Alfa Romeo P1

**Alfa Romeo P1**
Constructor:	Giuseppe Merosi
Predecessor:	Alfa Romeo Grand Prix
Successor:	Alfa Romeo P2
Technical specifications
Chassis:	conventional lead frame
Engine:	6-cylinder in-line engine ; with 1990 cm³
Weight:	850 kg
Petrol:	petrol
statistics
Driver:	Antonio Ascari Giuseppe Campari Ugo Sivocci; ;
World Cup points:	-
Podiums:	-
Leadership laps:	-

The Alfa Romeo P1 was the first model from the car manufacturer Alfa Romeo designed only for racing . The car, actually called GPR (abbreviation for Grand Prix Romeo) at the factory, was developed by Giuseppe Merosi from the beginning of 1923. The two-liter regulations that came into force for the 1923 season were already taken into account in the design.

technology

The P1 had a six-cylinder in - line engine with a displacement of 1990 cc. The bore and stroke of the so-called " long stroke " were 65 mm × 100 mm. With this engine, which delivered 95 hp (71 kW) at 5000 rpm, the model reached a top speed of 180 km / h. The engine was equipped with two overhead camshafts , 7 main bearings (for the crankshaft) and double ignition . The fully clad two-seater body with a tank positioned at the rear was mounted on a conventional ladder frame and consisted of sheet aluminum.

Racing history

The first race to be contested with the new P1 was the Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 9, 1923 . The racetrack had only opened last year only about 20 km away from the Alfa Romeo plant.

The three built cars were entrusted to the drivers Antonio Ascari with the number 6, Giuseppe Campari with the number 12 and Ugo Sivocci with the number 17. The day before the race, during practice on September 8th, Sivocci had a fatal accident when he drove off the track with his car on the wet road in the Vialone curve (now the Ascari curve). Alfa Romeo then canceled participation in the race. This means that the P1 (at least as an Alfa Romeo works racing car) did not complete a Grand Prix.

Sivocci, who had a certain penchant for superstition , drove contrary to his habit this time without the Quadrifoglio Verde on his car and also got the starting number 17 , which is considered an unlucky number in Italy.

In mourning, Alfa Romeo decided to retire from racing for the remainder of this season and development of the P1 was abandoned. Another consequence of the accident was the replacement of Merosi as technical director of the Alfa Romeo factory team by Vittorio Jano . This choice was made the day after Sivocci died. Management blamed Merosi for the tragedy and therefore decided to replace him. Jano immediately started designing a new car and the P2 was born.

In 1924, a Roots supercharged engine was installed on a P1, which gave a remarkable increase in power, which was now 115 hp at 5000 rpm. This car was named P1 Compressore.

Web links

Commons : Alfa Romeo P1 - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ Alfa Romeo GPR Giorgio Sivocci, accessed on October 1, 2009 (English).
↑ ^a ^b Ugo Sivocci. (PDF; 148 kB) Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile , accessed on October 1, 2009 (Italian).
↑ ^a ^b Maurizio Tabucchi, Alfa Romeo 1910–2010, Milano, Giorgio Nada Editore, page 44, 2010, ISBN 978-88-7911-502-5
↑ Alfa Romeo P1. Retrieved June 17, 2020 .

[1] Alfa Romeo GPR Giorgio Sivocci, accessed on October 1, 2009 (English).

[Museo_Nazionale_dell'Automobile-2] Ugo Sivocci. (PDF; 148 kB) Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile , accessed on October 1, 2009 (Italian).

[:0-3] Maurizio Tabucchi, Alfa Romeo 1910–2010, Milano, Giorgio Nada Editore, page 44, 2010, ISBN 978-88-7911-502-5

[4] Alfa Romeo P1. Retrieved June 17, 2020 .