The Alfa Romeo brand once again tackles this uniquely challenging motor event covering roughly 14,000 kilometres. Two vintage Giulia models will take part, and will ideally join up in Paris with the new Giulia, the latest and ultimate expression of the Alfa Romeo sporting sedan.
Alfa Romeo will be taking part in the fifth historic re-enactment of the mythical 'Peking-Paris' race that took place in 1907 and concluded with the victory of Itala, driven by Prince Scipione Borghese and Ettore Guizzardi, with the on-board presence of Corriere della Sera journalist Luigi Barzini. Previous re-enactments were held in 1997, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2014. In 2007 Alfa Romeo participated successfully with the Giulietta T.I. In 2016, two models of the legendary Alfa Romeo Giulia will make the 13,695-kilometre journey: cars whose heritage has now been passed on to the new Giulia, the latest Alfa Romeo creation to embody "The Mechanics of Emotion". The two vintage competitors will be a Giulia 1,300 Ti from 1969 and a Giulia Super 1.3 from 1973.
The cars will set off from Beijing on 12 June and arrive in Paris on 17 July, in Place Vendôme, after 36 days of daunting but fascinating challenges. 11 countries will be crossed: China, Mongolia, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and France, but the two most difficult stages for drivers and cars will certainly be those set in the Gobi Desert and Mongolia. Seven Italian teams will participate, five of them on board Alfa Romeo Giulia models: two from the Alfa Romeo Museum / Scuderia del Portello, and three privately owned. Along the route from China to Europe, Alfa connoisseurs and vintage enthusiasts will have opportunities to encounter the travelling legends in various Alfa Romeo dealerships: many people of many nationalities, all sharing a deep passion for this Made in Milan brand.
In support of the 'Scuderia del Portello', the official Alfa Romeo club, Mopar too will be on hand, and its logo will stand out on the vintage racers. The reference brand for services, spare parts, accessories and customer care for all FCA brands will also provide support for the technical assistance service during some of the European stages. The teams will also have a merchandising line available, including personalised clothing with the Mopar logo. Further support to teams will be provided by Gold Sponsor Petronas Lubricants, the technical-commercial partner that develops and makes lubricants and functional fluids for FCA Group vehicles. The logo of Petronas Selenia, the factory-filled and after-market engine oil for all FCA Group vehicles, will be sported on the team's two Giulias, with refreshed graphics to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its market launch. The Alfa Romeo, Mopar and Selenia logos will appear on the technical suits worn during the raid.
The Paris Motor Village, right on the Champs Elysées, will stage a celebrative event on 18 June, at the end of the motor marathon, during which the public may admire the new Giulia, the car which synthesises the brand's latest paradigm through a blend of functional and dynamic beauty, perfect weight distribution, an astonishing weight/power ratio, plus rear-wheel drive and innovative high-performance engines. Mopar too will be an active presence at this evening event, displaying its merchandising and accessory novelties.
Turin, 10 June 2016