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Alfa Romeo’s Balocco Test Track Turns 50

While all manufacturers test their car’s handling characteristics on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, Alfa Romeo (and now Fiat) have had their own advanced testing grounds ever since 1962.
Balocco 1 photo
Photo: trackreviewers.com
The ‘Balocco’ proving grounds have now turned 50, and while they are still accessible to Alfa Romeo (through Fiat), it hasn’t been used that much in recent years by the famed Italian brand, partly because they don’t really have anything new to test (sadly).

The building of the complex was completed in 1962 and it entered use two years later. It features all sorts of driving conditions and has a total of 80 km of roads. Of the many roads, the circuit section of the facility features corners copied from some of the world’s best race tracks, among which Monza and Zandvoort are worth mentioning.

We say Fiat should somehow include the facility into its marketing scheme (at least when promoting Alfa Romeo), because it represents a very important part of what made the old Alfas (the proper ones) handle the way they did. We hope that the upcoming Giulia is also tested here, to at least partially reduce the unwanted side-effects of FWD through extensive testing - the French have done it, and so can the Italians.

Story via autoedizione.com
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