Instrument of Racing: The Alfa Romeo Tipo B �P3� Monoposto

After the success of their P2 racer, Alfa Romeo followed it up by developing the "P3" monoposto (single-seat), also known as the Tipo B. Designed by the brilliant Vittorio Jano, it was the first genuine single-seater Grand Prix car.

Pen & ink with a watercolour pencil wash on archival white stock, 12"x 9"
� Paul Chenard 2009

Original art is available for sale, as are limited edition prints.

* The inset clover "quadrifoglio" graphic appeared on the Alfa Romeo Racing Team cars.

It was powered by a straight 8- cylinder engine, built around two 4-cylinder cast-iron blocks, each fed by a Roots supercharger. Power was transmitted to the rear wheel via twin drive-shafts.

In the hands of Tazio Nuvolari, Rudolf Caracciola, Louis Chiron, Achille Varzi, Raymond Sommer, and Ren� Dreyfus, the P3 won countless races from 1932 through to 1935.

It�s best known victory came in the hands of Nuvolari at the 1935 German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. With the P3�s engine bored-out to 3.2 litres, he beat out the far superior machines of the Mercedes and Auto-Union teams.