Colin-on-Cars

 Thumbs up from Kimi for new Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA

Alfa Romeo is going big with the upcoming Giulia GTA and GTAm models and this is personified by having none other than Kimi Räikkönen as part of the testing process. 

The Finnish driver from the Alfa Romeo Racing – ORLEN Formula 1 team has conducted the final testing session on the definitive versions of the Giulia GTA and GTAm and follows tests some months ago by the Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi, aimed at honing the new aerodynamic solutions developed by Alfa Romeo and Sauber Engineering. 

“I really like it,” he says. “We’re looking at a car that can be used on an everyday basis, but that can also be taken onto the track, one in which you can really enjoy yourself.”

 

Kimi Räikkönen analysed the changes made to the car, specifically in terms of the aerodynamics. He had already worked on this aspect in the first session, providing invaluable advice on the new appendages added both to the front in the form of the new adjustable splitter built into the new front bumper and to the rear – the addition of the new manually adjustable wing. 

More general changes have also been made to the overall balance guaranteed by the interaction of these new components with the extractor and the underbody fairing. 

Kimi’s judgment? “Of course, it's better at high speeds in terms of balance. It seems the front of the car is lower, making the steering faster. It’s fast, easy to drive, and responsive.” 

Once he takes off his racing suit and is away from the spotlight, Kimi Räikkönen is back playing the role of father, taking his children to school. He believes the Giulia GTA represents the ideal mix for use every day and on the track. 

Alfa Romeo entrusts Sauber Engineering with the production of most of the carbon fibre components in the GTA and GTAm, especially those that affect the aerodynamics. These include the new front bumper, the side skirts, the extractor, the GTA spoiler and the GTAm aero wing.

 

Courtesy of its manually adjustable front and rear wings, the Giulia GTAm can adapt its aerodynamic performance to any kind of track or road, precisely following the requests and preferences of its driver. The aerodynamic research in the wind tunnel was not limited to the wing appendages, it also focused on the underbody, fully faired as in the Giulia Quadrifoglio. 

The GTA and GTAm also benefit from a special new air extractor capable of increasing the car’s ground effect, thus guaranteeing excellent road holding at high speeds. In particular, on the Giulia GTAm the most intense aerodynamic configuration mounts double the pressure of the Giulia GTA, triple compared to the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the previous benchmark in its segment.