At this weekend's season opening Australian Grand Prix quite a few questions were answered. The answer to the most important question, 'which is the fastest car?', is unequivocally the Red Bull Racing RB7. Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel drove his example to an easy victory after dominating qualifying. This despite running the final two days of the weekend without the KERS system that adds 80 bhp of power for 6.7 seconds every lap. An evolution of the RB6 and the RB5 before that, the new RB7 has once again been designed by the brilliant Adrian Newey. The rivaling teams certainly have their work cut for them if they want to get ahead of the latest Red Bull.
In 1939 and 1940 Alfa Romeo built a total of eight competition cars based on the 6C 2500 SS road car. Internally known as the Tipo 256, they competed in a wide variety of road races with open and closed bodies. Unfortunately none of the original Spiders have survived in their original configuration. At least one still exists but stamped with a new chassis number and fitted with a more luxurious body. This Pinin Farina Spider was most likely sold in 1942 as a brand new car to its unsuspecting first owner. The original identity was only discovered many decades later when a second chassis number was found on the frame rails. We captured this lovely 6C 2500 SS at Villa d'Este in 2008.
Not to be mistaken for one of the original eight, this 6C 2500 SS Corsa Spider is nevertheless a very impressive copy of the competition version. Taken over ten years to complete, it was built using an original 6C 2500 chassis and engine, complemented by numerous period bits. The result is a near perfect copy of the original Corsa Spider. Until recently this 6C 2500 was a regular competitor in the Monterey Historic Races.

Enjoy the links:

1940 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Pinin Farina Spider - Images, Specifications and Information

1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Corsa Spider - Images, Specifications and Information

2011 Red Bull Racing RB7 Renault - Images, Specifications and Information