CMC Alfa-Romeo P3 #6 Caracciola, winner GP Monza 1932 LE 1,000
Description
The Alfa Romeo Tipo B was the most successful single-seater Grand Prix racing car of its time. Alfa Romeo built and fielded it between 1932 and 1936. Initially as an Alfa Romeo works car, later, after Alfa Romeo took over its racing activities, it was marketed under the Scuderia Ferrari label. Designed by legendary designer Vittorio Jano, the car was based on the equally legendary Alfa Romeo 8C models. The P3 was Alfa Romeo's second single-seater after the Tipo A monoposto of 1931.
At the 1932 Monza Grand Prix, racing cars competed without weight or displacement restrictions. Monza's 10 km circuit consists of the famous 4.5 km Pista di Velocita, an oval high-speed track, and a 5.5 km asphalt track. The racing format of three races, a rehabilitation (repêchage), and a final race was retained. The participants were divided into three separate groups of nine cars each, competing in three separate races. Each group had to complete 10 laps, or 100 km.
The preliminary heats corresponded to today's qualifying sessions, with only the first to fourth-placed cars being allowed to proceed to the final race. The repêchage, or habilitation, was a five-lap, 50 km race in which drivers who did not advance past qualifying were given a second chance. Therefore, only the cars finishing fifth to ninth in each race were allowed to participate in the repêchage. The first four drivers, along with the first four winners of each of the three races—the top 16 drivers—faced the final race over 20 laps and 200 km. Alfa Romeo fielded Nuvolari, Campari, Borzacchini, and Caracciola each in a new 2.6-liter P3 single-seater. Scuderia Ferrari fielded Count Brivio and Taruffi in Alfa Romeo Monzas. Bugatti entered Varzi and Chiron in the 5-liter Type 54. Maserati entered Fagioli, Ruggeri, Minozzi, and Ernesto Maserati in the new 3000 cc front-wheel-drive single-seater. In addition to Earl Howe's Delage, Biondetti's MB Special, and Moradei's 1.5-liter Talbot, to name just a few, there were also private entries in Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Bugatti, and Mercedes-Benz.
Approximately 100,000 spectators watched the first race. The Prince and Princess of Piedmont were guests of honor. Only six of the nine drivers showed up at the start. Caracciola's red Alfa Romeo immediately shot off at incredible speed and had already established a clear lead after the first lap. None of the other competitors could pose any real threat to the German. His time for the 10 laps was also a new record of 33m 24.2 s.
The second race was particularly interesting, as it was expected to feature a heated battle between three strong drivers: Nuvolari, Chiron, and Fagioli, the Monza record holder in a 16-cylinder Maserati. After the start of the race, it seemed unclear for a long time whether Nuvolari or Fagioli would gain the upper hand. Lap after lap, both cars passed the grandstands close behind each other. On lap 6, Nuvolari slid off the track, had a new front wheel fitted, and fell back to second place. Race 3 saw a contest between Campari and Borzacchini, two Alfa Romeo teammates. Campari took the lead from the start and held it until the end of the race. Borzacchini finished second.
The final race was scheduled for 3:45 p.m., but the Alfa Romeo P3 single-seaters were not on the starting grid. It seemed as if the Alfa Romeo team supported Nuvolari's demand that Fagioli be penalized for deliberate obstruction, which caused him to be sent off the track in the second race. But in the end, the Alfa Romeo team saw reason, withdrew its protest, and the race began. At the start, Nuvolari immediately took the lead, followed by Borzacchini, Caracciola, and Fagioli. After five laps, Nuvolari led Caracciola by a narrow margin of two seconds. On lap six, Caracciola briefly overtook Nuvolari, but the Italian soon retook the lead. Between lap ten and lap nine, the two were so close that it was unclear who would win. At this critical moment, Nuvolari encountered a fuel pressure problem, forcing him to make a pit stop but Vittorio Jano flagged him down without refueling. This pit stop cost Nuvolari significant time and dropped him to third place. Rudolf Caracciola finished first, setting a new record, ahead of Fagioli.
Notice
The Alfa Romeo Tipo B was the most successful single-seater Grand Prix racing car of its time. Alfa Romeo built and fielded it between 1932 and 1936. Initially as an Alfa Romeo works car, later, after Alfa Romeo took over its racing activities, it was marketed under the Scuderia Ferrari label. Designed by legendary designer Vittorio Jano, the car was based on the equally legendary Alfa Romeo 8C models. The P3 was Alfa Romeo's second single-seater after the Tipo A monoposto of 1931.
At the 1932 Monza Grand Prix, racing cars competed without weight or displacement restrictions. Monza's 10 km circuit consists of the famous 4.5 km Pista di Velocita, an oval high-speed track, and a 5.5 km asphalt track. The racing format of three races, a rehabilitation (repêchage), and a final race was retained. The participants were divided into three separate groups of nine cars each, competing in three separate races. Each group had to complete 10 laps, or 100 km.
The preliminary heats corresponded to today's qualifying sessions, with only the first to fourth-placed cars being allowed to proceed to the final race. The repêchage, or habilitation, was a five-lap, 50 km race in which drivers who did not advance past qualifying were given a second chance. Therefore, only the cars finishing fifth to ninth in each race were allowed to participate in the repêchage. The first four drivers, along with the first four winners of each of the three races—the top 16 drivers—faced the final race over 20 laps and 200 km. Alfa Romeo fielded Nuvolari, Campari, Borzacchini, and Caracciola each in a new 2.6-liter P3 single-seater. Scuderia Ferrari fielded Count Brivio and Taruffi in Alfa Romeo Monzas. Bugatti entered Varzi and Chiron in the 5-liter Type 54. Maserati entered Fagioli, Ruggeri, Minozzi, and Ernesto Maserati in the new 3000 cc front-wheel-drive single-seater. In addition to Earl Howe's Delage, Biondetti's MB Special, and Moradei's 1.5-liter Talbot, to name just a few, there were also private entries in Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Bugatti, and Mercedes-Benz.
Approximately 100,000 spectators watched the first race. The Prince and Princess of Piedmont were guests of honor. Only six of the nine drivers showed up at the start. Caracciola's red Alfa Romeo immediately shot off at incredible speed and had already established a clear lead after the first lap. None of the other competitors could pose any real threat to the German. His time for the 10 laps was also a new record of 33m 24.2 s.
The second race was particularly interesting, as it was expected to feature a heated battle between three strong drivers: Nuvolari, Chiron, and Fagioli, the Monza record holder in a 16-cylinder Maserati. After the start of the race, it seemed unclear for a long time whether Nuvolari or Fagioli would gain the upper hand. Lap after lap, both cars passed the grandstands close behind each other. On lap 6, Nuvolari slid off the track, had a new front wheel fitted, and fell back to second place. Race 3 saw a contest between Campari and Borzacchini, two Alfa Romeo teammates. Campari took the lead from the start and held it until the end of the race. Borzacchini finished second.
The final race was scheduled for 3:45 p.m., but the Alfa Romeo P3 single-seaters were not on the starting grid. It seemed as if the Alfa Romeo team supported Nuvolari's demand that Fagioli be penalized for deliberate obstruction, which caused him to be sent off the track in the second race. But in the end, the Alfa Romeo team saw reason, withdrew its protest, and the race began. At the start, Nuvolari immediately took the lead, followed by Borzacchini, Caracciola, and Fagioli. After five laps, Nuvolari led Caracciola by a narrow margin of two seconds. On lap six, Caracciola briefly overtook Nuvolari, but the Italian soon retook the lead. Between lap ten and lap nine, the two were so close that it was unclear who would win. At this critical moment, Nuvolari encountered a fuel pressure problem, forcing him to make a pit stop but Vittorio Jano flagged him down without refueling. This pit stop cost Nuvolari significant time and dropped him to third place. Rudolf Caracciola finished first, setting a new record, ahead of Fagioli.
