Maybe in the US but Alfa is as similarly sporting as Lancia in its Australian history, plenty of racing history from the 105 series cars, 3 box things like the Guilietta and Berlina making more grunt from 2l 4cyl engines than local big sixes, with 5 gears and disc brakes. Then of course there's the Alfetta based cars and both the 105 and Alfettas are only raced more often today by Escorts and Minis and the Montreal which needs to be heard in person, hard to get your head around the size of that engine.
All of that is ignoring the factory racing history.