Alfa Romeo’s place at the heart of motor racing for more than 90 years has not just been down to their official factory participation but, very often, to the enthusiastic amateur or semi-supported effort, matching an Alfa Romeo engine to a different single-seater chassis. While some were clearly more successful than others, it is worth reminding ourselves that a number of examples did more than just make up the numbers. To offer a comprehensive guide would be impossible in the space allowed, so I shall start this overview with a non-factory, single-seater that featured not one but two Alfa Romeo engines.
A South African creation, the LDS-Alfa was very competitive, winning the 1966 Border Trophy race at East London. Photo: Peter Collins
Desperate for an answer to the mighty Mercedes-Benz and Auto Unions of the 1930s, Alfa Romeo asked its motorsport consultants, Scuderia Ferrari in Modena, to design and build a car that could at least compete in the fast races. A creation in 1935 for Enzo Ferrari by Luigi Bazzi used many available Alfa Romeo parts and became known as the Bimotore, an obvious name as it was powered by two engines, each a straight-eight from the by-then outdated Tipo B Grand Prix car. With one engine in the front and the other behind the driver, it produced up to 530 bhp. Although the Bimotore is today sometimes thought of as a works Alfa Romeo, it could be argued that it was the first car built by Enzo Ferrari, carrying his Prancing Horse above the radiator rather than any Alfa Romeo identification.
No Subscription? You’re missing out
Get immediate ad-free access to all our premium content.
