The Alfa Romeo Tipo 312, 312 or 12C-312 was a 3 litre formula racing car that was used in the 1938 Grand Prix season, drivers were Raymond Sommer

Raymond Sommer

Raymond Sommer was a Grand Prix motor racing driver....

, Giuseppe Farina

Giuseppe Farina

Emilio Giuseppe "Nino" Farina was an Italian racing driver. He stands out in the history of Grand Prix motor racing for his much copied 'straight-arm' driving style and his status as the first ever Formula One World Champion.-Biography:Born in Turin, Italy and nicknamed "Nino", Farina was a doctor...

, Eugenio Siena

Eugenio Siena

Eugenio Siena was an Italian racecar driver from Milano.A cousin of Giuseppe Campari, he was a mechanic and testdriver for Alfa Romeo .Next, he joined Scuderia Ferrari 1930-34....

, Clemente Biondetti

Clemente Biondetti

Clemente Biondetti was an Italian auto racing driver.-Biography:Born in Buddusò, Sardinia, into a working class family, Biondetti began racing motorcycles in 1923 but in 1927 turned to automobiles...

, Carlo Pintacuda, Jean-Pierre Wimille

Jean-Pierre Wimille

Jean-Pierre Wimille was a Grand Prix motor racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II.-Biography:...

, Gianfranco Comotti, Piero Taruffi

Piero Taruffi

Piero Taruffi , was a racing driver from Italy, and also the father of lady racer Prisca Taruffi.-Sports car career:...

 and Pietro Ghersi

Pietro Ghersi

Pietro Ghersi was an Italian motorcycle racer and, since 1927, also a racecar driver from Genoa.With his brother Mario Ghersi and Luigi Arcangeli he biked in the 1926 Isle of Man TT and 1930 Isle of Man TT in Moto Guzzi....

.

Tipo 312 was one of three Alfa Romeo cars designed for the new rules in 1938, which differed mainly by the engine, the other two cars were the Alfa Romeo Tipo 308

Alfa Romeo Tipo 308

The Alfa Romeo 308 or 8C-308 is a Grand Prix racing car made for the 3 litre class in 1938, only four cars was produced, actually modified from Tipo C with the engine mounted lower into the chassis and a slimmer body. The chassis was derived from the Tipo C and the engine from the 8C 2900...

 with straight-8 engine and Alfa Romeo Tipo 316

Alfa Romeo Tipo 316

Alfa Romeo Tipo 316, 316 or 16C-316 Grand prix car was used in Grand Prix seasons 1938 and 1939, when its was driven by Giuseppe Farina and Clemente Biondetti. The Tipo 316 was one of three Alfa Romeo cars designed for the new rules in 1938, which differed mainly by the engine, the other two were...

 with a V16 engine

V16 engine

A V16 engine is a V engine with 16 cylinders. Engines of this number of cylinders are uncommon in automotive use.A V16 engine is perfectly balanced regardless of the V angle without requiring counter-rotating balancing shafts which are necessary to balance Straight-4 and odd number of cylinder...

. The car was based on unsuccessful Alfa Romeo 12C-37

Alfa Romeo 12C

The Alfa Romeo 12C or Tipo C was a 12 cylinder Grand Prix car. The 12C-36 made its debut in Tripoli Grand Prix 1936, and the 12C-37 in Coppa Acerbo 1937. The 12C36 was a Tipo C fitted with the new V12 instead of the 3.8 straight-eight of the 8C-35...

, it was made more easier to control than its predecessor. The engine in 312 is three litre 60° V12 with roots supercharger, it was more powerful than 308 but it was still not really competitive with German rivals.