The stunning Alfa Romeo 4C Concept and the powerful MiTo and Giulietta "Quadrifoglio Verde"

A large Alfa Romeo stand has been set up at Goodwood, where the public will be able to see the Alfa MiTo and Alfa Giulietta "Quadrifoglio Verde" versions. This legendary symbol has identified some of the brand's sportiest products over the years. The "Quadrifoglio Verde" stands out on the 170 HP MiTo 1.4 MultiAir Turbo and 235 HP Giulietta 1750 TBi. Both cars are equipped with innovative solutions that accentuate the model's known outstanding qualities: road grip, agility, active safety and driving feeling are emphasised by the two engines, which have some the world's highest specific power values and chassis worthy of a higher category.

The star of the stand will nevertheless be the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept, a compact "supercar" which represents the true essence of a sports car according to the values of the brand: performance, Italian style and technical excellence, offering maximum driving pleasure in total safety. The new concept presents the classic formula of the two-seater, rear-wheel drive coupé with its central engine, a length of approximately 4 metres and a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres: these dimensions one on hand emphasise the car's compact attributes while also accentuating its agility on the other. Distinguished by its clean and graceful lines, the same principles are also applied to the inside, with a specific trim level, maintaining features and devices which more directly reflect the car's sporting vocation.

The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept uses technology and materials derived from the 8C Competizione - carbon, aluminium, rear-wheel drive - and technology from Alfa Romeo models currently on sale: the 1750 turbo petrol engine with direct injection, the "Alfa TCT" twin dry clutch transmission and the Alfa DNA dynamic control selector. Quite simply, this vehicle screams Alfa. Its sports car soul creates a unique driving sensation, both on the road and when racing, where its velocity and transverse acceleration become even more demanding.

Alfa 8C Spider in the "Supercar Paddock"

In the "Supercar paddock" it will be possible to see the Alfa 8C Spider. Derived from the Alfa 8C Competizione, this Limited Edition (500 vehicles all sold) is also designed by the Alfa Romeo Style Centre. Made completely of carbon fibre, the Alfa 8C Spider is equipped with the 4.7 litre 8-cylinder engine that develops 450 HP, teamed - thanks to transaxle architecture - with a 6-speed sequential manual gearbox. It also features an excellent Brembo carbon ceramic (CCM) braking system. This solution ensures powerful and effective braking even when used more intensely as well as further reducing the non suspended masses, improving the dynamic vehicle control and driving comfort of this prestigious supercar. Also in the spotlight in the "Supercar Paddock" will be on the Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari".

The legendary Alfa Romeo models and a tribute to Juan Manuel Fangio

After the celebration of the Alfa Romeo Centenary last year, the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed will play host to another two anniversaries which see the brand involved directly: the 100 year anniversary of the birth of Juan Manuel Fangio, five times World F1 Champion and official Alfa Romeo driver, and the sixty year anniversary of the Alfetta 159 F1 World Championship win by Fangio.

Four priceless cars from the Alfa Romeo Museum are on display at the Cathedral Paddock - the Alfetta 159 (1951), 6C 3000 CM (1953), 6C 1750 Gran Sport (1930) and 33 TT 12 (1975) - which will tackle the main attraction of the Festival of Speed: the demanding Goodwood Hillclimb course. The route of nearly 2 km begins as a tree-lined road crossing the southern corner of the Goodwood Estate and then turns precipitately in front of Goodwood House before climbing up a rough, narrow road enclosed between stone walls and thick woodland toward the Goodwood racing track that dominates the top of the majestic South Downs. It should not be forgotten that the height difference between the beginning and end of the track is nearly 100 m and it is so technical and difficult that it tries the concentration and speed of the best drivers in the world.

The single-seater "159" belonging to the Alfa Romeo Museum, with its eight cylinder in line 425 HP supercharged 1.5 litre engine, represents one of the most prestigious F1 single-seaters still in operation and preserved in its original technical condition. The vehicle exhibited at the Alfa Romeo Museum is one of the "159s" driven by the Argentinean champion, the final act of a car born in 1938 as a "158", fine-tuned in the immediate post-war period and presented in F1 in 1950 with Giuseppe "Nino" Farina and which evolved into a "159" for the following season, the last before the official withdrawal of Alfa Romeo from F1 to concentrate on the production what was to become the "Giulietta".

But the tribute to Juan Manuel Fangio does not focus only on the Alfetta. There is also the "6C 3000 CM", a race spider equipped with a 275 HP 3.5-litre six cylinder in line engine, which was successfully driven by the Argentinean. In addition to the ill-fated Mille Miglia of 1953, in the same year Fangio carried the "3000 CM" to victory at the "Gran Premio Supercortemaggiore" in Merano. It is precisely the same vehicle which belongs to the Alfa Romeo Museum, modified by Alfa's advanced experimental department in 1955 with adoption of disc brakes.

If Fangio is identified with the Alfetta and 3000 CM, another champion - probably the one who more than any other inflamed the crowds - could be represented by the "6C 1750 Gran Sport" of 1930 at the debut of the Festival of Speed. That champion was Tazio Nuvolari who, with the "1750", won the Mille Miglia of 1930 paired with Guidotti, and also set the record of 100 km/h average speed on the entire route. The "6C 1750 Gran Sport", with body fitted by Zagato and its "three red headlights" and supercharged six cylinder in line engine, is one of the most famous and unmistakable pre-war Alfa Romeos, even in the eyes of the "less" expert.

Another practically unprecedented vehicle, also seen for the first time at the Goodwood Festival, is the "750 Competizione", a unique piece from the Alfa Romeo Museum. It is a race spider built in 1955 to compete in the "Sport up to 1.5 litres" category races. The name "750" belies its origin. The four cylinder twin shaft engine was taken from the "1300" of the same "Giulietta Sprint" which launched this 145 HP race spider to 220 km/h (138 mph) in a body weighing just 690 kg. The line is also novel. The design by Boano interprets Alfa Romeo's stylistic features in a personal manner, differentiating the car's style from the other Alfas of the same period.

Last but not least is the 1975 Marche World Champion "33 TT 12" driven by the top drivers of the day ranging from Arturo Merzario (the car's best partner) and Mario Andretti (1974 season) to Henri Pescarolo, Jochen Mass, Derek Bell and Jacques Laffite. In addition to being marked by an extremely unusual appearance, the car is fitted out with the 500 HP three-litre twelve cylinder boxer engine designed by the engineer Chiti's Autodelta. The "TT 12" on display at the Alfa Romeo Museum is one of the most regular Festival of Speed-goers and its theatrical presence means that it doesn't go unnoticed, even next to the "Group Cs" of the 1980's and the "Prototypes" of the 1990's.

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