Alpine Driver to Test 2012 Lotus and Fangio’s Mercedes W196 Replica: Here’s How the Session Will Unfold

Franco Colapinto will showcase his driving skills in Buenos Aires with both a modern Formula 1 car and a historic replica, creating a unique motorsport entertainment event that connects Argentine racing heritage with contemporary F1 technology.

The Argentine driver will pilot a Lotus E20 from 2012, a modern F1 car with a V8 engine that Alpine confirmed he would drive during his appearance in Buenos Aires. This vehicle represents recent Formula 1 technology and will be displayed in its original 2012 colors as part of the event.

Adding historical significance to the showcase, Colapinto will also drive a replica of the Mercedes-Benz W196, famously known as the “Flecha de Plata” (Silver Arrow). This car is directly linked to Juan Manuel Fangio’s legendary Formula 1 career, with whom he won multiple world championships in the mid-1950s.

The Mercedes-Benz W196 replica holds particular importance in Argentine motorsport history. Fangio achieved four victories with the Mercedes team in 1954 when he won his second World Drivers’ Championship, then repeated the feat with four more wins in 1955 to secure his third title, driving exclusively for Mercedes that season.

Although the W196 replica’s presence at the event is not officially tied to Mercedes-Benz as a corporate initiative, organizers included it specifically to create an Argentine connection to global motorsport history. The vehicle serves as a tribute to Fangio’s legacy and his impact on Argentine racing culture.

The Mercedes-Benz W196 itself represented a technological breakthrough when introduced in 1954 for the Formula 1 seasons of 1954 and 1955. According to historical records, Fangio praised the vehicle’s performance, stating that from his first test in 1954, he felt he was driving “a perfect car.”

This dual-vehicle demonstration positions Colapinto’s Buenos Aires appearance as more than a typical exhibition drive. By combining the Lotus E20 – representing contemporary F1 engineering – with the W196 replica – symbolizing Argentina’s golden era of motorsport – the event creates a narrative bridge between different eras of Formula 1 history through the lens of Argentine driving talent.

The showcase in Palermo will allow audiences to experience both the auditory and visual spectacle of these two distinct Formula 1 machines. The Lotus E20’s modern V8 engine promises to be “heard several blocks away,” while the W196 replica offers a tangible connection to the era when Fangio established himself as one of the sport’s all-time greats.