The year was 1995. Chester Williams delighted fans at Twickenham scoring for the Springboks en route to beating England and I was fortunate enough to be there along with some colleagues, but that was not the main purpose of our trip – we were then heading to Italy to drive some Alfa Romeo models.
At the time Alfa Romeo was under the Nissan flag in South Africa and new cars were the 145 and 164 but more than the on road driving the chance to get more serious at the Varano de' Melegari racetrack, home of the Alfa Romeo Driving Academy (Suderia de Adamich) was eagerly anticipated.
Scuderia de Adamich was founded by Andrea de Adamich, a former Formula 1 driver who also won the Nürburgring 1000 km and stayed closely linked to Alfa Romeo over the years. He was also a pioneer in safe sports driving training back in Italy.
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The organisation is based at the racetrack near Parma, which features a technical layout that tests drivers at every level. All the courses are run by professional driver-instructors, some of whom have careers in both circuit racing and rallying.
Indeed! My instructor for the day was none other than saloon car legend Nicolo Larini who, during skid pan exercises would grab the steering wheel and shout “Crazy man in the car”, leaving me to try and sort out the resulting chaos.
The track is unique in that it is in the middle of a built-up area and has walls at the end of quick straights making it rather intimidating. However, the highlight of the day came when, after sampling various Alfa models, the late Doug Kemsley and I were permitted to drive the then peak of Alfa technology, the Zagato, at ludicrous speeds with Larini this time shouting “faster, faster”.
Now, a partnership that started back in 1991 has now taken another turn. The Alfa Romeo Driving Academy, run together with Scuderia de Adamich, officially re-opened its doors recently at the Varano de' Melegari racetrack.
The programme gives people and companies a chance to get behind the wheel of Alfa Romeo's full range of vehicles. From the Junior sports compact and Tonale C-SUV to the Giulia performance sedan and Stelvio D-SUV, there's something for every taste.
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This academy is part of a bigger push tied to the Motor Valley region. That area has long been known as a place where Italian manufacturing meets engineering know-how, handcrafted skill and a love for both beauty and raw performance. Back in November, the same region produced BOTTEGAFUORISERIE, a project focused on custom builds and design research that brought together Alfa Romeo and Maserati.
Scuderia de Adamich helped found the Motor Valley and continues to play a role in growing the area. The organisation puts a lot into training, hands-on experience and new tech, while also carrying forward the values of excellence and tradition that have defined Italy's Land of Motors for more than a hundred years.
The academy breaks down its driving courses into four stages. First up is Safe Driving, which forms the base for everything else and teaches drivers how to stay sharp and handle tricky situations without losing their cool. Then there's Advanced Driving for those who want to dig deeper into how their car works and push their limits safely. The Sporty Driving course offers a high-energy session to explore a car's dynamic abilities. Finally, Advanced Driving – the top tier – is set aside for people aiming to bring their technique close to professional level.
Each course throws participants into the deep end of both safety and performance. Drivers get to try out Alfa Romeo's full range of powertrains too: fully electric, turbo petrol, turbo diesel and hybrid.
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Beyond the standard courses, the academy also puts together corporate experiences. These can focus on driving-based training or team-building activities, and they're built around what each client actually needs.
Gordon de Adamich from Scuderia de Adamich said the story began in 1991 with the International Safe Driving Centre, started by Andrea de Adamich to keep working with Alfa Romeo outside of racing. He said taking on the role of Alfa Romeo Driving Academy after 35 years of working together feels like recognition of the values both sides share: passion, safety, technology and sportiness. He noted that whatever goals people bring to the courses – whether improving their road safety or mastering sporty driving techniques – pushing an Alfa Romeo to its limits on a racetrack in a safe environment is an experience worth having.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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