STORY OF THE DAY: Nuvolari Defeats the Silver Arrows at Home

Tazio Nuvolari won the 1935 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring in Scuderia Ferrari’s number 12 Alfa Romeo P3. Over 22 laps and more than 500 kilometres, he defeated the factory Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union teams on their home ground, completing the race in 4 hours 8 minutes 4.1 seconds. The victory was the outstanding result of Alfa Romeo’s season and one of the defining races of pre-war Grand Prix competition.

Nuvolari led early but lost substantial time during a slow refuelling stop when the pressure equipment failed and fuel had to be poured from cans. He returned to the race well behind, then recovered through pace and determination. Manfred von Brauchitsch began the last lap ahead in his Mercedes, but a failing rear tyre forced him to slow, allowing Nuvolari to sweep past and win before an enormous German crowd.

The P3 was an older Vittorio Jano design beside the latest German cars, but Scuderia Ferrari had continued its development with a larger supercharged straight-eight, identified here in 3.8-litre form. Its light, narrow single-seat chassis and unusual twin-propeller-shaft transmission gave it balance and traction. On the Nürburgring’s climbs, descents and linked corners, manageable weight and predictable handling helped offset its power deficit.

Nuvolari, born in Castel d’Ario near Mantua, was already a celebrated Italian motorcycle and automobile champion. Small in stature but exceptionally forceful at the wheel, he combined improvisation with an acute understanding of grip and machinery. His relationship with Scuderia Ferrari produced several of the team’s greatest pre-war successes, and the Nürburgring victory became the clearest expression of his ability to overcome both faster rivals and serious adversity.