Alfa Romeo is sponsor circuit van Monza

Alfa Romeo is Sponsor of the Monza Race Track, one of the most prestigious and oldest race tracks in the world. Valid for the two-year 2013-2014 period, the agreement begins today on the occasion of the fourth round of the 'Eni FIM SBK Superbike 2013' World Championship. For the sixth year running, the brand is Top Sponsor and Official Safety Car.

Setting the scene for this sports event, Louis Carl Vignon, Head of EMEA Alfa Romeo Brand, handover the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde keys that will be used for several activities on track - e.g. Safety car, Courtesy and Medical car - to Carlo Edoardo Valli, President SIAS SPA, thus initiating the partnership between Alfa Romeo and SIAS (Società Incremento Automobilismo e Sport - "Motoring and Sport Promotion Company"), which built and has managed the structure from the very beginning. Built in 1922 in just 110 days, the race track falls within the captivating Monza Park and hosts both international races and testing sessions in the automotive sector. With the exception of the war years plus some other occasions - Livorno 1937, Milan 1947, Turin 1948 and Imola 1980 - the track at Monza has always been the home of the Italian Grand Prix. And that's without mentioning the fact that it was the third circuit to be built in the world, after Brooklands (1907) and Indianapolis (1909).

As part of the sponsorship deal, the race track will be customised in accordance with the Alfa Romeo brand during the scheduled sports competitions and there will be the possibility of organising special events to provide an engaging 'brand experience' to its guests in harmony with the authentic values of the brand: Italian style, performance and technical excellence, for maximum driving pleasure in complete safety. Additionally, the Brand is providing the organisation with some cars, including the Giulietta model, a car which has assumed a place in the tradition of the best Alfa Romeos, drawing on its heritage of dynamic performance, without compromising on efficiency and convenience in everyday use.

From 1922 up to the present day, fundamental scenes from international motoring history have played out by cars and motorbikes on the Monza track. Some of these episodes bear the signature of Alfa Romeo, which has won many important victories here: the "P2" with Antonio Ascari in 1922; the "P2" won the Italian G.P. again with Brilli-Peri to thus become "World Champion"; the "8C 2300" made its début in 1931 winning at the Monza track with Tazio Nuvolari and Giuseppe Campari; the Mantua champion placed first at the Italian Grand Prix the following year as well with the "Tipo B P3" (Alfa Romeo P3, 1932); and Luigi Faglioli repeat the success with the "P3" in 1933.

With the advent of Formula 1, Giuseppe "Nino" Farina won the Italian Grand Prix of 1950 at the wheel of the single-seater 158 - the famous "Alfetta" - while in 1963 the "Giulia TZ", winning the class at the "Coppa Fisa", marked the début of the newborn "Autodelta", Alfa Romeo's racing division.

Starting in 1965 the queen of "Turismo", the "Giulia Sprint GTA", won many of its countless victories at Monza, which continued on during the early 70s with the subsequent "GT Am". The "Monza 1000 km" was where Alfa Romeo cars stood out in 1974 and 1975. The "33 TT 12" won the race two years in a row, beating the more qualified competitors and handing over the Constructors' World Championship title to Autodelta. The "75 Turbo Evoluzione" won the Touring Championship races in the late 1980s and early 1990s. These victories were repeated by the "155 GTA SuperTurismo" and "155 Ts" and then, in the early 2000s, with the "156 SuperTurismo".

Through this sponsorship agreement, Alfa Romeo confirms its position as the automotive brand that, more than any other, can express the atmosphere experienced on the tracks. This is also demonstrated by the consolidated partnership established in 2007 between the brand and the "Eni FIM SBK Superbike World Championship", a winning combination that best conveys Italian motor racing style and experience around the world. In particular, Alfa Romeo is taking part in the enthralling championship as Top Sponsor and Official Safety Car, sharing the same values of sportsmanship, technology and safety at the highest levels.

The Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde has played this role of Safety Car for several seasons. This version is distinguished by the legendary emblem that has distinguished some of the most "aggressive" Alfa Romeo creations. This year the baton is taken up by the MiTo SBK Limited Edition 1.4 170 HP QV, a concentrate of technology and design derived from the Quadrifoglio Verde version and produced in 200 examples.

Finally, it should be borne in mind that the partnership between Alfa Romeo and the Monza race track is part of a broader sponsorship strategy in the Lombardy region, as demonstrated by the recent Fiat S.p.A. and Fiat Industrial agreement which makes them Global Partners of Expo Milano 2015. The display of valuable historic Alfa Romeo cars in certain locations linked to the Expo's exhibitions features among the many important stipulations of the agreement.