Alfa Romeo will make its diesel debut at Bathurst in the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour race, which takes place on the legendary Mt Panorama race track on Sunday 8 April, thanks to Supercharge Batteries and one of Australia’s leading Alfa Romeo dealers, Thomson Alfa Romeo of Parramatta.

“I think everyone is going to be surprised just how quick the Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTD is going to be at Bathurst,” says Kean Booker, Team Owner and one of the three drivers. “The Alfa will have two major advantages. First there is the enormous amount of torque that is available, more than 400 Nm, putting it on a par with much larger, heavier petrol engines, and this is what will enable it to punch its way up the mountain. Then there is the economy. Even in race mode we will be using less fuel and that means fewer fuel stops and less fuel to lug around the race track. Added to the all-new chassis and top performance Pirelli tyres, and we are sure the Alfa Romeo 159 is going to be the surprise performer this year!”

The drivers of the Alfa 159 JTD entry are all fully committed to Alfa Romeo off the track as well as on it – Kean Booker helped set up one of Sydney’s leading Alfa Romeo dealerships, Rocco Rinaldo is the sales manager at Thomson Alfa Romeo and completing the team is David Stone, the General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia. “Its one thing to stand in a show room and say that an Alfa Romeo is the best and quite another to put our money where our mouth is on the race track!” says Rocco Rinaldo. “Diesel engines now offer a level of performance and ability that puts them beyond most petrol engines of the same capacity and we aim to prove the point at Bathurst with a car that is fast, economical and environmentally friendly thanks to its lower fuel consumption and emissions. Winning our class will be the cream on the cake!”

Backing the team is SuperCharge Batteries, one of Australia’s leading battery suppliers. “Joining forces with Thomson Alfa Romeo to put the 159 JTD 2.4 on the race track is one of the easiest decisions we have ever made,” says David Porter, Managing Director of SuperCharge Batteries.
 

“The Alfa Romeo is already a standout in the event for its legendary name and its styling. Adding the diesel engine to mix provides a unique element which we know will draw attention to the car. We are in no doubt that most motoring enthusiasts will want to see how the diesel Alfa Romeo will compare to its rivals on the track and just how quick it is as it’s very much an unknown quantity on the track. We are sure it will be one of the cars to watch at the event.”

Although the Supercharge Batteries Alfa Romeo 159 JTD is not an official Alfa Romeo entry, Alfa Romeo’s involvement includes providing one of the drivers – the man in charge of Alfa Romeo in Australia, David Stone. “The 159 JTD a private entry, so I will be at the wheel in a personal capacity!” says David Stone. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t be out to prove everything we have been saying about diesel and Alfa Romeo being a perfect fit. Bathurst is the ideal place for it. Around the world diesel accounts for more than 76 per cent of Alfa Romeo sales and its easy to see why, in each model the diesel variant is usually at or near the top of the performance ladder, as well as offering supreme economy, and that’s down to the massive amount of torque provided by the diesel engine. On a track like Mt Panorama, torque is highly important, and fuel economy in an endurance race can be decisive as well. Add in the fact that we will probably have one of the cars with the lowest emissions at the event and it is clear that the 159 JTD will not just be a very different car at Bathurst, but also one that has the potential to be the surprise car of the event!”