[BTCC] Where are The BTCC Alfa Romeo 156 now?

[Andrettifan]

Was just wondering where are the BTCC Alfa Romeo 156s that raced in this series from 2006 thru 2008. The two green Alfa Romeo 156 that team 48 Motorsport brought out in pre-testing in 2008, whose Alfas were those originally? Also, does Gary Ayles still have his Alfa Romeo 156 Gta that his team campaigned in 2004? Any info would be great, thank you.

[Craner Curves]

As far as I know, the running gear from the GA 156 GTA went into a shell which became Mark Smith's 2006 car, which is now the rolling shell that Team 48 borrowed for media day last year. One of the A-Tech cars from 2007 has been sold abroad and the other is still for sale according to the ad in Autosport every week.

[Icebaby]

Suprised no one has picked up the Alfa's, good car in the right hands with proven ability, worst thing Alfa did was let A-Tech take them in 07.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by Icebaby

Suprised no one has picked up the Alfa's, good car in the right hands with proven ability, worst thing Alfa did was let A-Tech take them in 07.

How is selling cars to a team a bad thing? It's not like people in Britain have ever beaten down Alfa's door to get them.

[andy_b]

I understand the Alfa is a very hard car to set up and run. Probably why no privateer has really got its full potential out of it, BTCC or elsewhere (although Murray Motorsport did well with their little budget)

[helterskelter]

Ian Court is trying to get to Btcc with an Alfa 156 Gta

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by andy_b

I understand the Alfa is a very hard car to set up and run. Probably why no privateer has really got its full potential out of it, BTCC or elsewhere (although Murray Motorsport did well with their little budget)

And besides, why run an Alfa when you can get a lot more support and upgrades from BMW?

[BertMk2]

There are a few Alfas for sale at the moment on racecarsdirect.

[snowen250]

Ian Court is not trying to enter with an Alfa GTA, that is an earlier model as seen in the btcc in 2004, Court is entering with the later spec S2000 (both were S2000 regs but this one was called that).
They look quite different due to the facelift
GTA:

Later S2000 model:


As for why we dont see more, as has been said by Jimmy, why bother, Alfa will give you no help, where as SEAT, BMW and RML will at least give some assistance. The only time one has run well is when Murray was at the wheel, but i get the feeling he can pedal anything fast.
Simon

[helterskelter]

Originally Posted by snowen250

As for why we dont see more, as has been said by Jimmy, why bother, Alfa will give you no help, where as SEAT, BMW and RML will at least give some assistance. The only time one has run well is when Murray was at the wheel, but i get the feeling he can pedal anything fast.
Simon

Sorry, my mistake about Ian, you are right. As for the reason why they race with the Alfa, must be because they are cheaper than the other cars. After all, BMW, Seat and RML do give you assistance, but it's certainly not a present they are giving you! You surely must be paying for it, somehow.
Anyway, I don't remember the guy who bought the car, but he was in Stcc and got assistance from N Technology at that time.

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by helterskelter

Anyway, I don't remember the guy who bought the car, but he was in Stcc and got assistance from N Technology at that time.

Mattias Andersson
He ended up 11th in the championship, but had a lot of missfurtunes during the 2008 season. Hope he will be back with lady luck on his side for 2009.

[rich07]

Its not the same without the Alfas......

[Icebaby]

The best looking touring car ever to grace a track, Thompson was an inspriation in it and did more for the Alfa brand than he got credit for after Marsh and Pinkney set destroying it at A Tech.

Its not the same without the Alfas, like losing Ferrari out of F1.

[awrb]

Would be great to see them back, they've got some stunning cars, but i can't see it really. their parent company, Fiat, might though. They've got the Grande Punto in the IRC, could someone buy some of those and convert them to touring cars?

[nkh]

I think Alfas original plan was to replace the WTCC 156 with the 147 successor ("Milano"/"149"/"940"), as this was planed to come quite soon after the 159 was lanuched. But (as always) the project went through a couple of set backs, and now it looks like that car will be launched in 2010.

They're also moving from NA engines to turbos - the 159 now comes with a 200hp 1.8 turbo in stead of the 185hp 2.2 NA engine, and the V6 is gone too. The "Milano" will probably only come with turbo engines (1.4 and 1.8) - so it'll probably make sense to wait until the S2000 allowes you to run a 1.4t or 1.8t.

Of course then there's also the question of wether they have the money for such a program, and they'll have to find a new racing team...

Btw, the Grande Punto S2000 rally cars are AWD.

[awrb]

The IRC cars are AWD, but how hard would it be to convert them to WTCC regs? Surely it would make more sense for Fiat as a manufacturer to do that.

[Icebaby]

Im suprised Alfa pulled out especially based on Thompson almost taking the title in 07 with little budget, its showed that with Alfa behind them and Thompson having a solid team mate it would have been in the bag.

Should Fiat come back then the Alfa is the only logical choice, same as replacing Ferrari and calling it Fiat. Lets hope they do return as I feel they have left a massive gap in WTCC with thier absence.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Alfa pulled out at the end of 2005 - following seasons they were pretty much an independent team.

[Icebaby]

I meant Thompson had done enough to justify bringing Alfa back

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by Icebaby

I meant Thompson had done enough to justify bringing Alfa back

November is a bit late to kick off a new program. It would have been easier if the car hadn't gone out of production, I suppose.