An Alfa Romeo Giulietta rear-wheel drive with Maserati V8 engine boosted to 500 hp: a real GTA!

This racing beast was developed by Roger Evans, owner of Peak Alfa, an independent Biscione specialist renowned locally for its numerous preparations. A number of competitors in the Alfa Romeo and Italian Intermarques Championship passed through him.

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta: a taste of unfinished business

L'Alfa Romeo Giulietta, launched in 2010 as the successor to the 147, didn't get a GTA, nor a V6, and had to make do with a Quadrifoglio version powered by a 240 HP 4-cylinder 1750 TBi. Not bad in itself, but far from the nobility of the Busso V6s of its predecessors. Nor was there a "factory" competition version, since the TCR, which gave the car a little success later on, was developed by Romeo Ferraris.

Merging with Maserati Granturismo and Alfa Romeo 8C

Roger Evans embarked on a very bold project, grafting the original Maserati 4.7-liter V8 engine and transaxle from an Alfa Romeo 8C onto an Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Other equipment includes DTA engine management, Sachs coil springs and remote reservoir dampers from the Ferrari Challenge. The engine, originally rated at 450 bhp, was announced to be rated at nearly 500 bhp, and it was often this V8 Giulietta that had the best v-max. What's more, Evans' Giulietta became a rear-wheel drive. In terms of looks, you'd think the Giulietta would have raced in the DTM, with its wide tracks, especially at the rear, its big spoiler and massive diffuser.

A promising start

Roger Evans' spectacular Giulietta, entered in the Invitation class, made its long-awaited debut at Croft in 2021 amid great interest and excitement. She was the result of 7 years' work! Its space-frame structure led the stewards to homologate it as a "Saloon Special".

Entered as a guest (no points scored) in the Modified class, it finished 3rd in its first ARIIC 2021 race at Croft. Roger Evans was still working on the best set-up, especially as having driven front-wheel-drive cars throughout his career, he had to get used to a rear-wheel-drive configuration here. At Outlon Park, in only its third race, the Giulietta V8 took the overall win to close the 2021 season.

But a premature end to his career

Unfortunately, the car was put up for sale in 2022. Several forums suggested that Roger Evans had retired. The price was rather low, at £45,000, perhaps foreshadowing a number of technical glitches? Roger Evans was then announced as driving a 4C, the Giulietta having obviously caused too many tuning complications... Anyway, it hasn't appeared in the championship since. Too bad, it was a hell of a looker!