Alfa Romeo 156 Turbo Integrale: Set to return in 2026, it sports a DTM-style look and is powered by a Lancia Delta engine

The “Modified” class of the British Alfa Romeo Championship showcases mechanical “Frankensteins” born from the boldest ideas of these passionate drivers. It’s therefore not uncommon to see race cars that look like “patchwork” creations.” Alfa Romeo with frequent engine swaps (as they’re called in the trade). Scott Austin’s Alfa Romeo 156 Turbo Integrale falls into this category.

Alternative History

Let’s engage in a bit of alternate history: imagine that, at the end of the 1996 season, the ITC championship (which had expanded internationally from the DTM) hadn’t disappeared. Rather than joining the Super 2000 category of super touring cars, Alfa Romeo decides to continue competing in this top-tier championship and replaces the 155 V6 Ti with a 156 DTM. Today’s featured model could very well embody this hypothetical scenario!

Launched in 1997, the’Alfa Romeo 156 marks a turning point in the brand’s history as well as a true stylistic and technical revival. Its distinctive Latin-inspired design, its exceptionally efficient chassis, its sophisticated double-wishbone front suspension, and its dynamic handling quickly established it as a benchmark. The 156 also enjoyed a successful official racing career, winning several titles in Italian and European Supertourism and the WTCC through 2006.  In fact, to this day, it remains the last Alfa Romeo to have benefited from a major racing program—unlike the 147, 159, Giulietta, and Giulia sedans…

Powerful, but unpredictable

Before being associated with Scott Austin, this Alfa Romeo 156 was driven by Vincent Dubois. The championship archives already mention a 156 equipped with an Integrale engine and a sequential transmission. In 2021, after racing for several seasons in a 155, Scott Austin bought it. Championship organizers note that the car had not been driven for over a year.

A major rebuilding and fine-tuning phase is underway before its return to competition. The car is known for its impressive performance but also for its reliability issues. In fact, it missed quite a few races in 2024 and 2025 “following a major engine failure,” but made its comeback in 2026.

The Integrale Engine: A Spectacular Transplant

What sets it apart from all the other Alfa Romeo 156s in the championship is its engine. This sedan is often referred to in championship reports as an “Integrale-engined 156.” The majority of British race-spec 156s use naturally aspirated Twin Spark engines.

Scott Austin’s car follows a completely different philosophy: installing a Delta turbo engine in a front-wheel-drive sedan. Specifically, it’s the famous Fiat/Lancia Lampredi 2.0 16-valve turbo engine, made famous by the Lancia Delta HF Integrale.  This engine is renowned for its exceptional durability and enormous tuning potential.

It’s also a nod to history, since the GTA—the first competition version of the 155 that preceded the V6 Ti in 1992—was developed based on the Lancia Delta, featuring the 2.0-liter turbo engine and even all-wheel drive.

However, the exact power output, weight, and type of transmission used have never been published. Given that this is the Modified class, the power output is likely around 400 ch or even more, but there is no information that clearly specifies this. The 2.0-liter sedans in the BTCC produced 300 chevaux, but turbocharging is widely used in the Modified class.

Key Findings

With Vincent Dubois

• Snetterton 2020: 4th in the overall standings before experiencing problems with the sequential gearbox. The car was described at the time as extremely fast but fragile.
• 2020 Season: Several retirements or no-shows due to mechanical issues (gearbox, engine crankcase, drivetrain), despite the organizers recognizing its potential. Championship articles describe it as a «beast» when it’s running properly.

With Scott Austin

• 2022: Scott Austin wins the Modified class of the championship.
• 2023: Several top finishes in the category; the car is regularly cited as one of the fastest on the grid.
• 2025 Brands Hatch Festival Italia: Qualified in the middle of the field against much more modern and powerful cars; the 156 is still in the race despite having suffered major engine damage earlier.
• 2026 The 156 is back. At Caldwell Park, a small, winding track, it posted the highest top speed at 197 km/h, compared to 185 km/h for Jack Berry’s 4C.

Scott Austin’s Alfa Romeo 156 Turbo Integrale remains one of the most radical Alfa Romeos still competing today. Although some of its technical specifications remain a secret, its impact on the championship is now well established.