The fifth edition of the Rally Racing Meeting, the world’s biggest annual event dedicated to the world of motorsport, will take place from February 8th to 9th at the Vicenza Expo Center.
Organized by two-time World Rally Champion Miki Biasion, the event will feature a brand-new showcase of all the legendary and world-renowned Lancia models which have taken part in motorsport competitions since 1920.
Four of these incredible vehicles are part of the haloed Stellantis Heritage collection, the Group’s department which preserves, safeguards, and promotes the invaluable heritage of the Italian car brands. Normally on display at the Heritage Hub in Mirafiori, the models to be showcased include the 1974 Lancia Stratos HF “Alitalia” (winner of the 1976 Rally de Portugal), the Lancia D50 F.1 (1954), the Lancia D25 (1954), and the Lancia ECV2 (1988). Furthermore, guests will also be able to admire the brand’s most recent creations— the Ypsilon Rally 4 HF, the 280-hp Ypsilon HF, and the Ypsilon LX—and witness the thread which ties its glorious past to its bright future, both on the road and on the track.
Notably, for the fine-tuning of the Ypsilon Rally 4 HF models and the 280-hp Ypsilon HF, the brand looked to Miki Biasion, a true motorsports legend who, between the 80s and 90s, became inextricably linked to Lancia and went on to become the most successful Italian driver in history. Behind the wheel of the iconic Delta of the Martini Racing team, Biasion won the 1988 and 1989 World Championships, helping Lancia become the most successful brand ever with ten World Constructors’ Championships, three Constructors’ and Endurance World Championships, one 1000 Miglia, two Targa Florio, and one Carrera Panamericana.
Lancia Stratos Gr.4 Alitalia (1974)
The extraordinary Lancia Stratos Gr.4 Alitalia (1974) is without a doubt one of the most beloved vehicles on display, having won the 1976 Rally de Portugal and placing second in the 1977 Monte Carlo Rally. Featuring a white-red-green Alitalia livery, the legendary Stratos model allowed Lancia to dominate the rally world until the mid-Seventies. At the time, sporting director Cesare Fiorio exploited all the possibilities of the regulations. Under his guidance, the first car was made with the sole purpose of winning rally races. The two-seater coupé featured a wedge-shaped body, designed by Marcello Gandini for Bertone, and a 2.4 liter six-cylinder engine originating from Ferrari which was located behind the driver and co-driver to optimize its weight. Produced in the official race version (with an initial 12-valve, and later 24-valve cylinder head for a maximum power of 300 hp) in 26 models out of 500 exemplars, the Stratos achieved an extraordinary number of victories, so much so it was called the “ultimate weapon” of rally racing. It even won three consecutive Monte Carlo rallies and three more titles in the World Rally Constructors Championship (from 1974 to 1976), as well as e European Drivers' Championships and the FIA Rally Drivers World Cup in 1977 with Sandro Munari.
Lancia D50 F.1 (1954)
The D50 is one of the greatest sporting achievements in Lancia history. In 1953, after already having been successful in road racing, the brand decided to also take part in the Formula 1 World Championship. Vittorio Jano was tasked with designing a single-seater vehicle with the help of the brand’s racing workshop. The vehicle, equipped with a 2.5 liter, 90°-V8 engine, debuted in October 1954 at the Spanish Grand Prix. The D50 stood out for its flawless finishing (unusual for a single-seater race car) and its reduced weight, which was over 50 kg less than its direct rivals. The side petrol tanks on the outside of its body were one of its most unique aesthetic and aerodynamic features, allowing for an improved drag value and exceptional stability in full-tank driving. Success soon followed in 1955 with world-class drivers Alberto Ascari and Gigi Villoresi behind the wheel, including victories at the Naples and Valentino Grand Prix. The relatively limited number of victories, together with the Lancia family’s economic struggles and Alberto Ascari’s tragic death, convinced Lancia to abandon F1. All of the material was left to Ferrari, who won the 1956 World Championship with Manuel Fangio behind the wheel of a modified version of the D50. The model on showcase is the one which Gigi Villoresi drove at the 1955 Valentino Grand Prix.
Lancia D 25 (1954)
The model was created in the aftermath of the success of the D 24 in the Carrera Panamericana in November 1953, which convinced Gianni Lancia and Vittorio to keep on competing in races. Notably, the development of the D 24 project went hand in hand with the D 50. Specifically, the D 25 was given a more powerful and better performing engine which was guaranteed to last. After some research and tests, a six-cylinder engine with 3750 cm3 and maximum power of 305 hp was chosen. The engine was powered by Weber 46 carburetors. Moreover, the vehicle weighed around 40 kg less than the D24. Despite being derived from the D 24, the frame also underwent some modifications, especially the suspension. In the rear, there was De Dion suspension and with a longitudinal link and two cantilever leaf springs to guarantee greater stability. As far as racing was concerned, it made its first appearance when a D 25 engine was set up on a D 24 in the Portuguese Grand Prix with Ascari behind the wheel. Later, three D 25s took part in the 1954 Tourist Trophy.
Lancia ECV2 (1988)
Built in 1988, the Lancia ECV2 prototype was an evolution of the Lancia Experimental Composite Vehicle (ECV), albeit with a less ostentatious body design and with a supercharger metering system optimized for low speeds depending on the action of the dual turbochargers. The car was made to study the entry into competition at the World Rally Championship of new composite materials, which were to be used in body construction and to manufacture some of the mechanical components, including the crankshaft and wheel rims. Use was therefore made of carbon fiber panels, honeycomb structures, and rigid foams. The result was a weight more than 20% lower than that of the Delta S4 used as a starting point, while still maintaining its torsional rigidity. The Lancia ECV2 is equipped with a 1759-cc 4-cylinder engine that delivers up to 600 hp at 8,000 rpm, made possible by its dual turbocharger system with intercooler, as well as by the brand-new technical specification of a modular pressure control system. The Lancia ECV2 reaches a top speed of 220 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 200 km/h in only 9 seconds.
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