He takes on a Porsche 911 GT3 at the Nürburgring with an Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm: "It's an incredible car, but..."

When Alfa Romeo unveils the Giulia GTA and above all the GTAm in spring 2020, the Italian brand isn't looking to break sales records. It's signing a manifesto. A demonstration of know-how, image and radicalism, directly inspired by competition, at a time when sports sedans are becoming more consensual. Available from 2021, the Giulia GTAm's positioning is as exclusive as its price. It starts at €176,400, with production limited to 500 units worldwide. A car reserved for enthusiasts, collectors and those who want an Alfa Romeo without compromise.

Under the hood is the 2.9L V6, very similar to the 3.0L V6 of the Maserati MC20 supercar, boosted to 540 hp and 600 Nm of torque, transmitted to the rear wheels alone via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Thanks to intensive weight control, the GTAm loses around 100 kg compared with the Giulia Quadrifoglio, to achieve a power-to-weight ratio of 2.82 kg/hp. On paper, the promise is clear: a top speed of 300 km/h and a 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.6 seconds. But a technical data sheet doesn't tell the whole story. And it was precisely on the Nordschleife that the Giulia GTAm was recently put through its paces.

Misha Charoudin, the Nürburgring as judge of the peace

A regular at the Nürburgring and followed by over two million YouTube subscribers, Misha Charoudin is one of those drivers who can instantly sense a car's qualities... and faults. After months of waiting, he finally got behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm, precisely number 10 out of 500. From the very first moment, the tone is set. Inside, the GTAm fully embraces its racetrack DNA: omnipresent Alcantara, rollbar, Sparco fire extinguisher, bucket seats, carbon in profusion. The rear bench has disappeared, as has everything else that's superfluous. The car impresses with the quality of its details and its resolutely racing ambience.

On the Nordschleife, against a Porsche 911 GT3 for a full lap, the Giulia GTAm has no shortage of character. "It's an incredible car," sums up Misha Charoudin, seduced by the emotion it exudes, its lively handling and its precision behind the wheel. The brakes, in particular, are highly commended. The pedal is firm and ultra-precise, with power and endurance worthy of a real racing car. For the driver, this is quite simply one of the GTAm's major strengths. The sound of the central Akrapovič exhaust also contributes to the experience. Raucous, expressive, punctuated by crackles on deceleration.

An impressive car... but unbalanced at high speed

But enthusiasm soon gives way to a more nuanced analysis. On the Nürburgring, the Giulia GTAm reveals a major flaw: its aerodynamic balance. The rear wing generates plenty of downforce, but the front end struggles to keep up. In the fast sections and the circuit's emblematic compressions, the car's nose loses weight spectacularly. On several occasions, Misha Charoudin observes the front end lift, sometimes to the point where the car almost lifts off the ground. The understeer then becomes marked, particularly in fast corners, and confidence is eroded. "The problem isn't the rear end," he explains, "it's the front end, which simply doesn't have enough downforce to compensate.

This imbalance is also reflected in a sensation of aerodynamic drag at high speeds. In fifth and sixth gear, the GTAm seems to lose its ability to accelerate, as if held back by its own spoiler. Even after a few adjustments to tire pressure and spoiler settings, the impression remains the same. The Giulia GTAm is spectacular, emotional, but sometimes vague on the track, so much so that Misha Charoudin thinks it's best not to go for the lap time at all costs.

A collector's item rather than an absolute weapon?

Is this a failure? Not according to the driver. For despite its limitations on the Nordschleife, the Giulia GTAm retains a unique charm. Its design, finish, exclusivity and character make it a deeply desirable car. For intensive track use, Misha Charoudin is lucid. If he had to choose, he would prefer to start with a more classic Giulia Quadrifoglio and prepare it himself. The GTAm, on the other hand, is first and foremost a collector's item, an Alfa Romeo designed to make an impression rather than to break records. "Fix the front, and it would be a formidable machine," he concludes.