Rosso upstages Bleu at Prescott

Maserati 250F

Michael Oliver’s Maserati 250F made its Prescott debut at La Vita Rosso, Italian-themed companion to the French-inspired La Vie En Bleu. Although the bodywork is a recreation, its engine is significant.

Engine 2505 was built for the 1954 season, and was used by Juan-manuel Fangio to win both the opening F1 race in Buenos Aires, Argentina and the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-francorchamps. Alberto Ascari drove it at Silverstone where it failed on the 30th lap.

Alfa Romeo Montreal

‘This weekend marks 50 years to the day that Marcello Gandini’s Alfa Romeo Bertone concepts were first shown to the public at the 1967 Montreal Expo,’ said owner Dominic Hentall, whose Montreal made its first outing at La Vita Rosso after a three-year restoration.

Appropriately, it was at Prescott where Hentall saw his first Montreal too, in the Seventies. ‘The engine is of course based on the Tipo 33 V8 taken out to 2.6 litres,’ said Hentall, ‘but this one is race-tuned, with quad high-lift camshafts, dry sump, and the Spica mechanical fuel injection replaced with four doublechoke Weber carburretors.’

You can enjoy it too – it’s joining Sporting Bears’ charity-rides fleet. Visit sportingbears.co.uk for info.