Lancia LC1

Lancia LC denotes two -seater prototype race cars that were used from the 1982 season of Lancia in long-distance races for the newly launched by the FIA ​​rules of the group C.

Prehistory

In the 1982 season came in the World Sportscar Championship numerous rule changes in force that the previous groups 1-6 replaced by the newly created ( and re- regulated ) groups A, B and C. In Group C, the fuel consumption of the sports cars was limited, however, the engine design in almost any way.

Lancia brand as a world champion in 1980 and '81 had by these rule changes initially not competitive car, as the highly modified Lancia Beta Monte Carlo by Group 5 regulations, so a touring car, was no longer allowed.

The minimum allowable weight of vehicles of group C was 800 kg and the Group 6 on the other hand, only 600 kg. Although sports cars of group 6 were still competing in 1982 and were not subject to the new petrol limitation, which they were favorites for overall victory, but they were only eligible for points of the drivers 'championship, not for the Manufacturers' World Championship.

Lancia LC1

Lancia therefore summarily built parts of the existing group -5- technique in two on the rules of the previous Group 6 based, built by Dallara open sports car with a new lightweight chassis one. This chassis matched the design of the former single-seater Formula 1, however, was made ​​wider to allow the installation of the required two seats and weighed including roll bar only 55 kg. Further weight savings engine and transmission have now been designed as load-bearing parts for the rear suspension. The Lancia LC1 baptized car thereby reached a weight of 640 kg and was 140 kg lighter than the Lancia Beta Monte Carlo Turbo Group 5 In contrast to Lancia Beta Monte Carlo Turbo Group 5 of the engine also sits at the LC1 longitudinally and not transversely to the vehicle axis.

Thanks to its lower weight, the low consumption and the stability of the established group 5 engines, he was also - at least theoretically - an absolute winner vehicle. The problem is that the 1.4-liter 16V four-cylinder turbo engine in a narrower windschnittigeren environment now overheated easily, you never really got to grips with.

Lancia LC2

From the base of the Lancia LC1 developed for the 1983 season the Lancia LC2. The vehicle was completely revised. Now a real group C sports car, resembled the LC2/83 268C its predecessor, but now was not open, but a closed vehicle. The LC2 was powered initially by an eight-cylinder biturbo engine with 32 valves and four camshafts from Ferrari. The technical basis was the engine of the Ferrari 308, the displacement of the engine was initially 2.6 liters; in 1984 it was enlarged to 3.0 liters. Thereby, the power increased from 700 to 800 hp. Block and cylinder heads of the engine passed as aluminum. The turbochargers were from manufacturers KKK, the electronic fuel injection system that controlled the ignition, Weber- Marelli.

Achievements

The pole position in Monza as well as victories at Silverstone and the Nürburgring spoke for themselves - they had initially in the lead over the competition, developed the all-new vehicles, the Porsche 956 and the Ford C100. Also the drivers were exquisite: Riccardo Patrese, Michele Alboreto and Teo Fabi were three active Formula 1 drivers, Piercarlo Ghinzani and to the two Germans Rolf and Hans Heyer Stommelen.

The goal of course was a success at Le Mans, where the works Porsche had reported back in 1981, and should dominate the next few years. In 1982, Lancia, with great financial help from Martini & Rossi, the former Porsche - sponsor, with two cars in the Sarthe. The car with the number 51, driven by Alboreto, Stommelen and Fabi, fell after 92 laps with a broken intercooler. Not fare much better the second car with the start number 50, driven by Patrese, Ghinzani and Heyer. After several repairs, the vehicle stopped after 152 laps down in the Mulsanne to a major engine damage.

The LC2 was presented by Lancia on April 4, 1983 at the first race of the season at Monza and won with driver Piercarlo Ghinzani once the pole position. In the second race at Silverstone, the LC2 by Ricardo Patrese achieved the fastest lap time. 1983 saw Lancia also again at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Italian Scuderia Sivama Griffone and the French Ecule Superieure de Tourisme Chardonnet Bet in a Lancia LC1/82. Actually, the two works cars from the previous year, only slightly modified from the factory in Italy. Although both vehicles crossed the finish line, but were not considered due to lack of sufficient distance.

At the race in Le Mans, all three vehicles failed early. Number 4, driven by Fabi, Alboreto and Nannini in lap 27 with a broken clutch. Number 5, driven by Alboreto, Ghinzani and Heyer had after 127 laps be parked with an irreparable damage to the fuel supply. Slightly longer drove the number 6, Barilla, Nannini and Andruet, here's the blow came after 137 laps by engine failure.

The cars were indeed nice and fast, but not perfectly prepared. The Ferrari engine needed too much fuel, was too heavy and too susceptible to vibration. It was foreseeable that he would never survive the ordeal of 24 hours, with nearly 80% of full load on this high-speed line.

Lancia placed at the end of the 1983 season second overall the standings, 32 points behind Porsche.

Nevertheless, it tried Lancia 1984 again, now with the LC2/84, a stage of evolution. At Le Mans, this time with three cars at the start, creates the LC 2 by Bob Wollek Alessandro Nannini and at least eight place. The other two fell back out early. The LC2 won the 1984 race at Kyalami and also reached the end of this season again the second place in the overall standings behind Porsche.

Came in 1985, the LC3. Both works cars saw the checkered flag and Lancia finished his work assignments with the sixth and seventh places. Also in the 1985 season did not manage the Lancia LC2 to beat Porsche in the overall standings. Again Lancia only reached the second place with 58 points behind.

Amazingly, appeared in subsequent years repeatedly Lancia LC variants in Le Mans. A LC2/88, used by dollop Racing in 1988 and a Lancia LC2/SP 90, a Spyder, 1990 Mussato Action Cars. Both did not see the checkered flag.

The last time you saw a LC2 1991 in Le Mans. The Veneto Equipe began this now seven year old car. Although they finished the race, but they had driven only 111 rounds, and therefore were not classified.

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