July 19, 2024: For the sixth episode of “Il Bollo d’Oro”, we meet with Carlo Barbolini Cionini, who began car racing with the Alfa Revival Cup, and Raffaele Raimondi, an expert driver with a career spanning decades, ranging from prototypes to GT and Formula races. The car they will be driving is the number 356 GTAm from 1968, and their team is the Circolo della Biella.
Let’s begin with Carlo; when did you first take part in a car race?
“I began with the 2022 Alfa Revival Cup as a hobby, driving during the weekend at Varano, with a rented Giulia Nuova Super. I had previously tried my hand at karting and motocross. I took part in the entire 2023 season of the Alfa Revival Cup, first with the Giulia Nuova Super and then with the GTV 2000.”
Where does your interest in automobiles originate from?
“I have had a strong passion for motoring since I was young. I think it is a thrilling form of entertainment you can share with friends. This is made possible through a championship like Alfa Revival Cup, which also welcomes those who are approaching motorsports as amateurs.”
Which, in your opinion, is the most exciting moment in a race?
“The start, which is thrilling, and the battles that break out at certain points.”
Of all the races you have taken part in, which one has made the strongest impression on you?
“Without a doubt, the Alfa Revival Cup event in Vallelunga in 2023. It was fun, because my driving performance improved with each lap.”
Why have you chosen vintage Alfa Romeos?
“I have always respected the brand and its products. My father was a loyal Alfa owner, and he was particularly fond of the Alfetta in its various bodies and evolutions. One unique and distinctive characteristic of Alfa Romeos of the past is the unmistakable sound of the engine, which captures the attention of anyone nearby.”
What do you like about the Alfa Revival Cup?
“The fun that characterises the entire racing weekend, which comes from the presence of cars that are similar in terms of model and performance.”
How are you taking on the 2024 championship?
“I decided to purchase the GTAm so that I could progress as a driver, and to have complete freedom in terms of upgrades to the car. My GTAm is in excellent condition, but I thought it would be a good idea to install a more technologically advanced braking system and coilovers.”
What are your goals?
“To simply have fun.”
Let’s move on to Raffaele Raimondi: a 35-year career in motorsport divided into two periods; the first as a professional, which took him as far as Super Formula, and the second, current phase as an amateur with vintage cars. So far, you have enthusiastically taken part in three seasons of the Alfa Revival Cup. He loves the speed and the adrenaline that motorsport brings.
When did you decide to start motor racing? What car did you begin with?
“I started at the age of 18 with an Alfasud Sprint Veloce, followed by a Peugeot 205 Rallye in the 1992 205 Cup. Over the following seven years, I competed in Formula 2000 and Super Formula with the Dallara. Between the end of the ‘90s and the beginning of the 2000s, I had a fun four years in the European Prototype Cup, initially with the Giudici Team with the Picchio MB1, with a BMW engine, and then with the official Lucchini Engineering team with the SR2001, with an Alfa Romeo engine. In 2002 and 2003 I also took part in the German 147 Cup, the single-brand race dedicated to the GTA version of the Alfa Romeo hatchback. In 2005 I took part in the 24-hour race in Spa with a Maserati 4200 Light GT with Gianni Giudici and Diego Romanini, as part of the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint. For the next four years, I dedicated myself to the GT Open, driving the Ferrari F430 and the Dodge Viper, and then I spent two years in the Porsche Supercup with the 911 GT3 series 996 with Gianluca De Lorenzi.”
What is your relationship with classic cars?
“I began ten years ago with vintage cars, and I have never looked back; I love them. I have a wonderful Jaguar E-Type, with which I have raced in the Italian Vintage Car Championship.”
What is the best moment of a race?
“I love every moment, from when I fasten my seatbelt to the finish line.”
Looking back, what is the most thrilling race you remember?
“The six-hour race in Misano, which I won in 2006 with a Golf TDI.”
Why did you decide to race with vintage Alfas?
“I am an enthusiast of the brand; I have a Giulietta Sprint Veloce, a T.I. and a Spider. I consider the Alfa Revival Cup to be an extremely interesting and well-organised championship, with lots of GTAms.”
What goals have you set yourself, what does your future see?
“To have fun, above all, and to be at least in the top ten.”
Of all the racecars that you have driven, which have made the strongest impression?
“I think the Formula 2000 and Super Formula Dallara is the highest representation of race cars. In terms of covered-wheel cars, the Porsche 911 and the GTAm are formidable projects.”
