EnginePower: 2020 Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Revealed
Sauber Motorsport AG, which manages and operates the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN team in the Formula One world championship, unveiled its 2020 contender, the C39, before the start of winter testing in Barcelona. The reveal of the car completes the grid, with Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN being the final team to launch its livery ahead of the new season.
Race drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi, alongside reserve driver Robert Kubica and development driver Tatiana Calderon, pulled the covers off the C39 during a roll-out presentation in the pit lane at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The 2020 livery marks a further step forward over previous years, continuing with the themes and layout of the classic Alfa Romeo racing colors, but at the same time introducing an all-new look in terms of graphic effects. The theme of this new paintwork developed by Centro Stile is the “Speed-Pixel,” a graphic evocation of speed and time in the year of the brand’s 110th anniversary, something that also reflects the car’s advanced technology.
Compared to previous years, there is also a return to a simplified Quadrifoglio design and an enlarged Alfa Romeo script on the engine cover, which is now overlapping the main logo. Taking pride of place as always is Alfa Romeo’s iconic symbol that combines the cross from the city of Milan’s ancient crest and the “Biscione” of the Visconti family, representing 110 years of glory and victories while looking to the future at the same time.
Designed and developed under the coordination of Technical Director Jan Monchaux, the C39 bears only a passing resemblance to its predecessor; it is, instead, a completely new concept aimed at helping the team build on the strong strides made in the last two years and continuing its progress toward the front of the grid.
The focus now switches to the crucial two weeks of testing in Barcelona. With just six days of on-track action ahead of the season opener in Melbourne, Australia, every hour of activity in Catalonia will be key to understanding the new car and extracting its potential.
For the time being, though, we can enjoy the looks of the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN C39. It really brings truth to the old adage of saving the best for last.
