Starters at the 1st race at Circuito Asmara  on 25 December 1938, hence the name "Coppa di Natale" for this class (big engines). There was a different race "Coppa Governatore" for the small-engined cars.<a class="external autonumber" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asmara_circuit">[1]</a> There is a similar photograph taken from other side, where cars can be seen more clearly (see below for link to that photo).<hr>The scribblings says "I Circuito di Asmara, Dicembre 1939, (X) Cronometrista ufficiale: Marco dalla Vecchia".  The year should be 1938.  This Marco dalla Vecchia is probably same person that in the 1950s established an Alfa Romeo dealership in Roma.
Unknown photographer
1938-12-25
<a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rqauAhAH1E0/W-QOVdPCYYI/AAAAAAAAjXs/hAxiEJDztJAynGgBa6UauNu13hw2gAZ2wCLcBGAs/s640/image1.jpeg">[2]</a>