A legend of the thirties: Alfa Romeo Tipo B
On the starting line of this year’s Grand Prix Česká Lípa will be one of the most iconic pre-war single-seaters – Alfa Romeo Tipo B, also known as P3. Designed by the brilliant Vittorio Jano, this car represented a true revolution in 1932: it was the very first European centrally seated single-seater designed for Grand Prix racing.
It originally raced for the factory team Alfa Romeo, before being entrusted to the then young and ambitious Scuderia Ferrari. The finest drivers of the era took its wheel: Tazio Nuvolari, Louis Chiron, Giuseppe Campari, Baconin Borzacchini, Luigi Fagioli, Achille Varzi, Rudolf Caracciola and many others.
Instant fame
The Tipo B debuted in June 1932 at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Tazio Nuvolari delivered the performance that founded the legend: victory on its first outing. But its true place in motorsport’s golden history came in July 1935 at the Nürburgring, where the ageing Alfa Romeo Tipo B defeated the latest, technologically advanced Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union cars. Nuvolari’s triumph, achieved in a weaker car on paper, became a symbol of determination and driving mastery.
A technical revolution
Unlike the earlier two-seat eight-cylinder Alfa Romeo 8C Monza the Tipo B was conceived as a thoroughbred single-seater – every component was designed specifically for Grand Prix racing.
Under the bonnet was an eight-cylinder monobloc engine, with a narrower crankcase and two superchargers. The innovative “Testa fissata” solution – a fixed cylinder head – eliminated sealing problems and allowed the 2.9-litre engine to deliver reliable performance.
An icon comes to life
At Speed Festival 2025 you will have a unique opportunity to see this jewel in Grand Prix Alley, where you can admire it up close, and then in action during the evening Grand Prix. The supercharger’s sound, slender bodywork and charisma of inter-war racing machines will return to the streets of Česká Lípa.
