Description
The Tipo 33/ 2: The first year of competition produced many changes for the 1968 model which would become known as the Tipo 33/ 2. A range of road holding, aerodynamic and mechanical resulted in a much better engineered car. Fuel injection was chosen over carburettors and the aerodynamics were reworked including the removal of the lift inducing periscope air intake. Extensive testing at Mugello resulted in a new coupé body, whilst retaining the original ‘H’ layout chassis of the first development cars. Two variants, a long and short tail were developed, with the longer often called ‘Le Mans’ and shorter, ‘Daytona’, although these bodies were designed to be interchangeable. Weight was shifted to the centre of the car, radiators moved to the sides, and the entire profile of the body was reduced in height. These changes, amongst others, resulted in a more balanced and competitive version of the Tipo 33, finally ready to take the fight to Porsche in the 1969 season. Chassis 75033 017 For 1968 Autodelta announced it would be racing this new coupe version of the 33, fitted with the 2 litre engine, in Group 6 races with the following drivers: Giovanni Galli, Ignazio Giunti, Teodoro Zeccoli, Udo Schuetz, Nino Vaccarella, Giampiero Biscaldi and Giancarlo Baghetti. The first major challenge for the car was to be the 24 hours of Daytona. Initially, one two litre car was sent to Daytona for Zeccoli and Schultz which was used for testing purposes. Autodelta ultimately entered five cars in total, including three official Autodelta entries (Schutz/ Vaccarella, Zeccoli/ Casoni & Galli/ Giunti) one under the banner of American Alfa Romeo Inc. (Andretti/ Bianchi) and a T-Car driven by Casoni. In the end an accident in testing meant that the pairing of Galli and Giunti, who would become inextricably linked to chassis 017 didn’t make it to Daytona. Nevertheless, the new 33/ 2 put in an impressive performance, with three cars finishing and finishing well. This car was driven by Schuetz & Vaccarella (number 20) to 4th in Class (Wimpffen, 1999), the best result for Alfa Romeo of the weekend with the other two cars crossing the line 5th and 6th in class. With such a promising start to the 1968 season, four Autodelta entries were announced for Le Mans in 1968. Civil disorder in France in May 1968 pushed the race to September, in turn Autodelta decided to withdraw from the Monza 1000 km to conserve their engines for the Targa Florio. Both Alfa Romeo and Porsche had been in Sicily for weeks before the event, but the Italian team was struggling to put in the times of their German competitors, chiefly because of better road holding from the Porsches in rougher sections of the course. Six short tail ‘Daytona’ configuration cars were entered, including four Autodelta cars. This car, chassis 17, car was allocated to the ever-successful pairing of Galli & Giunti. Interviewed by Ed McDonough and Peter Collins for their 2005 book, Alfa Romeo Tipo 33, The Development & Racing History, Nanni Galli recorded that he always chose chassis 017 as each car had its own handling characteristics and were honed by the drivers throughout the season (Collins, 2005) Despite fierce competition from Elford in the 907, Galli and Giunti secured one of the greatest victories for the T33/ 2 with this car, securing second overall and first in classis at the Targa Florio in 1968. Only two weeks later Galli and Giunti took the car to the Nurburgring, securing 5th and another 1st in the under 2-litre class despite chaotic pit work from Autodelta. However, an overall victory still eluded the Autodelta team. In July four cars were entered into the non-championship Gran Premio del Mugello, in the very competitive 2-litre prototype class. Again, the duel of Porsche vs Alfa Romeo would dominate the race with the Italians facing stiff competition from the Porsche 910s of Elford/ van Lennep and Siffert/ Steinemann. The Alfa Romeo’s had the advantage of months of practice on the challenging circuit, a familiarity which left Galli, Casoni and Bianchi to set the three fastest lap times. Practice and some nail-biting racing paid off with the first overall victory for the Tipo 33/ 2. (Collins, 2005) The delayed 1968 24 hrs of Le Mans took place in the last weekend in September. Giunti and Galli driving chassis 017 were the clear front runners in practice, 2 seconds faster than the second fastest Tipo 33/ 2 and a full six seconds ahead of the Porsche 910s. In the race the Autodelta team delivered an almost faultless performance, sweeping the 2-litre class with only one retirement of the four cars entered and chassis 017 taking first in class and fourth overall. The 1968 season ended strongly for Alfa Romeo despite inconsistent results damaging their standing on the points table they finished third in the Manufacturers’ Championship...
