{"id":55134,"date":"2026-10-23T11:16:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T09:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.italpassion.fr\/?p=55134"},"modified":"2026-10-19T18:58:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T16:58:40","slug":"hes-been-racing-in-an-alfa-romeo-for-40-years-ended-up-with-diesel-in-the-tank-and-finished-in-2nd-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.italpassion.fr\/en\/alfa-romeo\/il-court-en-alfa-romeo-depuis-40-ans-se-retrouve-avec-du-diesel-dans-le-reservoir-et-termine-2e\/","title":{"rendered":"He's been racing in an Alfa Romeo for 40 years, ended up with diesel in the tank\u2026 and finished second"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From the 1980s Bertone GT to the trusty 75 still competing in 2026, Keith Waite has been a part of the championship for decades Alfa Romeo<\/a> British with rare consistency. As a driver, team manager, and now the father of another competitor, Tom Waite, he embodies a different side of motorsports: that of the enthusiasts who keep a championship alive far beyond their results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keith Waite is an independent Alfa Romeo specialist and a veteran race car driver, best known for his Alfa Romeo 75<\/a> painted yellow and red in his garage's colors. He runs the garage K and L Autos<\/em> in London, where he draws on more than 35 years of mechanical expertise with both classic and modern models of the Italian brand. His garage exudes passion, overflowing with spare parts, toolboxes, papers of all kinds, as well as collectibles and decorative items. Not a single square centimeter escapes the love of mechanics in what a YouTube report describes as a \u00abcave of wonders,\u00bb in reference to Aladdin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keith and Alfa: The Result of Their Encounters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Around 1984, in an England reeling from the effects of the economic recession and the social unrest of the Thatcher era, Keith Waite spent a few months in a technical vocational program and discovered Alfa Romeo when he landed his first job at a garage. A man named Tim Stewart contacted him. He had just taken over an Alfa Romeo franchise after buying a Jaguar dealership located near the train station. Keith joined the company and gradually worked his way up from apprentice to shop foreman. The Alfa Romeo franchise eventually closed, and Keith went on to work for another well-known garage, Hazelmere Motor Company, run by Bob Buttery, one of the early winners of the Alfa Romeo IK Championship. That garage, in turn, was taken over a few years later by another company, prompting Keith to take the plunge and start his own business: K&L Autos<\/em>. K, for Keith, of course, and L for Lynn, his wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even today, Keith admits to working on a bit of everything when it comes to models, but since the pandemic, they\u2019ve decided to refocus on classic models rather than modern ones. This is both to lighten the heavy workload a bit and because, in his view, modern models \u00abare reaching a point where people no longer appreciate them.\u00bb When a problem arises, everything becomes very expensive. You have to invest a lot to get the modern equipment you need. His son works for a company called French and Italian Car Company<\/em>, a few kilometers from K&L, and they have all the latest equipment. So, if a customer shows up with a modern car, Keith sends it there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My first race car\u2014and it broke down almost right away!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But let\u2019s get back to the race, since Keith is signed up for his 39th season in the Alfa UK Championship this year! It all began in the mid-1980s, when some friends invited him to attend an Alfa Romeo club\u2019s Track Days at Castle Combe. There, he had the opportunity to drive an Alfa Romeo 33<\/a> new, and then, shortly afterward, came across an ad for a coupe for sale Bertone GTV 2000<\/a>. A blue coupe whose engine and brakes were seized, but the rest of which was in relatively good condition. He picked it up fairly easily for 300 pounds\u2014people weren\u2019t as fussy back then\u2014restored it, prepped it for the race, but wasn\u2019t its first official driver. He lent it to Paul O\u2019Hallen, one of the top drivers in the Alfa Romeo championship. But at Mallory Park, during its debut race, the car was wrecked in a crash! So Keith Waite never actually drove the first race car he prepared\u2026 however, as compensation, he soon acquired another GTV 2000, this time a green one. Not bad!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GTV Bertone, GTV6, Giulietta\u2014there's something for everyone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The British driver made his debut in the Alfa Romeo series in 1986\u20131987. At that time, the championship operated in a world very different from today\u2019s. The paddocks were filled with cars derived from production models, the modifications were often done by hand, and the drivers maintained a close relationship with their cars that is less common in modern professional racing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As early as 1987, Waite began appearing in the rankings behind the wheel of the\u2019Alfa Romeo GTV<\/a> Green. Standard transmission, old Pirelli P6s, no roll cage: it was all very \u00abdown-to-earth\u00bb! Around 1989, he switched to the Alfetta GTV6, a move that already hinted at his fondness for V6-powered Alfas. He alternated between different cars, racing a Giulietta in the mid-1990s and then reappearing in 1998 in a three-liter GTV6 at Croft, where he finished eighth overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the mid-1990s, Keith Waite raced primarily in a Alfa Romeo Giulietta<\/a> Type 116, in partnership with Paul Legge. Their crew is participating as part of the Shared Drive<\/em>, which allows multiple drivers to share a car. In 1994, the two men finished third in that competition and went on to win it in 1996. This Giulietta Type 116 was then sold to Andy Page, who still races it in the Modified class!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 75: A Car, A Signature<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the early 2000s, the Alfa Romeo 75 gradually emerged as his signature car. He purchased a 75 2.4 with a five-speed automatic transmission; the body and chassis were in good condition, but the engine was inoperable. So Waite salvaged the engine, transmission, and everything else from the GTV6 to install them in the 75. He widened the fenders, installed larger wheels and bigger brakes, and added a \u00abK+L\u00bb rear license plate\u2014a romantic tribute to this passionate couple. And ever since, this 75\u2014whose colors are reminiscent of a famous fast-food chain (or a famous oil tanker, which makes more sense)\u2014has barely moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It thus appeared around 2002 in the category of Modified Sedans<\/em>. In 2004, he finished second in the season opener at Castle Combe. The following year, his 75 3.0L helped him achieve several notable results. At Croft, he finished third in the first race before winning the second, marking an overall victory across all categories. He also added a class victory at Brands Hatch. Over the seasons, the car evolved and the classes changed: Class A, then Modified or Power Trophy. The years went by, but the 75 remained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Castle Combe 2016: The Tank of Diesel That Could Have Ruined Everything<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mechanical mishaps are a dime a dozen in the paddocks, but some are truly memorable. The one at Castle Combe in 2016 ranks among the most entertaining of Waite\u2019s career. Following a fuel mix-up, the No. 75 car ended up with diesel in its tank. For a race car that runs on gasoline, this was a serious problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Keith, his son Tom, and Paul Legge then sprang into action to try to salvage the situation. They had to drain the tank, refill it with the correct fuel, and hope that the diesel hadn\u2019t contaminated the entire fuel system. The operation was completed in time. The V6 eventually restarted\u2014not without some smoke and anxiety\u2014and then ran well enough to allow the car to take to the track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What followed was almost too good to be true: Waite finished second in both races. He didn't win the overall standings, but he did take first place in the Power Trophy twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next generation is ready<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, Keith Waite found another bright green Alfa Romeo 33 while searching for a 1750 Duetto for a client. While browsing classified ads and auction listings, he discovered this small sedan and showed it to his son Tom. The story published by the championship adds a touch of family humor. Keith and Tom told Lynn, Keith\u2019s wife, that they were simply going on a round trip to Norfolk to look at the car. However, they had packed everything they needed to make a purchase, including the tools and parts necessary to drive the car home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Keith first got behind the wheel of the green car, equipped with a 1.5-liter engine. The championship, accustomed to seeing him behind the wheel of his V6-powered Alfas, found this detour amusing. But the purpose of the little 33 is clear: it\u2019s meant to serve as Tom\u2019s primary car. In 2019, the father kept the large rear-wheel-drive sedan while the son discovered motorsports behind the wheel of the lighter, less powerful 33.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thirty-nine seasons, and still eager to come back<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Waite's career has seen a few hiatuses, and his races have become less frequent, but he hasn't retired for good. He recently stated in a report by Alfa Classic Ltd: \u00a0\u00bbI didn't race much last year\u2014just one race. I went to race at Donington, mostly to see if I could still do it. So as long as I'm enjoying it, I'll keep going.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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