Zagato's contribution to the hundredth birthday of Alfa Romeo, both companies were born in the same city, Milan, and share interlocked histories, has come in the pretty shape of the TZ3 Corsa, built as a one-off for a Dutch customer and Zagato collector. The TZ3 Corsa was launched at the Concorso d'Eleganza Ville d'Este in April and it immediately scooped the prestigious award for the "Best Design" in the hotly-contested category reserved for concept cars, an honour that was voted for by the public.

From its debut on the immaculate banks of Lake Como in Italy the TZ3 Corsa made its way to Goodwood in the UK last weekend to take part in the much more brash and bold Festival of Speed which was also paying a large, moving tribute to Alfa Romeo's centenary. The new Zagato concept car, which successfully evokes memories of the much-loved TZ1 and TZ2 in its design, was located in the "Supercar Paddock", where it attracted much attention from visitors, and took part in the runs up the hillclimb driven by its new owner Martin Knapp.

Zagato Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa

"The TZ3 Corsa is not a design exercise," say Zagato, "It does not take inspiration only from the 90 year collaboration between the two brands, neither only from the Milanese conjunction between Alfa Romeo and Zagato. The TZ3 Corsa is a race car, honouring 100 years of races and victories across the whole 20th century. It celebrates men and machines of the Alfa Romeo Zagato common tradition: Scuderia Ferrari of the 20’s and 30’s, Alfa Corse of the 40’s and 50’s, Autodelta of the 60’s and 70’s up to the latest Scuderia Zagato of the 80’s and 90’s."

Recalling these immortal racing emotions, the TZ3 Corsa is based on a mono shell carbon fibre tubular chassis, coupled with a tubular frame and a lightweight aluminium body, reviving memories of the legendary TZ1 and TZ2 racer. Powered by Alfa Romeo's V8 engine with 420 bhp available mated up to a 6-speed gearbox, the whole car adds up to just 850 kg. The project's technical partners include OMP (seats) and Pirelli (tyres).

Following in the long tradition of Zagato’s gentlemen-driver heritage, the TZ3 has been commissioned by famous Alfa Romeo Zagato collector Martin Kapp, the decision to create the TZ3 coming during the Zandvoort tribute to Zagato event, when more than one hundred and thirty Alfa Romeos created by Zagato celebrated the 90th Anniversary of the brand. Kapp owns, among his fine Alfa Romeo Collection an SZ coda tonda and SZ coda tronca, TZ and TZ2, Junior Z and S.Z..

Alfa Romeo and Zagato achieved the best results since the beginnings thanks to the Mille Miglia victories of the 1500 6C, the 1750 GS and the 8C 2300 Zagato of the Scuderia Ferrari. Already in 1933 an official advert of the Alfa Romeo 8C proclaimed: “The Spider that, with the trio Alfa Romeo - Scuderia Ferrari - Carrozzeria Zagato, brought countless victories in the homeland and abroad for the honour of Italy.”

Even the grandiose Quadrifoglio Verde was placed on the bodies of Zagatos of the Alfa Corse team numerous times. Among the most glorious moments is the victory of the Formula 1 championship of Juan Manuel Fangio, aboard his Alfa Romeo 159 bodied by Zagato, as well as the victorious Alfa Romeo 3000 CM bodied in 3 samples by Zagato.

During the 60’s, the list of absolute victories of the Giulia TZ and TZ2 by Zagato for the Autodelta of Ing. Carlo Chiti, was never-ending. Some of the most memorable victories included the 1964 12 hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio, the Nurburgring, and the 24 hours of Le Mans. The single-brand Alfa Romeo S.Z. championship emphasized the Alfa Romeo ES30’s (Experimental SportsCar 3000) technical and dynamic abilities. The S.Z. delivered, and continues to so today, constant performance and driving pleasure to the Gentlemen drivers of the Alfa Zagato team, across the most important racetracks in Europe.