This Alfa Romeo GTV6 «Luigi» beat the BMWs in the '80s... it was still running 20 years later, but with a 325 hp Busso V6.

For more than 10 years, RSRacing has entered one of the world's largest racing teams in club races, demonstrations and various other national competitions. Alfetta GTV6 Group A, inherited from the official Autodelta supertouring program of the 1980s. Since its restoration and preparation, the car has scored several victories on circuits such as Zandvoort, Zolder, Spa-Francorchamps, Monza, Magny-Cours and the Nürburgring, both on the Grand Prix and the Nordschleife.

Alfetta GTV, queen of Group A Division 2

In 1982, Alfa Romeo joins the International Touring Car Championship with its new Busso V6 engine, powering the former Alfetta GTV. AutoDelta called on Italian tuner Imberti and Belgian tuner Luigi Racing. The engine produced 235 hp at 6,750 rpm, and drivers could rev it up to 8,000 rpm.

Luigi Racing won the Division 2 title three years in a row with the yellow GTV6 between 1982 and 1984, followed by Imberti in 1985 with the support of the Jolly Club. During these four years of domination, the GTV6s sometimes outperformed the much faster Division 1 cars, such as the BMW 635i or Jaguar XKJ.

When Ron Simons buys the GTV6 LR8512 from Luigi

In the '90s, Dutchman Ron Simons, head of RSNurburg, a driving school based on the Nordschleife, bought Luigi's GTV6 LR8512, which had won the 1985 title with Lombardi and Francia.

Ron began his career developing and testing performance parts for Lancia and Alfa Romeo before becoming a test driver for Porsche and Ferrari. With over 20 years' experience as a professional driver, he has become a legend at the Nürburgring. The Alfa Romeo Challenge quickly became one of the most popular categories at Zandvoort. It received invitations to all kinds of events on all kinds of circuits in Europe. Simons first owned a two-tone silver GTV6 from 1985, equipped with the old racing engine from Luigi's car, with a few modifications. Power was increased to 260 hp thanks to Cosworth pistons and a Haltech engine management system, with maximum revs climbing to 8,000 rpm. Using a 75TS gearbox with a 10/41 ratio, you can imagine that 1,000 rpm corresponded to around 35.2 km/h with 225 tires, which allowed the car to exceed 280 km/h on some circuits!

Under the tarpaulin, we could see a half-white, half-yellow GTV6, covered in dust, with no engine. Numerous brake pads accompanied AP Racing dual-caliper front brakes. Central locking BBS wheel fixings and OZ Racing rims were present throughout. All suspension components were alloy and the ride height was fully adjustable. The car was considerably lower. The engine was set further back in the engine compartment, and so on. Again, we saw modifications that were far from original and far from the limitations of the Group A regulations.

For the record, the previous owner of GTV6 LR8512 disappeared after entrusting the car to Luigi's workshop for the next preparation. After two years, the government seized the vehicle, which belonged, as we later learned, to a criminal accused of murder... In the end, Luigi got the car back free of charge. It was later resold to Ron Simons. It's one of the most beautiful Alfa Romeos in its original racing configuration, with a prestigious past.

The car is now equipped with a 3500 cm3 24-valve engine with programmable engine management. Its 325 hp and 380 Nm of torque, available from 1800 rpm, give it exceptional performance. Suspension was improved with front spring-damper units. The car remained highly competitive well into the 2000s, capable of winning races in the Alfa Romeo Challenge championship, against competition from the far more sophisticated and powerful Alfa 75 IMSA turbo.