Alfa Romeo Tipo 308
Encyclopedia
The Alfa Romeo 308 or 8C-308 is a Grand Prix racing
car made for the 3 litre class in 1938, only four cars was produced, actually modified from Tipo C with the engine mounted lower into the chassis and a slimmer body. The chassis was derived from the Tipo C
and the engine from the 8C 2900
. The 308 was engineered by Gioacchino Colombo
under the control of Enzo Ferrari
who was then in charge of Alfa's racing team, Alfa Corse
. The car debuted at the Pau Grand Prix in 1938, two cars were entered to race, one for Tazio Nuvolari
and the other for Luigi Villoresi
. Both drivers had to withdraw from competition, however Nuvolari had by then set a lap record. The next race was the Tripoli Grand Prix
. The new 312
(3-litre, 12 cylindres) and 316
(3-litre, 16 cylindres) were entered, but they got engine trouble during practice and Clemente Biondetti
took the start at the wheel of the 308 held in reserve. He failed to finish while Hermann Lang
driving a Mercedes-Benz W154
was the winner. In this race Eugenio Siena
driving a 312 was killed after hitting a wall.
In the 1938 Mille Miglia
, Clemente Biondetti and Carlo Pintacuda
took the first two places. Biondetti's car used a 300 bhp (220 kW) Tipo 308 engine, while Pintacuda's used a 225 bhp (168 kW) 2900B.
In 1938 and 1939 Raymond Sommer managed to win a couple of hillclimb competitions at La Turbie
with 308 and in the 1940s Jean-Pierre Wimille
won a couple of races in Europe. One of the cars was brought to Argentina
where it gathered some success and victories in the hands of Óscar Alfredo Gálvez
. The car that Gálvez used in Argentina is now in the Juan Manuel Fangio museum
.http://www.jmfangio.org/museo_alfa8c308.htm
One of the cars was sold to USA after World War II and Louis Durant drove it to 6th place in 1946 Indianapolis 500, next year it placed 7th with Walt Brown. In 1948 Johnny Mauro drove the car to 8th place, this car is now located in Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Hall of Fame Museum, probably it is the same car that was also used in Indianapolis in 1940, which was Raymond Sommer's ex car.
Overall Alfa Romeo's 3 litre formula cars (Tipo 308, 312 and 316) were not a great success. Instead, the new car for the 1500 cc class, the 158 voiturette
, designed in 1937 and first raced at the Coppa Ciano in August 1938, proved much more successful.
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver...
car made for the 3 litre class in 1938, only four cars was produced, actually modified from Tipo C with the engine mounted lower into the chassis and a slimmer body. The chassis was derived from the Tipo C
Alfa Romeo 8C
-1935 Monoposto 8C 35 Type C:Eight 3.8 litre versions, sharing no castings with the earlier blocks, were individually built for racing in five months, most being used in the Alfa Romeo Monoposto 8C 35 Type C, as raced by Scuderia Ferrari. The 3.8 produced at 5500 rpm, and had from...
and the engine from the 8C 2900
Alfa Romeo 8C
-1935 Monoposto 8C 35 Type C:Eight 3.8 litre versions, sharing no castings with the earlier blocks, were individually built for racing in five months, most being used in the Alfa Romeo Monoposto 8C 35 Type C, as raced by Scuderia Ferrari. The 3.8 produced at 5500 rpm, and had from...
. The 308 was engineered by Gioacchino Colombo
Gioacchino Colombo
Gioacchino Colombo was an Italian automobile engine designer.Colombo was born in Legnano. He began work as an apprentice to Vittorio Jano at Alfa Romeo. In 1937, Colombo designed the 158 engine for the Alfetta and caught the attention of Enzo Ferrari. Ferrari asked Colombo to design a small V12...
under the control of Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Anselmo Ferrari Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian race car driver and entrepreneur, the founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team, and subsequently of the Ferrari car manufacturer...
who was then in charge of Alfa's racing team, Alfa Corse
Alfa Corse
Alfa Corse is the name of Alfa Romeo's factory racing team. Throughout the years, Alfa Corse has competed in various forms of motorsport, from Grand Prix motor racing to touring car racing....
. The car debuted at the Pau Grand Prix in 1938, two cars were entered to race, one for Tazio Nuvolari
Tazio Nuvolari
Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari was an Italian motorcycle and racecar driver, known as Il Mantovano Volante or Nivola. He was the 1932 European Champion in Grand Prix motor racing...
and the other for Luigi Villoresi
Luigi Villoresi
Luigi Villoresi was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver who continued racing on the Formula One circuit at the time of its inception.-Biography:...
. Both drivers had to withdraw from competition, however Nuvolari had by then set a lap record. The next race was the Tripoli Grand Prix
Tripoli Grand Prix
The Tripoli Grand Prix was a motor racing event first held in 1925 on a racing circuit outside Tripoli, the capital of what was then Italian Tripolitania...
. The new 312
Alfa Romeo Tipo 312
The Alfa Romeo Tipo 312, 312 or 12C-312 was a 3 litre formula racing car that was used in the 1938 Grand Prix season, drivers were Raymond Sommer, Giuseppe Farina, Eugenio Siena, Clemente Biondetti, Carlo Pintacuda, Jean-Pierre Wimille, Gianfranco Comotti, Piero Taruffi and Pietro Ghersi.Tipo 312...
(3-litre, 12 cylindres) and 316
Alfa Romeo Tipo 316
Alfa Romeo Tipo 316, 316 or 16C-316 Grand prix car was used in Grand Prix seasons 1938 and 1939, when its was driven by Giuseppe Farina and Clemente Biondetti. The Tipo 316 was one of three Alfa Romeo cars designed for the new rules in 1938, which differed mainly by the engine, the other two were...
(3-litre, 16 cylindres) were entered, but they got engine trouble during practice and Clemente Biondetti
Clemente Biondetti
Clemente Biondetti was an Italian auto racing driver.-Biography:Born in Buddusò, Sardinia, into a working class family, Biondetti began racing motorcycles in 1923 but in 1927 turned to automobiles...
took the start at the wheel of the 308 held in reserve. He failed to finish while Hermann Lang
Hermann Lang
Hermann Lang was a German champion race car driver.Born in the Bad Cannstatt district of Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, at age fourteen Hermann Lang had to go to work to help support his family following the death of his father...
driving a Mercedes-Benz W154
Mercedes-Benz W154
The Mercedes-Benz W154 was a Grand Prix racing car designed by Rudolf Uhlenhaut. The W154 competed in the 1938 and 1939 Grand Prix seasons and was used by Rudolf Caracciola to win the 1938 European Championship....
was the winner. In this race Eugenio Siena
Eugenio Siena
Eugenio Siena was an Italian racecar driver from Milano.A cousin of Giuseppe Campari, he was a mechanic and testdriver for Alfa Romeo .Next, he joined Scuderia Ferrari 1930-34....
driving a 312 was killed after hitting a wall.
In the 1938 Mille Miglia
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
, Clemente Biondetti and Carlo Pintacuda
Carlo Maria Pintacuda
Carlo Maria Pintacuda was a motor-racing driver from Italy.born in Florence, he was one of the greatest drivers from the "Florentine School" alongside Emilio Materassi, Gastone Brilli-Peri, Clemente Biondetti and Giulio Masetti, and won two editions of legendary Mille Miglia races, in 1935 and 1937...
took the first two places. Biondetti's car used a 300 bhp (220 kW) Tipo 308 engine, while Pintacuda's used a 225 bhp (168 kW) 2900B.
In 1938 and 1939 Raymond Sommer managed to win a couple of hillclimb competitions at La Turbie
La Turbie
La Turbie is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-History:...
with 308 and in the 1940s Jean-Pierre Wimille
Jean-Pierre Wimille
Jean-Pierre Wimille was a Grand Prix motor racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II.-Biography:...
won a couple of races in Europe. One of the cars was brought to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
where it gathered some success and victories in the hands of Óscar Alfredo Gálvez
Oscar Alfredo Gálvez
Oscar Alfredo Gálvez was a racing driver from Argentina. He participated in 1 Formula One Grand Prix, debuting on January 18, 1953...
. The car that Gálvez used in Argentina is now in the Juan Manuel Fangio museum
Museo Juan Manuel Fangio
The Museo Juan Manuel Fangio , is a museum of motor racing cars, dedicated to Formula One driver Juan Manuel Fangio and located in Balcarce, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.- The museum :...
.http://www.jmfangio.org/museo_alfa8c308.htm
One of the cars was sold to USA after World War II and Louis Durant drove it to 6th place in 1946 Indianapolis 500, next year it placed 7th with Walt Brown. In 1948 Johnny Mauro drove the car to 8th place, this car is now located in Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
Hall of Fame Museum, probably it is the same car that was also used in Indianapolis in 1940, which was Raymond Sommer's ex car.
Overall Alfa Romeo's 3 litre formula cars (Tipo 308, 312 and 316) were not a great success. Instead, the new car for the 1500 cc class, the 158 voiturette
Alfa Romeo 158/159 Alfetta
The Alfa Romeo 158/159, also known as the Alfetta , is one of the most successful racing cars ever produced. The 158 and its derivative, the 159, took 47 wins from 54 Grands Prix entered. It was originally developed for the pre-World War II voiturette formula and has a 1.5 litre straight-8...
, designed in 1937 and first raced at the Coppa Ciano in August 1938, proved much more successful.
Main victories
- 1938 Grand Prix Rio De Janeiro, Carlo Maria PintacudaCarlo Maria PintacudaCarlo Maria Pintacuda was a motor-racing driver from Italy.born in Florence, he was one of the greatest drivers from the "Florentine School" alongside Emilio Materassi, Gastone Brilli-Peri, Clemente Biondetti and Giulio Masetti, and won two editions of legendary Mille Miglia races, in 1935 and 1937...
- 1939 Circuit des RempartsCircuit des RempartsCircuit des Remparts was a circuit race for Grand Prix cars and Formula Two voiturettes held in Angoulême, France. The circuit had a length of , which was driven 80 laps.-History:...
- Angoulême, Raymond SommerRaymond SommerRaymond Sommer was a Grand Prix motor racing driver.... - 1946 Grand Prix de Bourgogne, Jean-Pierre WimilleJean-Pierre WimilleJean-Pierre Wimille was a Grand Prix motor racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II.-Biography:...
- 1946 Grand Prix du RoussillonRoussillon Grand PrixThe Roussillon Grand Prix is a Grand Prix motor racing event that was held between 1946 and 1949 in the streets of Perpignan, France. The race used the Circuit des Patanes around the Square Bir Hakeim. In 1948, the grand prix was a part of the Formula 2 series...
- Circuit des Platanes - Perpignan, Jean-Pierre WimilleJean-Pierre WimilleJean-Pierre Wimille was a Grand Prix motor racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II.-Biography:... - 1947 Grand Prix de Rosario, Achille VarziAchille VarziAchille Varzi , was an Italian Grand Prix driver.-Career:Born in Galliate, province of Novara , Achille Varzi was the son of a prosperous textile manufacturer...
- 1948 Grand Prix São Paulo, Jean-Pierre WimilleJean-Pierre WimilleJean-Pierre Wimille was a Grand Prix motor racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II.-Biography:...
- 1949 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, Óscar Alfredo GálvezOscar Alfredo GálvezOscar Alfredo Gálvez was a racing driver from Argentina. He participated in 1 Formula One Grand Prix, debuting on January 18, 1953...
Indianapolis 500
- 1940 Chet MillerChet MillerChet Miller was an American racecar driver. He was killed in a crash in the south turn of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 1953 Indianapolis 500. During his long Indy career, Miller earned the nickname "Dean of the Speedway"...
, 17th - 1946 Louis DurantLouis DurantLouis Durant was an American racecar driver. He was born "Durant Lewis" and grew up in Herington, Kansas. He changed his name when he began driving race cars....
, 6th - 1947 Walt BrownWalt Brown (auto racer)Walt Brown was an American racecar driver. A Champ Car specialist, his career in the big cars began in 1941, and he recorded one win, in 1948 at Langhorne...
, 7th - 1948 Johnny MauroJohnny MauroJohnny Mauro was an American racecar driver. He was born in Denver Colorado on October 25, 1910. John loved baseball and cars. He and his family owned several car dealerships, leading him to being the only Ferrari importer in Denver for many years...
, 8th