In the thrilling realm of the Alfa Romeo & Italian Inter marque Championship (ARIIC), one car is really making waves and pushing boundaries: Jack Berry's dramatically modified Alfa Romeo MiTo.
With a powerful engine borrowed and upgraded from the Alfa Romeo 4C, this compact dynamo is cranked up to an impressive 410 horsepower and 600 Nm of torque, putting it in the running for the 2025 title.
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Category |
Key
Details (2025 Version) |
Comparison
to 2024 Debut Version |
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Engine Specs |
Displacement: 1,995 cm³ (upsized
from original 4C's 1,742 cm³ via extended stroke) Power: 410 HP Torque: 600
Nm Type: Transplanted and modified Alfa Romeo 4C engine Turbo: Borg Warner
twin-scroll "Stage 4" upgrade |
2024: Likely ~337.5 HP with a
"Stage 2" hybrid turbo setup. Power increase: +20% (~72.5 HP gain). Torque band broadened for better mid-range usability; 2024 focused on
reliability testing with conservative tuning |
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Internal Upgrades |
Pistons: Custom Omega forged Connecting Rods: Arrow H-beam
Crankshaft: New with upgraded thrust bearings - Cylinder Head: Gas-flowed
with "knife edging" on ports (adds ~25 HP) - Camshafts: Performance
Stage 2 spec (increased lift/duration for linear torque curve) - Balanced to
motorsport standards |
2024: Basic balanced internals with motorsport-spec thrust
bearing. New in 2025: Enhanced gas-flowed head and camshafts for optimized
airflow and power delivery; 2024 lacked these for initial testing phases |
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Electronics & Control |
ECU: Delta Motorsport SCS
"Stage 2" with dual maps, raised rev limit, launch control,
wide-band lambda Integration: Via CAN network, switchable through driving
modes |
2024: Standard or early-stage ECU
tune Upgrades in 2025: Revised launch control and fueling precision; improved
reliability for longer race stints compared to 2024's developmental focus |
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Exhaust & Cooling |
Manifold: Tubular, mounted near bulkhead - Heat Management:
Custom shielding, silicone intercooler hoses, modified oil return pipe |
2024: Basic setup without advanced heat protection - 2025
Enhancements: Reduced thermal stress, enabling consistent performance; not as
refined in 2024, leading to potential early-race limitations |
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Transmission & Drivetrain |
Gearbox: Sourced from Alfa Romeo
Giulietta Quadrifoglio for robust shifting. Additional Options:
Clutch/differential upgrades available in kit |
2024: Similar base but less
stressed due to lower power. 2025: Handles higher torque without issues; 2024
version prioritized mid-range over peak output |
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Performance Metrics |
Acceleration: 110-160 km/h in 3.8 seconds (nearly twice as fast
as stock 4C's 6.8 seconds) - Power Delivery: "Weak" below 2,500
rpm, explosive surge from 3,000-5,000 rpm - Top Potential: Up to 500 HP in
extreme builds (capped at ~400 HP for reliability) |
2024: Slower mid-range acceleration due to conservative tune -
Improvement: Broader torque curve and quicker spool-up; 2024 emphasized
usability over raw speed |
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Aero & Exterior |
Kit: Rally-inspired for aggressive
stance. Overall Build: Test bed for
Alfa Workshops' 2.0L conversion kit (starting at £20,292.53 excl. tax) |
2024: Initial aero setup for debut
- 2025: Refined for better downforce and stability at higher speeds; evolved
from 2024's rookie configuration |
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Racing Achievements |
Current Standing: 2nd overall in ARIIC, leading Modified class -
Wins: Two outright victories in 2025 (e.g., Downingtown comeback) - Notable:
Challenging Alfa Romeo 147 GTA for title |
2024: Rookie season with podiums (e.g., 2nd at Brands Hatch). Progression: From promising newcomer to title contender; more consistent and
dominant in 2025 due to upgrades |
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Project Background |
Builder: Alfa Workshops (UK
specialist, 30+ years’ experience) - Purpose: Competitive edge in ARIIC; also
fields 4C racer - Cost Insight: Bespoke with surcharges for exchange parts |
2024: Early test bed phase - 2025:
Full race-proven refinements; shifted from development to assault mode |
After a solid performance in its 2024 debut, the MiTo is
currently holding down second place overall, leading the Modified class and
closely trailing an Alfa Romeo 147 GTA.
This ambitious project, led by Alfa Workshops, a
top-notch UK-based Alfa Romeo specialist with over three decades of experience,
started as a testing ground for their innovative 2.0L engine conversion kit,
originally designed for 4C owners but fine-tuned on the MiTo for a competitive
edge.
What began as a promising rookie season in 2024, where
Berry wowed everyone with consistent performances, including a standout
second-place finish at Brands Hatch, has transformed into a serious title
challenge this year.
The talented team at Alfa Workshops, known for entering
multiple cars in the ARIIC, including a dedicated 4C racer, has infused their
expertise into this build, merging rally-inspired aerodynamics with
state-of-the-art mechanical enhancements.
Under the Hood:
The Heart of the Beast:
At the heart of this MiTo lies a seriously upgraded 1,995
cm³ engine, which has been enlarged from the original 4C's 1,742 cm³ unit.
Instead of boring out the cylinders, the engineers opted to extend the stroke,
a smart move that keeps the block strong while increasing displacement.
Some standout features include custom-machined Omega
forged pistons, reinforced rings, a new crankshaft with improved thrust
bearings, and Arrow H-beam connecting rods that boost durability under intense
stress.
The cylinder head sports a gas-flowed design with
"knife edging" on the ports to enhance airflow, moving away from the
original vortex-inducing setup that was all about emissions control, and
instead focusing on pure performance.
Power delivery in this beast is handled by a Delta Motorsport
SCS "Stage 2" ECU, which fits right into the car's CAN network. It
offers two engine maps that you can switch between depending on your driving
mode.
This custom unit not only bumps up the rev limit but also
fine-tunes the launch control and includes wide-band lambda control for spot-on
fueling, details that are often missed in standard tunes but are absolutely
vital for racing reliability.
Under the hood, you'll find a Borg Warner twin-scroll
turbocharger, labeled as a "Stage 4" upgrade in Alfa Workshops'
offerings, paired with a tubular exhaust manifold positioned near the bulkhead.
It comes with custom heat shielding, silicone intercooler
hoses, and a modified oil return pipe to handle those extreme temperatures.
The whole setup is dynamically balanced to motorsport
standards, ensuring everything runs smoothly even when you're pushing it to the
limit.
Hiding beneath the aggressive aero kit that gives the
MiTo its rally-car vibe are performance camshafts (Stage 2 spec, with increased
lift and duration for a nice, linear torque curve) and a gearbox taken from the
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio, designed for solid shifting under pressure.
If you're an enthusiast looking to make similar upgrades, Alfa Workshops has a 2.0L conversion kit starting at £20,292.53 (not including tax and extras like clutch or differential upgrades), with the potential to crank out up to 500 bhp in extreme builds, though most reliable setups cap out around 400 bhp.
This pricing reflects the custom nature of the project, with additional costs for exchange parts like the cylinder head to keep everything within budget.
Performance
Unleashed: From Sluggish to Supercar-Slaying:
On the track, the MiTo has a real Jekyll-and-Hyde
personality: it feels "weak" below 2,500 rpm, but once that
twin-scroll turbo kicks in, it delivers an exhilarating burst of acceleration
between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm.
Berry's onboard videos from races like Brands Hatch
highlight this thrilling surge, with the car blasting from 110 to 160 km/h in
just 3.8 seconds, almost twice as quick as a stock 4C's 6.8 seconds.
This torque-heavy setup makes it a fierce contender in
the ARIIC's Modified class, where Berry has already clinched two outright
victories in 2025, including a remarkable comeback at Downingtown after facing
early challenges.
Evolution from
2024: What's New Compared to Last Year's Debut:
When the MiTo first hit the scene in 2024, it was already
turning heads, but the 2025 version takes things up a notch with some slick upgrades
inspired by Alfa Workshops' staged tuning approach.
Last year's model was likely closer to a "Stage
2" hybrid turbo setup, cranking out around 337.5 hp with a
motorsport-grade thrust bearing and balanced internals, pretty impressive, but
more about mid-range performance than raw power.
This year's iteration ramps it up to the full 2.0L displacement with the twin-scroll "Stage 4" turbo, pushing the output to 410 hp and 600 Nm, a boost of over 20% in horsepower and a much wider torque band for smoother overtaking and sustained speed.
The latest features boast an upgraded gas-flowed cylinder head that boosts power by about 25 hp without cranking up the boost. You’ll also find performance camshafts that deliver a smoother power curve, perfect for tracks like Caldwell Park and Downingtown.
Plus, there’s a revamped ECU
with updated launch control for faster starts. In contrast to the more cautious
tuning of 2024, which focused on reliability during testing, the 2025 model
brings in race-tested improvements like better heat shielding on the tubular
manifold and silicone hoses that cut down on thermal stress, ensuring steady
performance over longer runs.
These upgrades have taken the MiTo from a promising
newcomer, evident in its podium finish at Brands Hatch in 2024, to a serious
title contender, as demonstrated by Berry's impressive leads this season.
As the ARIIC season heats up, Berry and his MiTo stand as
a testament to Alfa Romeo's tuning brilliance. With the support of Alfa
Workshops, this underdog is on the verge of claiming the championship, proving
that great power can come in compact forms.
Fans won’t want to miss the upcoming rounds, complete with onboard footage that captures the exhilarating essence of this reborn Italian classic.
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