Alfa Romeo

Italian car-manufacturing company, known for its racing cars. In 1986 the company was bought by Fiat.

The Alfa Romeo racing car made its debut 1919. In the 1930s it was dominant in the great long-distance races such as the Targo Florio and Mille Miglia. An Italian, Giuseppe Farina, drove the Alfa Romeo 158 to win the 1950 British Grand Prix, the first world championship race; he also won the world title that year. Alfa Romeo left Grand Prix racing in 1951 only to return for a brief spell in 1978.