Just like in the DTM - Alfa Romeo 155 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class
06/23/2017
In 1993, Nicola Larini won the DTM championship title in an Alfa Romeo 155, while Mercedes-Benz won the manufacturers' title. Both relied on the new Class 1 regulations for their top teams, which gave the constructors almost unlimited freedom as long as the bodywork came from a production model (the rear doors could be opened on the Mercedes!) and the engine had a maximum displacement of 2.5 liters and six cylinders. Consumption was limited, but otherwise the regulations allowed great freedom.
Alfa Romeo built a four-wheel drive racing car, while Mercedes remained faithful to rear-wheel drive. A carbon fiber monocoque created the load-bearing basis. The gears were soon shifted sequentially. New wings and technical details were introduced from race to race, without prior homologation. ABS, traction control, computer-controlled chassis - everything that could save tenths of a second on the racetrack was installed.
The costs exploded! The ITC, the internationalized DTM, was supposed to justify these costs. But the calculation didn't work out, despite exciting races and three manufacturers (Opel, Mercedes, Alfa) who were able to compete equally for victories. It even became too expensive for the spectators. So the end came in 1996, and with it the end for the Class 1 touring cars. And the DTM/ITC, at least temporarily.
You hardly ever see the Class 1 cars in motion today. All the better that the first Passione Caracciola day offered the opportunity to see both the Alfa Romeo 155 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class on the racetrack. Although they never raced at Monza (but at Mugello), this did not detract from the presentation.
Bernd Schneider, who was involved in much of the development work on the C-Class, was even there in person and talked about his experiences:
"I always got the new parts and was correspondingly fast. In the race, however, I often dropped out, while Ludwig was able to reap the rewards ...". Ludwig became champion in 1994.
Acoustically, the cars are quieter and less conspicuous than one might have expected given the high power output. Operating such a car is not trivial! In the Alfa Romeo, for example, the cooling water was preheated.
After yesterday's day in Monza and the drive to St. Moritz, the Passione Caracciola takes the participants from the Engadin to Arosa today, before continuing on to Lugano on Saturday, where the event ends on Sunday.
