1934 Alfa Romeo P3 - supercharged inline-8 Grand Prix car

1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B Monoposto "P3"

Engine: inline-8 supercharged / 2905 cc / 177.2 cu in
Power: 255 hp / 189.9 kw
Gearbox: 4-speed manual
Weight: 750kg / 1653.4 lbs
Top speed: 225 kph / 140 mph

Event: Spa six hours
Race series: Historic Grand Prix Cars Association http://www.hgpca.net/
Date: 15-16 September 2017
Track: Spa-Francorchamps

Driver: Stephan Rettenmaier (DE)
The classic "Tipo B" was the first significant Grand Prix car to use streamlined single seater bodies. When the 2.6 litre car appeared in 1932 it was simply known as the "Monoposto". For 1934 the car was upgraded with a 2.9 litre engine and wider bodywork to conform with the 750 kg formula. The 2.9 litre car was offically known as the Tipo B. Also the 2.6 litre car became retrospectivly known as Tipo B. Among the press the car, as the successor to the Alfa Romeo "P2", has been called the "P3" but it remains doubtful if that name was used officially.
The engine was similar in design to the 2.3 litre engine used in the "Monza" (1931). With a new alloy block the engine with its twin superchargers on the left side had a wide powerband and excellent low speed torque, giving the light chassis a good acceleration out of corners.

The cars made their debut for the Alfa Romeo works team at the 1932 Italian GP winning first time out and then winning 3 more races before the team withdrew the cars leaving the Ferrari team to represent Alfa Romeo for 1933 with its "Monzas". After Ferrari failed to score with the "Monzas" Alfa Romeo finally had to release the Tipo B's to Ferrari in August 1933 in time for Chiron and Fagioli to dominate the end of the season with 3 victories each.
For 1934 the bodies were bulged out to 85 cm and the engine size was increased to 2.9 litres by changing the bore to 68 mm. There were rumours that as many as 25 cars would be built and sold to privateers but Alfa Romeo changed their mind and access to new cars were restricted to Scuderia Ferrari. However the rebuilt 2.6 litre cars were later sold to privateers as brand new cars were built for the Ferrari team.
Louis Chiron won the French Grand Prix at Montlhery, whilst the German Silver Arrows dominated the other four rounds of the European Championship. However the P3s won 18 of all the 35 Grands Prix held throughout Europe.

By the 1935 Grand Prix season the P3 was hopelessly uncompetitive against the superior German cars (Auto Union & Mercedes-Benz) in 6 rounds of the European Championship, but that didn't stop one final, legendary works victory. When Tazio Nuvolari beat the combined German might of five Mercedes and four Auto Unions. That race, the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, in front of dozens of Nazi officials and 300.000 spectators is considered one of Nuvolari's greatest victories of all time while the car that took him to victory, the P3 is enshrined in the pantheon of great Grand Prix cars.

More info on this great website.
http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/...

Filmed with Canon Legria HF G40 + Røde Videomic Pro
The video has been color graded to give it an "oldschool" feeling.

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