For the second year running Alfa Romeo has taken diesel class victory in the Bathurst 12 hour race, this time the win falling to David Filipetto, Nathan Gotch and Wayne Vinckx in an Alfa 147 JTD.

For the second year running Alfa Romeo has proven the durability, reliability and, above all, the performance of its diesel-powered cars with the Supercharge Batteries and DHL-backed Alfa Romeo 147 JTD taking the diesel class victory in the WPS Bathurst 12 hour race at the weekend (10 February 2008).

Driven by David Filipetto, Nathan Gotch and Wayne Vinckx, the Alfa completed 217 laps during the 12 hour race, or more than 1,350 km at race speeds. Despite being on the demanding Bathurst track that tests race cars harder than any other track in Australia, the Alfa 147 JTD still managed to average 12 litres/100km. The Alfa team convincingly won its class, just as Alfa Romeo did last year with its larger brother, the Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTD.

Nor was this a specially prepared and tuned race-track only car. Remarkably, this car was a normal company car at Alfa Romeo importer, Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd, until a few weeks before race day. Then it was equipped with the required safety equipment and driven to Bathurst to complete its running-in. The red Alfa Romeo 147 JTD completed its full duties on the race track using the same brake pads for the full duration and the front tyres were changed only once. Not to mention picking up a class win for its weekend away in Bathurst!

“This is proof, as if proof was needed, that Alfa Romeos have the ability and performance to win on the race track and provide exciting and involving driving on the road,” says David Stone, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia. “We plucked a normal road car out of our company fleet, fitted a roll cage, drove it to Bathurst and not just completed the toughest endurance race in Australia; we also won our class, beating 14 other petrol-powered cars, many with bigger engines, at the same time. This convincing result proves, again, that Alfa Romeo diesel power means performance on the road and on the race track!”