Photo : D.R / Archives ACO

 

After the Scuderia Ferrari withdrew from prototypes in late 1973, to concentrate all its forces on reclaiming their supremacy in Formula 1,  two other manufacturers have tried to be the company owned by Fiat successor . Alfa Romeo won many victories with their 33 TT flat 12  from 1974 to 1977 , but  never won with this prototype at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, although in 1975 they won the World Championship for Makes. Lancia then arrived in the early 80s with the LC1 . Powered by a four-cylinder in-line  turbocharged 1425 cm3 engine , this car  symbolised the switch between the regulations of  Group 6 prototypes and the Group C era , which came into force in 1982. It is in the first category , still allowed that year, that the LC1s fought in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both LC1 engaged, qualified in fourth and fifth position , but were forced to retire. The Martini Racing cars were driven by Michele Alboreto/Teo Fabi/Rolf Stommelen and Riccardo Patrese/Hans Heyer/Piercarlo Ghinzani.

In 1983, Lancia went with the LC2 in Group C , which used a three litre turbocharged V8 engine derived from that of the Ferrari 308 GTB . The three entries made at Le  Mans retired again , but not before two of them separated the Porsche 956s in qualifying, with the second and fourth  best times . They were driven by Paolo Barilla/Alessandro Nannini/Jean-Claude Andruet and Ghinzani/Heyer/Alboreto and Alboreto/Fabi/Nannini - at that time drivers could swop over to another car during the race.

In 1984, the factory 956s were missing and LC2s monopolised the first line of the grid with  pole position for the duo of Bob Wollek  and Alessandro Nannini . For a long time in the lead, the Franco-Italian was  to be delayed by problems with the gearbox at halfway, but still saw their first chequered flag in eighth place with this LC2 (Barilla/Heyer and Mauro Baldi retired their car when the camshaft belt failed) . In 1985 , together with Lucio Cesario , Wollek  and Nannini recorded the best result for the LC2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with sixth place, just ahead of the second car of Henri Pescarolo and Mauro Baldi in 7th . The two prototypes were committed to continue, but this would prove to be their last appearance at the Sarthe , following the decision of Lancia to return to maybe their favourite discipline : the World Rally Championship .

The Lancia LC2 nevertheless during this period took three wins and three pole positions in the World Championship for Sports Cars , and was driven at the Sarthe by four past or future winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Henri Pescarolo (1972-73-74-84) , Paolo Barilla (1984) , Mauro Baldi (1994) and Michele Alboreto (1997).

Jean -Philippe Doret / ACO

Photo: CIRCUIT OF THE 24 HOURS ( Le Mans , Sarthe ), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS , 15 & 16 June 1984 . Bob Wollek and Alessandro Nannini, teaming up with Italian driver Lucio Cesario, finish 6th at Le Mans that year, the best result of the Lancia LC2 in La Sarthe.