Putting its core philosophy of developing ultimate performance for practical everyday application firmly to the test, Autodelta scored a resounding success at Autovisie Time Attack, held at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands. A bespoke Autodelta 147 GTA AM 3.7 Super, driven by customer Paul Paggiosi, comfortably posted the fastest time in the class reserved for “Semi-Pro Street” tuned cars, during the timed ‘qualification’ runs.

Time Attack has quickly grown into a significant event for high performance road and race cars on the busy Dutch automotive calendar. Featuring a plethora of sports cars in factory production specification, running side-by-side with offerings from Europe’s leading tuning houses, and a helping of dedicated racing cars, the frenetic day-long action is split into four main categories (Semi Pro Street, Pro Street, Non Pro Street and Small Factory). All the leading brands that claim to cater for ‘street performance’ are well represented, and sports cars which took on the challenge a week last Sunday included such as the Nissan Skyline R34, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Audi R8, Porsche 911 GT3, Subaru Impreza WRX, Lotus Exige, Mitsubishi Evo, Donkervoort D8, Aerial Atom and Chrysler Viper. Organised by leading Dutch automobile magazine Autovisie, Time Attack, which attracts attention from the media and enthusiasts alike, is also televised.

Autodelta has always believed that the Alfa Romeo brand can firmly mix it with the best, that the fastest and most powerful pretenders can always be challenged, taken on and beaten; the historic Italian automaker having long since earned the right to its place amongst the most sporting of cars. And so, in conjunction with our enthusiastic Official Authorised Agent for the Netherlands, Sam van Lingen, we were delighted to accept an invitation to take part in this autumn’s edition of Time Attack.

The ‘Semi Pro Street’ class, which attracted 28 excellent entries, would be a stiff test of the Autodelta-reworked Alfa 147. Against the ticking clock there is nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Autodelta is always ready to face up to the challenge, to prove its cars can take on, and thrash, cars that boast a more impressive CV. Time Attack would be the latest, perfect, opportunity, and comes, significantly, at a time when the London-based firm is seeing a major increase in its Dutch market penetration.

Autodelta’s principle is to develop Alfa Romeo models to the performance and dynamic edge, whilst the retaining the inherent practicality and driveability of the production model which is now imbued with an all-round enhanced driving experience. Exhilaration should not be reserved just for the track; it should be for everyday use, the daily commute should bring the Alfa Romeo’s driver a sense of satisfaction and wellbeing. We create special cars for people who understand the finest philosophy of performance motoring, and acknowledge that it truly comes at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo. The slogan of Carlo Chiti’s Autodelta historic concern was 'a car for everyday use' and we strive day and night to live up to the legend.

And, just as Ferrari is chasing future technological developments through owner feedback from its breathtaking FXX programme, so Autodelta works hand-in-hand with its customers to create cars that are finely honed to the individual’s most detailed requirements. Exclusivity is guaranteed at Autodelta and with the level of exclusivity we achieve, each customer’s needs are catered for, each customer is inbued with what we stand for, and each customer becomes a part of the Autodelta ‘family’.

One such customer is Sheffield businessman Paul Paggiosi, who owns several Autodelta bespoke cars, including the famous 147 GTA AM that so impressed that sternest of all motoring critics, Jeremy Clarkson, when the ‘red projectile’ appeared on BBC TV’s Top Gear program. And each car owned by Paul has been evolved to his exacting requirements.

The particular Autodelta 147 GTA AM 3.7 Super driven at Time Attack by Paul features a specially developed 440 bhp version of the ‘Arese’ 3.7 V6 engine, although for the long weekend's itinerary the engines peak power was detuned to run with around 400bhp, and instead the midrange torque was further increased to suit the twisty circuit. Pushing the dynamic envelope of Alfa Romeos to the very edge to create sports cars that thrill and challenge the driver is our deep-seated motivation; the search for that very last useable horsepower makes our engineers tick, but it isn’t just reserved for the engine – a balanced, capable package is evolved, and for this unique car, on top of the standard 147 GTA AM 3.7 Super package, were featured revised camshafts and inlet system, re-rated suspension and the first of a new-generation, even tougher, Limited Slip Differential. Although in effect a ‘mobile laboratory’ the car’s inherent driveability and practicality remains undiminished.

The technically-demanding TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, was the perfect venue to host this special event. The tight and twisty 4.55 km, 16-turn circuit is most famously home to the Dutch round of the MotoGP World Championship and the existing track, first opened in 1955, is always a big draw with the fans. Substantial improvements were made to the circuit in 2006 before the glamorous arrival in town of the then-premier American single-seater series, ChampCar, last year.

Amply proving the practicality of this ultimate high performance Alfa 147 derivative, Paul drove the car from Sheffield to the Netherlands via the Harwich-hook of Holland ferry, with the pre-event checks-over being carried in the Haarlem workshops of our Official Authorised Agent for the Netherlands, Sam van Lingen. The 147 also ran on track during the event with the same road tires that it drove over on, with actual changes made for the track programme being limited to adjusting the suspension stiffness (a very simple procedure carried out on the inside of the car on all Autodelta conversions), setting specific tyre pressures and using a correct fuel load.

Time attack dawned very chilly and misty, and low air and track temperatures were a feature of the day. The Dutch race track suited the compact front-wheel drive 147 less than many rival cars, quite a few of which were thinly-disguised track specials with stripped-out interiors and fitted with roll protection cages. This particular Alfa 147 though retains the factory leather interior, music system, sat-nav and air-con.

As it turned out, Paul and the Autodelta 147 GTA AM 3.7 Super were simply never headed. The fastest time, a lap during the post-lunchtime qualification session in 2:05:968, put the stunning black car firmly at the top of the timesheets, more than half a second clear of its closest rival. Punching above its weight is in the Autodelta DNA and this best time was 0.611 ahead of second fastest car, the Lotus Exige (410 bhp) of Herman Gast, and 0.810 ahead of the Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 (400 bhp) of Marcello Martinez. Other fancied cars left in the wake of the Autodelta entry included several more Skylines (in R32 and R33 guise), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX (300 bhp), Subaru Impreza GTT (450 bhp), Mazda RX-7 (450 bhp), Toyota Supra MkIII (550 bhp) and Audi TTS (340 bhp). The handling qualities imbued into the compact front-wheel-drive Alfa 147 by Autodelta’s engineers have created a driveable machine, able to humble more expensive cars on the track and yet provide a comfortable ride to the circuit.

Paul was thrilled with the performance of the car. “We had to make a few changes to join Time Attack, not least that we drove the car from the UK to the event and so the setup was much more restricted than if we were running say in a UK track event. Plus I’m not very familiar with the track and the conditions weren’t ideal, the track temperature was quite low. But we really wanted to get to the event and take up the challenge. So we have to be highly satisfied with the performance. My laps were slightly compromised so I think we could have gone even quicker as I was beginning to get more familiar with the circuit. However we were able to clearly demonstrate what a fantastic car Jano and the Autodelta engineering team have developed and I’m sure there is still more to come from this car,” added Paul.

Also highly satisfied with the outcome was Autodelta Managing Director Jano Djelalian. “This event really proved what great work our engineers have done with the GTA AM programme. Before the event we weren’t sure what to expect so as we weren’t maximising performance in certain areas I would have been delighted to be in the top 5, to go fastest is a real testament to our development programme. I must also thank our Dutch Official Agent Sam van Lingen for organising our entry and for providing their workshops for systems checks and to the organisers of Time Attack for the invitation to take part against a full range of highly tuned Japanese cars in what was an excellent event.”

Willem Meijdam, Area Manager, Sam van Lingen Haarlem, and responsible for Autodelta, was also delighted with the event. “It was really good for Autodelta to come over for this event; we’ve gone a long way in quite a short time since becoming their agent for the Netherlands. So with all the talk about Autodelta amongst enthusiasts and the media it was really nice that Jano, Paul and the Autodelta engineers came over for this event. That we proved just how good Alfa Romeos are on track against a lot of fast, tuned Japanese cars is even better. The 147 was the centre of attention, just the way an Alfa Romeo should be. It was good too that some of our customers with Autodelta conversions were able to join us in the paddock, and it was also nice to see the attention that the 8C and MiTo drew. With Autodelta, Sam van Lingen is making a stir here and we look forward to flying the flag even higher in the future.”

While the potent Autodelta 147 GTA AM 3.7 Super drew spectators’ attention as it raced to the top of the timesheets on the Assen track, in the paddock it was perfectly complimented by the Autodelta J4 2.2 C, Alfa Brera 3.2 Supercharged, Alfa 8C Competizione and the Alfa MiTo, a line-up of beauty, style and performance that was quite simply unmatched.

Autodelta 

Autodelta is the acknowledged leading global aftermarket Alfa Romeo design and tuning firm. In 2007 Autodelta celebrated its 20th anniversary. Autodelta has built a reputation for its range of exclusive, bespoke high-performance models which maximise Alfa Romeo engine capabilities and optimise chassis dynamics. As well as these Autodelta-branded cars, Autodelta offers engine, chassis, braking, electronic, suspension and styling upgrades for most current and recent Alfa Romeo models, and offers a range of Autodelta-branded performance products through its Autodelta Sportline and GTA Racing parts programmes. Autodelta operates internationally through its headquarters and factory located in Park Royal, London, and through a series of authorised agents worldwide. For more information www.autodelta.co.uk

Sam van Lingen 

Operating as an official Alfa Romeo dealer since 1965, Sam van Lingen is the largest and longest established Alfa Romeo dealer group in The Netherlands. The organisation, which has an unrivalled reputation for customer loyalty, operates no fewer than six showrooms in the Randstad region of The Netherlands. The largest outlet is in Houten (south of Utrecht), followed, in alphabetical order, by Aalsmeer, Amersfoort, Amsterdam, Haarlem and Utrecht. Savali Tuning is also famous in Dutch Alfa Romeo circles for offering a serious increase of power by enlarging engines. Historical models started with the 2100 cc version of the Giulia and more recently included the 3.5 V6 (Alfa 164 & 155) and 3.7 V6 (Alfa GT & GTA versions). Today the Sam van Lingen name is synonymous with Alfa Romeo in The Netherlands, and has built a reputation based on a deep rooted love of the brand. The group can justifiably lay claim to being one of the longest established and most successful authorised Alfa Romeo dealership groups’ across Europe. For more information visit www.samvanlingen.nl