The commitment of Stellantis Heritage to historic motorsport
From 7 to 8 February, the Vicenza Exhibition Centre will host the sixth edition of the Racing Meeting, the largest annual event dedicated to the world of motor racing. The event is organised by legendary driver Miki Biasion, the two-time World Rally Champion whose name is closely associated with the sporting achievements of the Lancia brand.
This year, the event continues to evolve, opening its doors to the entire world of motorsport —from off-road to track racing—while also offering a large area dedicated to dynamic demonstrations, accessories and live shows. At the heart of the exhibition is a major showcase entirely dedicated to the history of Italian racing cars, featuring iconic vehicles, including three valuable examples from the Stellantis Heritage collection: the Fiat S 61 Corsa (1908), the Alfa Romeo 182 “experimental” (1982) and the Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo Evoluzione IMSA (1988).
The first two racing legends are normally on display at the Heritage Hub, the multifunctional space located within the historic Mirafiori plant in Turin, whose collection is open to the public. Meanwhile, the Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo Evoluzione IMSA is normally housed at the Alfa Romeo Historical Museum in Arese.
The spotlight is on the Fiat S 61 Corsa, the racing derivative - developed for the American market - of the namesake grand touring car built by FIAT, capable of reaching a remarkable top speed of 150 km/h, an impressive figure for its era. Featuring a lightweight chassis, a 10-litre four-cylinder engine with overhead valves, the car competed in numerous races across the United States between 1908 and 1912, achieving outstanding results. Notable achievements include first and third place at the 1908 American Grand Prize in Savannah, Georgia — respectively driven by Louis Wagner and Felice Nazzaro—third place at the 1911 Indianapolis 500, victory at the Santa Monica circuit in 1912 with Ted Tedzlaff at the wheel, and triumph at the 1912 American Grand Prize in Milwaukee, won by Caleb Bragg. The example on display is the very car that won the 1912 American Grand Prize and was returned to its former glory in 2016 following a meticulous conservation-focused restoration carried out by the Stellantis Heritage team.
Alongside the FIAT “racing beast” stands the equally iconic Alfa Romeo 182 “experimental” Formula One single-seater, featuring a number of innovative and groundbreaking technical solutions for its time. Among these is the carbon-fibre chassis, which would officially debut in the 1982 season — an exclusive innovation introduced at its outset by Alfa Romeo and McLaren. The car’s development involved Bruno Giacomelli, official driver for the Alfa Romeo–Autodelta Formula One team from 1979 to 1982.
The Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo Evoluzione IMSA from the Stellantis Heritage collection will also be featured, usually preserved at the Alfa Romeo Historical Museum in Arese. This competition sedan was developed in 1988 for racing under the IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) regulations, a North American rule set that allowed much more extensive technical modifications than traditional FIA rules. Based on an architecture featuring a front‑mounted longitudinal engine and rear‑wheel transmission, the car is powered by a 1762 cm³ turbocharged inline-four engine with double overhead camshafts and multipoint fuel injection. The Garrett-turbocharged powerplant was developed to deliver between approximately 335 hp and up to around 400 hp in later evolutions. The IMSA regulations permitted radical aerodynamic and chassis interventions, resulting in widened tracks, enlarged wheel arches, and a large carbon-fibre rear spoiler. The body was lightened and stiffened, bringing the weight down to about 960 kg, and performance figures are impressive, with top speeds in excess of 270 km/h.
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