Alfa Romeo P3 wins the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2025 beauty contest
The Alfa Romeo Tipo 3 or P3 was the first true single-seater in motorsport history. Designed by the brilliant Vittorio Jano in the 1930s, it took home most of the trophies in the races it entered. This year, a 1934 model took home the Best of Show award at the most important elegance competition on Lake Como.
This perfectly preserved race car is powered by an eight-cylinder inline engine (from the famous 8C Alfa Romeo family of the time) with a supercharger. With 255 hp, low weight (680 kg) and almost perfect weight distribution, it was one of the dominant cars of the thirties. Financial turmoil at the manufacturer's headquarters resulted in " outsourcing" the running of the racing team, which was entrusted to a rising star of motorsport named Ferrari...
Alfa Romeo P3 from 1934 - winner of Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2025 / BMW Group ClassicIn the 1934 season, Scuderia Ferrari won 16 of 35 races in the Alfa Romeo P3 , and Louis Chiron, after whom a recent Bugatti model was named, finished the French Grand Prix in first place, ahead of the growing Silver Arrows from Germany.
The following year started surprisingly poorly for Alfa drivers and in order to maintain a chance of success, Ferrari modified the engine, squeezing 75 additional bucking horses out of it.
Alfa Romeo P3 from 1934 - winner of Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2025 / BMW Group ClassicIn the crowning German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring for Mercedes and Audo-Union, the P3 driven by Tazio Novulari won, stunning the 300,000 spectators present at the track.
Alfa Romeo P3 from 1934 - winner of Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2025 / BMW Group ClassicTo this day, the P3 remains the most successful racing car in Alfa Romeo's history. The example presented at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este comes from the Auriga Collection , owned by a German billionaire.
Alfa Romeo P3 from 1934 - winner of Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2025 / BMW Group ClassicIn addition to the commemorative trophy, the owner also received a unique white gold chronograph, prepared especially for this occasion by A. Lange und Söhne.
