READY, SET, STELVIO!
We live in a digital age, where the world rests effortlessly at our fingertips. Pocket-sized devices, more powerful than the computers that guided Apollo 11 to the Moon, now enable us to form connections long before we ever meet face to face. It’s a fitting metaphor for my relationship with Alfa Romeo South Africa in 2025, and that, even halfway through the year, is already unfolding with unmistakable promise and purpose.
A few months ago, after a long stretch of virtual exchanges, I finally met Janus in person. He leads Marketing and Sales for both Alfa Romeo and Jeep in South Africa. What followed was a series of moments that brought a renewed sense of occasion and momentum for the marque, so far from its European birthplace…
Late in March, the calendar’s opening event unfolded in Johannesburg, where no fewer than 33 Alfa Romeos, a number that poetically echoes the name of the brand’s latest supercar homage, took to the track. The paddock was just as alive, with even more examples on display in the pit lane and parking lot, including a product now familiar in the Alfa community: the world’s only 5-door Brera created by my old school friend, Brendon. With Autumn casting its golden glow across the circuit, he graciously handed Ivano and me the keys to his 916 Spider for the half-hour drive, resplendent in a striking 8C Competizione Rosso and Cup bodykit.
In the lead-up to the event, Janus had hinted at a special preview reserved exclusively for the Alfisti. With the Junior’s national launch imminent, I was fairly certain the brand’s first all-electric offering would make its debut at the track day. As the midday sun lingered overhead, the draped cover was finally pulled back, revealing the Junior, in Elettrica guise, and signalling its first public appearance on South African soil. Its sharply contoured metal and reimagined Scudetto mark a bold and pioneering step into Alfa Romeo’s electrified future. Yet it wasn’t the only star Janus had arranged for the occasion. Nearby stood a Stelvio, cloaked in a striking livery that hinted at a dual identity that wouldn’t have it serve merely as a corporate fleet car, but a symbol of the brand’s rekindled motorsport ambitions on local soil.
Serving as both an OEM and privateer proving ground, the revered Simola Hillclimb comes to life each May, just outside Knysna. This celebrated ribbon of tarmac, nestled alongside the enchanting Garden Route forest, has not only challenged machinery but also inspired the pages of literary works, most notably those of award-winning South African author Dalene Matthee. As the road winds its way past sweeping vistas and ancient trees, the first weekend of the second quarter trumpets to life, with the unrestrained howl of internal combustion echoing through a landscape once filled with the wild calls of elephants beneath the dense canopy.
Also in attendence and flying the flag of Italy high, were modern and classic Fiats and Alfas with the modern iterations piloted by Andre Steenkamp in the 4C and Piet Potgieter in the Giulia Quadrifoglio.
With years of motorsport experience to his name, Janus hinted at his eagerness to slip behind the wheel, but he reminded me that it was not exclusively in pursuit of lap times, but to share Alfa Romeo’s story with motoring enthusiasts in the country. After more explanation with his plans, it painted a picture that portrayed Alfa Romeo as the premium and performance marque that it is. As he outlined more of his vision for the brand’s year ahead, Ivano busied himself capturing images of the Stelvio, poised at the apex of a kerb, where, quite unintentionally, the tricolore of the Italian flag revealed itself in the composition.
With the track day now behind us and golden hour still casting a flattering light, we made our way to a nearby mining dump which was a setting chosen to echo the gritty, evocative backdrops of Giugiaro’s early-2000s concept car photoshoots. Brendon’s bespoke 5-door Brera, the final puzzle piece of the Type 939 lineage that once spanned sedan, hatchback, spider, and estate, stood proudly against the industrial backdrop.
Before we set off for the late-afternoon photoshoot, Janus mentioned that several enthusiast-focused, Italophile-driven campaigns were on the horizon for the rest of the year. Among them were celebrations tied to the Italian Republic Day in June, as well as the brand’s ongoing presence at the Simola Hillclimb, each carefully curated to strengthen Alfa Romeo’s cultural and performance narrative in South Africa.
Fast forward to the arrival of our characteristically mild Pretoria winter, and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio had taken centre stage once more, although this time at an immersive display hosted at the Italian Club for the Festa della Repubblica. Though the Frecce Tricolori were absent, sparing us their usual spine-tingling aerobatics, their spirit was unmistakably present in the sea of Italian engineering that filled the venue. From two to four wheels (and even a few with three), the machinery on display was the swan song of die-hard petrolheads, eclipsing the culinary, musical and diplomatic elements that framed the day’s festivities.
An impressive gathering of Prancing Horses and Raging Bulls naturally commanded much of the spotlight, drawing the camera-equipped kids and crowds to their striking silhouettes and performance pedigree. Flanking them were rows of Maseratis, Abarths, Fiats, and, of course, Alfa Romeos, each with its own story to tell, and with rare gems tucked between the more familiar icons. Due to limited space on the club’s sports field, many of the day’s finest automotive treasures spilt over into the parking lot, turning it into an unofficial extension of the main showcase.
Among the standout machines was the FAS Racing Giulia Quadrifoglio, campaigned by Scuderia Rossi in the South African Endurance Series, where it continues to make an impressive mark. Elsewhere, lovingly restored Alfas from decades past revealed paintwork so pristine it shimmered flawlessly beneath the warm afternoon sun. Nestled among them were more contemporary examples, including my own 156 Twin Spark. But looking further into the storied past of Alfa Romeo was a mint-condition, two-tone 164 of ‘80s design glory, while the transaxle era came alive once more through the 116-series Giuliettas and GTVs. And then, of course, bringing us back to the present tense, there was the white Giulia GTAm, which is unmistakable with the ducktail carbon wing, making it difficult to miss among some of the finest modern Italian metal available in the market. Recollecting my thoughts before writing this article, I found that this was a more than fitting tribute to a nation whose legacy in engineering, art, and culture continues to shape the world, and whose automotive spirit was palpably alive on the day. A perfect homage to 78 years of the Italian Republic.
Ivano and I were, as usual, documenting the full event with cameras akimbo. Towards the end of the day, we retired to the Alfa Romeo tent to savour some of the final moments of the event. Melting into the mould of the bean bag, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Junior Veloce stood ahead of me…
Seeing the two side by side felt like poetic justice, considering this was the tangible reality and an emblematic product of the decade-long journey Alfa Romeo has navigated to remain relevant while onerously preserving its century-plus legacy. Though the Junior is no direct successor to the Stelvio, the latter has played a pivotal role in sustaining Alfa Romeo’s brand identity and heritage, standing as a bridge between tradition and the dawn of a more electrified era, now entrusted to the smallest member of the modern family. While established Western manufacturers face an uphill battle in this new chapter of automotive history, many contemporary Far East competitors struggle to reconcile heritage and pedigree amid a market rapidly inundated with characterless econoboxes that offer little beyond value for money.
Gathering my thoughts, it’s clear the inevitable is unfolding before us. Much like the early criticism the Stelvio faced when it boldly introduced Alfa Romeo into the SUV segment, the Junior must now prove itself as the all-electric ambassador for buyers who cannot, or choose not to, enjoy the traditional sensation of fossil-fuelled performance.
Though the Stelvio’s journey edges closer to its twilight than its dawn, its significance to the brand deserves more recognition than we have perhaps given it. A true all-rounder, its impact has been profound, so much so that, despite its age, it secured a class victory at the Simola Hillclimb, with Janus Janse van Rensburg at the wheel, both literally and figuratively steering Alfa Romeo’s motorsport legacy forward. After all, it’s the old adage: win on Sunday, sell on Monday.
Next up, the Alfa Romeo Club of Pretoria track day at Zwartkops Raceway on the 10th of August.
Photo Gallery by Ivano Mattiello and Alex Shahini of Slipstream Visuals.
