Lancia LC2. FIAT Group attempt to wrest Le Mans from Porsche

With a six-cylinder biturbo engine capable of delivering 620 hp for just 820 kilos, the Porsche 956 is one of the best racing cars in history. Designed for the Group C regulations, its dominance at Le Mans was undeniable from 1982 to 1985. A trajectory in which he took the best of the old 917 and 936. Enhancing it with an aluminum monocoque endowed with careful aerodynamics in which Porsche saw ground effect for the first time. Without a doubt, an extraordinary car that many considered unbeatable in the World Endurance Championship.

However, favorable spirits were building in Italy about conquering Le Mans again. Opelled from his reign in drag racing by the push first from Ford and then from Porsche, Ferrari took refuge in F1 during the XNUMXs, winning four constructors 'titles and three drivers' titles. Thus, the people of Maranello did not think of going back to Le Mans. Or at least do it under his own flag. Since they were an essential part of the Italian project to beat the almighty Porsche 956: the 2 Lancia LC1983.

Through a complex design coordinated by Gianni Tonti from the FIAT Ricerche Center, the production of the Lancia LC2 involved the best minds of the Agnelli industrial conglomerate. A collaborative company in which Ferrari contributed the mechanics together with Lancia and Abarth doing the rest under the supervision of FIAT. In fact, the help of specialized F1 companies such as Dallara Automobili was even requested to manufacture the chassis. In short: the best of Italian racing engineering to build the Lancia LC2. The racing car that was to put Italy back at the top of the World Endurance Championship.

LANCIA LC2. FERRARI MECHANIC ON PAOLO DALLARA'S CHASSIS

At the beginning of the fifties, Lancia was experiencing a difficult economic situation. A slow pain that ended in 1955, with Vincezo Lancia's son and widow selling the brand to the Pasenti. Owner of one of the largest cement companies in Europe, this family envisaged the recovery of the range of series-produced passenger cars. Something for which the Scuderia Lancia F1 was an obstacle. Thus, that year Scuderia Lancia was closed, being the last competition on asphalt until the triumphant return at the end of the seventies with the Lancia Beta Montecarlo.

Homologated for Group 5, these 1 liter turbocharged four cylinders were victorious in their category at the World Endurance Championship from 4 to 1979. A success that led Lancia to consider the possibility of building an open model for the 1981 season. The result was the LC1982 Spider. A 1425cc in-line four-cylinder and only 665 kilos that, although it achieved remarkable results, was unable to beat the Porsche 956s by having about 200CV less. However, this good debut within Group C made the FIAT Group dream of beating the Germans.

For this, the good dynamic behavior of the LC1 had to be preserved, but achieving a much more powerful car thanks to different mechanics. Mechanics that came from Ferrari. Which contributed the 308 Quattrovalvole engine block for Abarth technicians to tune it up to 700CV at 9.000 rpm with the help of two turbochargers. A spectacular development, which left the displacement at 2598cc and the weight at just over 800 kilos. All this assembled from a monocoque aluminum chassis manufactured in the workshops of Gian Paolo Dallara. Chassis specialist after having designed those for the Lamborghini Miura and Espada, as well as various F1 cars for Williams.

NOT ONLY POWER IS ENOUGH. YOU MUST ALSO BE RELIABLE

Following the success of the 956 during its first season, in 1983 Porsche supplied units to various private teams. A proliferation that, added to the improved performance of the model, resulted in absolute dominance winning all seven rounds on the calendar. Nevertheless, if one stops to observe in detail the classifications of that year it is not uncommon to find the Lancia LC2 just behind the Porsche 956. That is to say: based on the results, it seemed that the consortium of companies coordinated by FIAT was not going astray. However, the return to the World Endurance Championship was not going to be that easy.

For the 1984 season a new gearbox signed by Abarth was installed. As well as certain improvements in the aerodynamics and changes in the wheels and tires. All this to match the power improvement in an engine that, however, together with the change gave constant reliability problems. The big problem with the Lancia LC2, which was just behind the Porsche 956 in almost all eleven rounds of the season anyway. In fact, the only victory not carried out by the German car came in the 1000 Kilometers of Kyalam with the doublet of the LC2s driven by Patrese / Nanini and Wollek / Barilla.

For 1984 the reliability problems persisted, adding the improvement of Porsche jumping to the evolved version of the 956: the 962. An automotive prodigy endowed with an efficient consumption of gasoline. Which made things even more difficult for a Lancia that saw it impossible to beat the Porsche. A discouragement that, added to the constructors' title in the 1983 World Rally Championship with the Lancia 037, turned all the interest of the brand to the development of the Lancia Delta for Group A. Quite a success, as they achieved six consecutive constructors' titles from 1987 to 1992.

The demonstration that, despite his F1 past and endurance, Lancia's laurels in competition had to come from the world of rallying. However, that last and unforeseen attempt to conquer Le Mans that was the Lancia LC2 has remained one of the most intense adventures not only of Lancia, but of Italian motorsports as a whole.

Photographs: FCA Heritage