June 28, 2024: Marco is an Alfa Romeo enthusiast with a sporting pedigree and with a specific model that is closest to his heart; the original Giulietta (“Tipo 750”) in the T.I. version, with which he has enjoyed countless motoring adventures and earned a number of unforgettable victories, such as the Alfa Revival Cup 2020.
70 years on from the launch of the car nicknamed the “Italian’s girlfriend”, what better opportunity to get to know a fan of the Giulietta and of Alfa Romeo in general!
When did you decide to start motor racing?
I began 37 years ago, in 1987, in rallies, with an A112 Abarth, and then, over the years, I moved into this speciality. Between 1990 and 1991 I raced for two seasons in the Italian Velocità Turismo Championship with the Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130 TC, a thrilling car. Between 1998 and 2002 I took part in the Fiat Auto Corse “Trofeo Fiat Seicento Rally”, the single-brand race dedicated to the “spicier” version of the Turin-born hatchback, the “Sporting”. In 2003, I switched to the “MG-Rover Challenge” with an MG ZR 105 and gained a win for the sixth zone. Between 2007 and 2009 I took part in the Alfa Race with a 33 with the famous 1300 boxer engine with horizontally opposed pistons. After a break of almost ten years, I returned to racing at the wheel of a true vintage car, choosing one of Alfa’s most iconic sports models, the Giulietta T.I. 1300, with which I made my debut in the Alfa Revival Cup in 2016. My list of victories includes the class titles in 2018 and 2020, the year in which I also became overall winner. In 2023 I won the Campionato Italiano Auto Storiche (Italian Classic Cars Championship).
How would you define your adventures in racing?
It has, and will continue to be, an extremely enjoyable hobby for me. However, in some respects, vintage cars are also a job; together with Fausto Amendolagine, I run Capannone Garage, a workshop in Campagnano di Roma, which lends its name to our team. We handle light restoration work and mechanical preparation for all vintage cars and young timers.
How did your passion for cars begin?
Without a doubt, the credit goes to my family; that is where everything began. My father was a racer; from 1964 to 1970 driving Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Lotus Cortina. After a pause, he participated in a number of vintage cars competitions with a Giulietta Sprint Veloce from 1983 until his death in 2011. My uncle was also a racing driver of both modern and classic race cars and took part in many championships.
What is the best moment of a race?
The start, and obviously the weekend in general, with its special atmosphere; it’s where I feel at home.
Of all the races you have taken part in, what is your fondest memory?
There are so many, above all those in the season in which I won the Rover-MG trophy. Another one that comes to mind is Monza, in the Alfa Revival Cup 2019, with the Giulietta Ti. The Monza racetrack is, by no coincidence, considered the temple of speed. The layout and the pure motorsport atmosphere there make it my favourite circuit.
When did you decide to race with vintage Alfas?
In 2007, with the 33, which was considered at the time a young timer (although the term was not yet popular at the time). At the beginning of the 2000s, the Alfa Race was a championship dedicated to Alfa sports cars that were around twenty years old, such as the 75 and the Alfa Sud.
Why did you choose the Alfa Revival Cup?
For my passion for the Touring Alfa Romeos and for the atmosphere, which is welcoming and thrilling.
What goals have you set yourself, what does your future see?
I hope to win the H1 TC 1600 class and take part in all the races.
2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the launch of the Giulietta. You drove it for years, and now you race with a Giulia Super; what differences do you note between the two cars?
The Giulietta is a milestone in motoring history. The Giulia is a more recent and evolved project, with higher performance, but the Giulietta is more fun, because it needs to be driven with body and soul, with an extremely precise driving technique in order to push it to its limits. The Giulia has all-round disk brakes, a ground-breaking innovation at the time, something that was reserved exclusively for super-sports cars. The Giulietta has a drum system, which offers lower performance. Another significant difference is the power delivered by the engines; the Giulietta’s 1300 generates 95 hp, the Giulia’s 1600 reaches almost 150 hp.
