Alfa Romeo P2

Twin Roots Superchargers 2 Memini carburettors, 1,987 cc, (61 x 85 mm) 140 bhp (100 kW) @ 5500 rpm (1924)155 bhp (116 kW) @ 5500 rpm (1925) The Alfa Romeo P2 won the inaugural Automobile World Championship in 1925, taking victory in two of the four championship rounds when Antonio Ascari drove it in the European Grand Prix at Spa and Gastone Brilli-Peri won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza after Ascari died while leading the intervening race at Montlhery.

Although 1925 brought drastic changes of regulations, from 1924 to 1930 the P2 was victorious in 14 Grands Prix and major events including the Targa Florio.

It was one of the iconic Grand Prix cars of the 1920s, along with the Bugatti Type 35, and enabled Alfa Romeo, as world champions, to incorporate the laurel wreath into their logo.

The car was the first creation of Alfa's new designer Vittorio Jano who had been recruited from Fiat by Enzo Ferrari when Nicola Romeo scrapped the P1 after its poor performance in the 1923 Monza Grand Prix against Fiat.

The P2 was powered by Alfa's first straight-8 cylinder supercharged engine with 2 carburettors placed after the compressor.

The 1930 P2 won the Targa Florio in the hands of Achille Varzi , who broke the average speed record for the race. [ 2 ]