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FIA GT: Alpina Returns to Racing
Written by: SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com   
04/25/2008 - 07:51 PM
Buchloe, Germany
 
A rendering of the ALPINA BMW B6 GT3 car. (Photo: ALPINA) ยป More Photos


ALPINA can look back on a long and successful history in international motorsport. Well-known F1 and Touring Car drivers such as Niki Lauda, Jacky Ickx, Hans Stuck and Dieter Quester gripped an ALPINA steering wheel on their way to winning three European Touring Car Championships. ALPINA pilots also won the Nürburgring 24 Hours numerous times, as well as the 24 Hours of Spa in 1970.

After 20 years out of racing, ALPINA will field a factory team, running the B6 GT3 in the 2009 FIA GT3 European Championship, our race car based on the BMW ALPINA B6 S road car. ALPINA will field its this team in the FIA GT3 European Championship, as well as racing in selected important endurance races.

“We think that the BMW 6 Series – especially with the super-charged, torque-laden 4,4 l V8 ALPINA engine from the B6 S (530 HP, 725 Nm) – provides the ideal basis to challenge pure-bred sportscars such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin within the framework of GT3 regulations“, said Andreas Bovensiepen, ALPINA proprietor.

The idea of going racing with street-based dream cars has proven to be a great success for drivers, spectators and manufacturers alike. With this involvement in racing, ALPINA will be able to raise
awareness of the ALPINA brand, especially in markets new to ALPINA. With ten distinguished automotive marques, the GT3 Championship is the Crème de la Crème, and with starting grids of 45 cars in the European Championship and multiple national championships, quite compelling. ALPINA see a well-thought-out concept at relatively reasonable cost. With his long racing history, Andreas Bovensiepen sees the benefit racing can bring, and has been the initiator of the new GT3 project from the very beginning.

Much like in the 1970s, ALPINA will also sell BMW ALPINA B6 GT3 race cars to private parties, collectors and race teams. This motorsport engagement will be ALPINA’s fourth business venture. It marks another milestone in ALPINA’s strategy of consistent, enduring growth. In addition to the race cars, ALPINA have been manufacturing road-going BMW ALPINA automobiles for over 40 years, and maintain a flourishing business trading in renowned wines from world’s finest growing regions. A new engineering centre, absolutely state-of-the-art in terms of its machinery and capabilities, will soon be completed. This will allow ALPINA to more quickly bring its products to market and to offer its engineering services to third parties.

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