TURIN (ITALPRESS) – Valtteri Bottas, Formula 1 driver and exclusive customer of the new Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, experienced together with the team of Alfa Romeo engineers an intense and engaging day at the Centro Sperimentale in Balocco (VC), testing the “prototype 00” of the new custom-built car. “Being able to test the 33 Stradale was a very special opportunity. I hope my feedback will be useful to the experienced Alfa Romeo development team for final tuning. Configuring my personal car with the “Alfa Romeo workshop” was engaging and exciting, testing it today was really exciting. All that remains is for me to wait for my 33 Stradale to be ready!” said at the end of the test session, Valtteri Bottas. “I am extremely satisfied with the test. Today’s experience is close to perfection, which for me means, total symbiosis with the car. The car immediately puts you at ease: extremely responsive, precise. The feeling with the car is immediate, extremely easy and fun to understand, and you certainly don’t need to be an F1 driver to feel it. In addition, its sound envelops the cabin and is unmistakably Alfa Romeo. “The venue for the event could only be the Alfa Romeo track at the Proving Ground in Balocco (VC), the iconic track that since 1962 has been home to the development and preparation of the highest performance and racing cars (Autodelta) that competed in international F1, DTM and Super Turismo competitions.The team of Alfa Romeo engineers managed the entire test session by subjecting the Finnish driver to specific tests at moderate and high speeds, with a targeted focus on balance, braking system and road handling. After all, the dynamic goal of the project is, from the outset, extremely ambitious, namely to offer the best driving experience in the class. The test session began with an initial reconnaissance lap aboard the Giulia GTAm to allow Valtteri to familiarize himself with the track configuration of the Alfa Romeo track. It should be noted that last year the Valtteri Bottas had purchased just one of 500 examples of the Giulia GTAm, the high-performance car characterized by the extensive adoption of ultralight materials and the powerful 540-hp 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo engine. This allowed him to become a full member of the Alfa Romeo “Tribe,” and today, that he is also a member of the restricted “33 club,” his bond is further strengthened, demonstrating a passion that binds him to the brand’s sporty traditionValtteri Bottas then got behind the wheel of the 33 Stradale, which he immediately described as an intuitive car, one that he immediately understood. The first test was conducted at moderate speed, allowing him to assess the precision of the steering system and the response of the braking system, as well as the characteristic handling guaranteed by the system consisting of the aluminum H-frame, carbon fiber monocoque and the refined suspension configuration. Moreover, as everything was designed and aimed at maximum man-machine involvement, the driver particularly appreciated the essentiality of the cockpit, which never distracts the driver from the driving experience. In a second phase, Valtteri then gradually increased the speed to test its behavior in more extreme conditions. The 33 Stradale mounts a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with more than 620 hp, an 8-speed DCT gearbox, rear-wheel drive and an electronic limited slip differential. An evolution of the V6 that already equips the Italian brand’s highest-performance cars, the new powerplant is mid-mounted longitudinally and enables the car to reach a top speed of 333 km/h (333 mph) and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 3 seconds. Two driving modes are available, activated by switches on the center tunnel: Strada and Pista. The former, which is present when the car is started, ensures comfort and driving pleasure: smooth power delivery, usual pedal feel, soft suspension, smooth shifting and active exhaust valves open only above 5,000 rpm. In Pista mode, on the other hand, the driver chooses an adrenaline-fueled drive: power is maximum, the pedals are even more responsive and the suspension is stiff, in addition to offering quick shifts and active exhaust valves that are always open.In the final phase of the test, the Finnish driver tackled the Balocco track selecting precisely the Pista mode with which the 33 Stradale expresses its full potential. Among the most exhilarating performance controls in this configuration is the “Veloce Partenza” procedure, which, by pressing the “Quadrifoglio” button on the center tunnel, acts on the gearbox, traction control and power to maximize acceleration while avoiding wheel spin. In addition, in some sections of the circuit, the F1 driver switched off the traction control (ESC OFF) bringing the car close to its top speed, confirming that the 33 Stradale manages to combine supercar performance with surprising ease of driving, even for those who are not professional drivers. All of this is made even more impressive by the sound of the twin-turbo V6, an authentic “mechanical symphony” that envelops the cabin and gives unique emotions with every acceleration. The active suspension system also played a key role in the test conducted by the Finnish driver, offering a perfect combination of comfort and performance. Specifically, the new off-roader adopts Alfa Romeo’s 100% double-arm suspension scheme with active dampers and semi-virtual steering on both axles, front and rear, which allows for the best steering wheel control and the highest degree of steering precision, as well as ensuring high lateral acceleration guaranteeing the best handling in any driving condition.Finally, Bottas praised the precision and ability of the brakes to adapt to different driving modes, always ensuring excellent vehicle control. Suffice it to say that the new 33 Stradale brakes from 100km/h to 0 in less than 33 meters. Credit to the integrated Alfa Romeo Brake-By-Wire braking system, which allows both control of braking pressure and adaptation of the always stable pedal feel. Produced by Brembo for Alfa Romeo, the carbon-ceramic brakes provide high performance and ensure responsive braking with reduced fade effect at high temperatures. At the front and rear, the discs are ventilated and drilled type with, at the front, a 6-piston aluminum monoblock caliper and at the rear, a 4-piston caliper.Finally, with testing complete, the Alfa Romeo team did not miss the opportunity to subject Valtteri Bottas to the all-new Junior 280 Veloce, the compact 100% electric sports car equipped with specific solutions “made by and for” Alfa Romeo. Bottas thus carried out a test on the track to essay, albeit with due proportions compared to the extraordinary 33 Stradale, its exhilarating performance but above all its excellent driving dynamics, the result of the same expertise that distinguishes the Alfa Romeo development team.
photo: stellantis press office
(ITALPRESS).
