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The Alfa Romeo 155 TS That Gabriele Tarquini Almost Rolled Over Is Up for Grabs

Inaugurated in 1958, the British Saloon Car Championship - later renamed Touring Car Championship - gave us incredible on-track action throughout the ages. My favorite moment happened during the last race of 1994, namely the almost-rolled Alfa Romeo 155 TS driven by Gabriele Tarqiuni.
Gabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racecar 14 photos
Photo: Paolo Carlini for RM Sotheby's
Gabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing carGabriele Tarquini's 1994 Alfa Romeo 155 TS BTCC racing car
The car we’ll cover today is chassis number 90080, the same Alfa Romeo 155 the ex-F1 driver almost rolled at Donington Park all those years ago. Tarquini won the drivers’ championship in Silverstone with this very machine, which was subsequently employed for pre-season testing in early 1995.

Reconditioned to original specifications by Alfa Corse, the vehicle was gifted to Gabriele as a gift from Italian motorsport legend Giorgio Pianta. Those who don’t recognize the name only need to know that Giorgio tested for Fiat, prepared the Lancia 037 and Delta S4 for rallying duties, then he was awarded the role of team manager at Alfa Romeo’s racing department.

Presented in tip-top condition inside and out, 90080 is one of the most celebrated touring cars of the British Touring Car Championship series and the world of motorized sports as a whole. The sedan has been in Tarquini’s ownership since new, but the time has come for another owner to enjoy it.

Estimated by RM Sotheby's to fetch €300,000 at the very least and €400,000 at most ($363,850 and $485,100 at current exchange rates), the 155 TS features a high-revving powerplant with Fiat origins and the head from the 155 Q4 rotated 180 degrees. This gave the four-cylinder lump a lower center of gravity and improved cooling, but Alfa Corse had to rebuild the motor every 700 kilometers (435 miles) to the tune of 80 hours or thereabouts.

Unfortunately for the BTCC-spec 155, the peeps at Vauxhall got the better of Alfa Corse in the teams’ championship, Renault won the manufacturers’ championship, and veteran John Cleland secured the drivers’ title in 1995.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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