CASA ALFA ROMEO AT FUORI CONCORSO #VELOCISSIMO

Aug 6

Where do you go after winning Best in Show at Villa d’Este in the Concepts & Prototypes class? If you’re Alfa Romeo - the higher, the better - you keep to the shores of Lake Como but go even further up the hill…

Photos by Sabin Orasanu

Fuori Concorso could probably be best described as a stylish static display complementary to the traditional Villa d’Este extravaganza. Held annually on the shores of Lake Como during the same weekend as the famed Concorso d’Eleganza, it’s an Italian celebration of automotive culture, but open to the entire world. Its ideator Guglielmo Miani is a petrolhead who’ll easily swap his daily drive from a SZ to the latest 911, and his love for the best driving machines (regardless of the school of thought they’re part of) shows in the event’s varied display, where cutting-edge design novelties, coachbuilt one-offs and the greats of motorsport are presented in a more relaxed, forward-looking setting. Spread across the historic Villas of Grumello and Sucota, the event brings together collectors, brands, and enthusiasts in an atmosphere that feels more like a private gathering than a formal exhibition. It’s where contemporary car culture is continuously being modeled by paying homage to the icons of the past. This year’s theme was “Velocissimo”, showcasing some of the most significant Italian race cars, and after last year’s “Veni, Vidi, Vici” at Villa d’Este with the 33 Stradale for Alfa Romeo there was not much left to demonstrate, but to move to Fuori Concorso, take the winner’s spoils and transform Villa Sucota into “Casa Alfa Romeo” - leaving the privateers to battle on at Villa d’Este. With the greatest results again, as no less than three Alfas were awarded this year: Best in Show (the Tipo B P2), Best Concept (8C CodaLunga) and the Presidents’ Trophy ( 8C 2900).

Photos by Quentin Martinez

Photos by Alex Stroe

This year, the Alfattitude crew was invited to support Alfa Romeo in covering the event, in doing so also bringing the voice of the Alfisti to the lakeside lawns of Como and share back what all that we saw, following the invisible line of Alfa’s DNA between the first winner of a F1 championship - the 159 "Alfetta" (welcoming visitors as from a virtual pole position on a grid like formation at the entry of Villa Grumello) and its ultimate modern-day expression, the 33 Stradale.

Photos by Luca Danilo Orsi

Center stage was occupied, unmistakably, by the new 33 Stradale. And rightly so. Still fresh from its dynamic debut earlier this year at Balocco, the limited-run icon was presented not behind ropes but surrounded by people. It was so touching to witness normal enthusiasts and obvious connoisseurs from the automotive high-society simply magnetized by its presence. Sure, it was a static display, but the 33 Stradale’s aura is one that turns heads without needing to roar its V6 engine, maybe also because of another significant highlight: Fuori Concorso was the stage chosen for the launch of the first book dedicated to the new 33 Stradale - a book to which I’m proud to say we’ve made a small contribution through a few of Luca’s images.

But the 33 didn’t come alone: in fact Casa Alfa Romeo was a house full of Biscioni, with no less than 15 cars lined up for the public’s delight. Two of the most beautiful race cars ever made stood nearby - the Giulia TZ and TZ2 - not in competition with each other, but as a double salute to Ercole Spada, the designer who gave Alfa the “Coda Tronca” and a shortcut to victory. Opposite of them was a trio of venerable pre-war veterans: the P2 - celebrating 100 years since it won the inaugural World Championship and added the golden laurels to the Alfa badge as a result, and another two quintessential Zagato cars: the 8C 2300 and the 6C 1750. Moving on towards the lake a pair of 33s, this type of the racing variety: the 33/3 V8 and the 1975 World Championship for Makes winner, the 33TT12. A pleasant surprise was to see Arturo Merzario reunited with the car, cowboy hat on, looking ready to jump in the cockpit and roar away (but we’ll have more on this iconic duo later). Talking about icons, next to the aperitivo liveried Campari 33 stood also the digestivo: a bright orange Jagermaister 155 V6 Ti - no competition really for it, just as it happened during the DTM years. Maybe the only worthy rivals, at least in a popularity contest among the Alfisti, could be the other boss cars of the Touring category lined up: the 75 Group A 2500 V6 and the mighty 1.8 Tb Evo - great to see them again after the 75’s 40th anniversary celebration at Museo Storico. Ahead of them the ultimate ‘60s racing Biscioni: a Junior 1300 Junior GTA and the Giulia Sprint 1600 GTA of the Independents edition cover fame. Closing the honour rolls was another car that seemed almost too beautiful to race - the 6C 2300 by Touring Superleggera - but racing it did, on the much demanding Mille Miglia scene of them all.

All the Alfas present are significant in one way or another, but for the occasion they were fitting contributors to the lending context, and not competition to the other brands present. And seeing side by side all these proud Biscioni was not only about comparing eras and automotive progress, but more about understanding continuity. A Rosso Alfakind of fil rouge, blended with Milanese attitude.

There are events that celebrate heritage, and others that feature the latest novelties. Fuori Concorso does both and more: it curates a mood. Alfa Romeo’s participation wasn’t just a display; in fact given this year's theme it would have made no sense without it, it was part of the event’s internal logic. You saw it in the way people reached to the 33 Stradale like it was the event’s gravitational center, after walking through these lush gardens. And in the way everyone wanted a piece of these Alfas by taking out their phones and cameras.

For us at Alfattitude, it was a weekend of quietly admiring as much as trying to capture the essence of the event. Reassuring more than ever to see Alfa so gloriously taking its dedicated space - by far the most impressive presence I’ve witnessed in a public display. Italy gave to the world other “Velocissimo” cars - Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini were also present - but none of them could represent the concept of driving fast, in style as Alfa Romeo... from coachbuilt legends to carbon-fiber dreams, the message was clear: Alfa never stopped designing emotions.