder, dual-block engine for its time. Expectations were high, especially since the new Alfa had won the grueling Targa Florio with Tazio Nuvolari. The company’s leader, Prospero Gianferrari, didn’t hesitate to push forward with the plan to conquer Le Mans.

The Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 designed by Vittorio Jano proved competitive and set off for Le Mans to conquer the 24 Hours.

The result was extraordinary: on its debut, the 8C 2300 took first place ahead of the Mercedes-Benz SSK, recording an incredible average speed of 125.735 km/h over the 24 hours. Interestingly, of the three Alfa Romeos entered in the race, two official and one privately owned (though supported by Alfa’s racing team), it was the private entry that won, driven by gentleman driver Lord Howe alongside former Bentley Boy Sir Tim Birkin. In 1932, the success was repeated, with the 8C 2300 driven by Sommer and Chinetti winning, followed by teammates Cortese and Guidotti, securing a splendid one-two finish that demonstrated the brilliance of the design and technical refinement of Alfa Romeo. Among the car’s advantages was its lightweight body, crafted by Zagato using an aeronautical model, a field in which Ugo Zagato had significant experience from his work building combat aircraft. The following year, Alfa improved further, achieving a one-two-three finish, with Sommer and Nuvolari winning in dramatic fashion, thanks to mechanics who patched a fuel tank leak with chewing gum.

Lord Howe and Sir Tim Birkin win the 1931 24 Hours of Le Mans, beginning a winning streak that lasts four consecutive years, until 1934.

Three years of dominance were capped off with a fourth victory in 1934, when Chinetti and Etancelin crossed the finish line first, beating the fierce competition from Riley cars, which finished second and third. This marked Alfa Romeo’s fourth and final victory at Le Mans. Despite later attempts, including efforts in the 1960s with Scuderia Sant’Ambroeus and later with Carlo Chiti’s Autodelta, Alfa never won again at Le Mans.

In 1934, Alfa Romeo wins Le Mans for the fourth time, a testament to the technical sophistication of the 8C 2300.

Carlo Chiti, after leaving Ferrari, sought to compete with the companies dominating endurance racing at the time. Alfa’s 33 models were highly competitive in the World Sportscar Championship but failed to secure a win in France. The best result Alfa achieved at Le Mans was in 1968, with a fourth-place finish by Giunti and Galli behind Ford’s GT40 and Porsche’s 907 and 908 models. Though they couldn’t conquer the Circuit de la Sarthe, the T33 did win the World Sportscar Championship in 1975, taking seven of the eight races that counted for the championship, which that year did not include the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Today, Alfa Romeo is part of Stellantis and no longer plays a role in racing, which is a shame given the brand’s rich sporting history, including two Formula 1 world titles. Stellantis’ presence with the Peugeot 9X8 in the WEC and at Le Mans could pave the way for Alfa Romeo’s return to the Circuit de la Sarthe. Many hope so, especially the Alfa employees, who hold the brand’s magnificent history close to their hearts.

Alfa Romeo never again won at Le Mans after its 1930s dominance, with the best result being a fourth place in 1968, driven by Giunti and Galli.