in 1990, the group c regulations underwent a major revamp, with the primary focus being on changing the engines to 3.5-litre units sourced from formula one cars. the fiat group had previously run the lancia lc2 in the group c category, but had cancelled that project in 1986 after only winning one race with the lc2. in 1990, lancia were primarily focusing on the world rally championship (with the group a delta integrale), whilst ferrari were focusing on their formula one programme; this meant that alfa romeo were the only member of the fiat group that would have the capacity for a sports car racing programme; they had last competed in top-level sports car events in the 1970s, with the alfa romeo tipo 33. as abarth had previously developed the lancia lc2, it was them who fiat turned to for the chassis development of the new group c car, which was assigned the project code of "se 048sp". giuseppe petrotta, formerly of osella, was the man selected to design the se 048sp, and he drew up a fairly conventional car, with radiators mounted in the front of the chassis, covered rear wheels, and a nose that featured the traditional alfa romeo grille.