BLCKBOX ~ BTCC 1998 Alfa Romeo 156 GTA

A true piece of Alfa Romeo racing history, a genuine factory Alfa Romeo 156 Touring car. This Alfa Romeo has had a very competitive racing career, winning the Campeonato de Italia de Superproducción in 1999, a recognised race car throughout Europe with great success throughout its racing life. Built by Fiat Auto Corse to FIA Super Production regulations in 1998, this Alfa Romeo 156 was used to good effect by renowned touring car team Scuderia Bigazzi to win the Campeonato de Italia de Superproducción with Luis Villamil behind the wheel. Subsequently, it was imported to the UK by GA Motorsports, the team founded by works British and Italian Touring Car Champion, Gary Ayles for use in the British Touring Car Championship. Running in the Super Production Class under the GA Janspeed banner the car was driven in 2001 by Gavin Pyper who gathered great pace, eventually finishing 6th in the championship. In 2002 the car was entered for the full BTCC season by GA Motorsports for Alan Blencowe who finished 7th in the championship, recording three podium finishes. 2003 saw the GA Motorsports team once again enter the car for a limited campaign in the BTCC, where Chris Ryan scored a victory in the opening round at Mondello Park. Subsequently sold, the car was run in the Britcar Production championship by Brunswick Automotive and was raced in the Nurburgring 24 Hour Race in 2005. The car is offered in good order with a fresh Brunswick Automotive built 2.0-litre engine featuring steel crankshaft and rods, JE forged pistons and a full race cylinder head. The engine is fitted with Jenvey throttle bodies and runs EFI-Euro 6 engine management together with Magnetti Marelli data logging, all equating to an output of approximately 240 bhp. Constructed from a lightweight shell with a beautifully crafted T45 roll cage, the car is fitted with air jacks, Penske 3-way adjustable dampers, Brembo racing brakes and a Bacci close-ratio dog engagement gearbox complete with LSD. This car also benefits from fully adjustable suspension for corner weight adjustment with custom anti-roll bars both front and rear. The car is fitted with two forms of brake bias, pedal box and hydraulic, easily adjusted for different driving styles and circuits. The car also benefits from an external fast fuel-fill system and is fitted with air jacks which can be charged from the outside. It has been dry stored as part of a private collection and has not been raced since 2005, however, it did undertake a successful one-hour test session in 2015 but has not been used since except for an occasional run on a private road. Now eligible for Britcar Production, CSCC Tin Tops, the Alfa Romeo Championship and even perhaps the Historic Production Super Touring Car Championships, the new owner would need to apply for the relevant FIA homologation papers to enjoy the true touring car experience in this exciting and historic car. This car will require some recommissioning work, but it would make a very exciting prospect to add to any Alfa Romeo aficionado's collection, or to return to the circuits to be used as its makers intended.