For event organiser, Tony Parkinson, Lobethal 2009 began to really take shape with the arrival at his lock-up of the ex-Nuvolari Alfa Romeo P3. To many, this car presides at the top of any informed list of
GP cars over time, as does Nuvolari in driver rankings. Nervously, Parkinson later admits to owner, Jon Shirley, that after a long day of last-minute Lobethal preparations, he eased behind the slim-spoked steering wheel of this most illustrious of thoroughbreds to soak up a little of Nuvolari’s cockpit aura.
